LUXURY HOLIDAY RECIPE: Juicy Duck Breast in Red Wine Sauce
In some parts of the world duck is a regular dish, especially among people who hunt it. But if you’re not a hunter or don’t live in those areas then duck might be a little bit more uncommon on your table. We recently have been testing recipes with Maple Leaf Farms duck breast, which is well known for some of the highest quality duck selections in the United States. Not to mention being a fairly upscale red meat option, the duck meat itself is quite lean and tasty.
When you cook duck breast for the first few times it’s best not to be too fancy, especially when you have the savory natural flavors already inherent in this type of poultry. We prefer to start off with a simple salt, pepper, garlic powder and skillet or oven recipe.
For example, using a sharp knife you score crosswise the fatty side of the duck. Then salt, pepper, and lightly powder both sides, and place the fatty side face down in a hot skillet with a small amount of California olive oil for about 10 minutes while the fat is rendering. Flip over and cook the other side for another 5 to 10 minutes on medium high. Alternatively, you could heat your oven to 425° and put the uncooked breast in for 10 minutes, then flip it to cook for another 10 minutes. It’s important to let your breast rest after you remove it from the skillet or oven so that it can re-absorb some of those juices and remain tender.
After you remove the duck from the skillet or pan, put the skillet back on the stove and heat to medium high and add a large splash of red wine, which you can use to create a red wine reduction sauce. You want to make sure that you use a spoon to scrape up the bits of fat and duck in the skillet and mix them into the sauce reduction. You also want to make sure the sauce has thickened and all of the alcohol in the wine has evaporated before using.
This sauce is perfect for the duck breast as it adds additional moisture and flavor, plus is a perfect complement to this dish.
It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it’s not going to be boring and plain.
Maple Leaf Farms
www.MapleLeafFarms.com
About Maple Leaf Farms
Maple Leaf Farms, Inc. is North America’s leading producer of quality duck products, supplying retail and food service markets throughout the world with innovative, value-added foods. Founded in 1958, Maple Leaf Farms is a fourth-generation family-owned company.
