Duck

A whole duck tends to have lots of fat and not so much meat. Duck breasts, although pricy, have no wastage, and when cooked on a rack in a very hot oven, the skin goes really crispy and the meat stays nice and moist.

Serves : 4
Prep : 2 mins
Cook : 10 mins

Ingredients:
2 duck breasts
15ml (1 tblsp) runny honey
15ml (1 tblsp) dark soy sauce
30ml (2 tblsp) hoi-sin sauce
15ml (1 tblsp) stir-fry oil
1 clove of garlic, crushed
340g pack prepared carrots cut into sticks
125g (4oz) beansprouts
5 spring onions trimmed and cut into strips
50g (2oz) sprouting beans (optional)
160g jar sweet and sour sauce

Step One : Preheat the oven to Mark 7 / 210oC / 420oF. Place the duck breasts on a roasting rack resting in a tin. Thoroughly mix together the honey, soy and hoi-sin sauces and brush generously over the skin. Cook for 10 mins.

Step Two : Heat the oil in a large wok or frying pan. Add the garlic, carrots, beansprouts, spring onions and sprouting beans (if using) and stir-fry for about 3-4 minutes.

Step Three : Add the sweet and sour sauce and heat till just warmed through, making sure that the vegetables stay slightly crunchy. Thickly slice the duck breasts and toss into the vegetables. Offer prawn crackers to serve alongside the stir-fry.

Tip : Look out for Hoi-sin sauce in the Chinese section of large supermarkets. It’s also perfect to use as a speedy glaze for spare ribs or as a dipping sauce for Peking duck.

Ingredients:

2 large duck breasts, with skin
30g (1oz) butter
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
50g (1 ¾ oz) fresh breadcrumbs
2 tsp thyme leaves

For the marinade:-

150ml (5 fl oz) freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp runny honey
Juice half lemon
Finely grated zest of half an orange
Pinch of ground cinnamon

Serves: 2 Prep time: 15 mins plus marinating time Cook time: 20 mins
Cals per serving: 772 Fat: 49g

Step One: Score the skin of the duck breast in diagonal crosses and place in a ceramic bowl. Combine the marinade ingredients and pour over the duck. Marinate in the fridge, turning occasionally, for about 8 hours.

Step Two: Heat the oven to 180^oC (gas mark 4). Remove the duck and dry with paper towels, reserving the marinade. Heat a large heavy frying pan over a moderate heat. Place the breasts skin side down in the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until nice and golden. Transfer the duck breasts, skin side up, to a roasting tin and cook in the oven for about 10-15 minutes (for medium).

Step Three: Meanwhile, pour the marinade into a small saucepan and simmer over a low heat for about 5 minutes, or until reduced and slightly thickened. Season and keep warm.

Step Four: Drain any fat from the frying pan and add the butter. When foaming add the garlic, zest, breadcrumbs and thyme. Sauté until the crumbs are golden. Slice the duck breast either onto individual plates or on a small platter. Sprinkle over the crumbs and serve with a jug of the sauce on the side.

Tip: You can marinate the duck for up to 12 hours. It is important to boil the marinade well before serving it as the sauce.

Recipe courtesy of Easy Living