Duck Prosciutto Breadsticks With Ricotta And Dried Figs Recipes

DUCK PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Weigh breasts individually so you can check their progress toward curing. With a sharp knife, score skin of each breast in a crisscross pattern. Put about 1 cup salt (a half-inch layer) in a nonreactive baking dish that will just hold the breasts without touching. Nestle breasts on top of salt, skin side up. Pour more salt over breasts so that they are completely covered. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 24 hours.
• Remove duck from salt, rinse thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels. The flesh should feel dense and its color will have deepened. Dust breasts with pepper on both sides.
• Wrap each breast in cheesecloth and tie with string. Hang for about 7 days in a cool (50 to 60 degrees is optimal), humid place, like a garage, a basement or in an unlit fireplace. After curing, the flesh should be stiff but not hard throughout; the color will be a deep rich red. If they still feel raw in the center, hang for a day or two longer. Generally, dry-cured products are ready when they have lost 30 percent of their original weight.
• Remove cheesecloth, wrap duck in plastic and refrigerate until ready to use. It will keep several weeks or more.

DUCK PROSCIUTTO BREADSTICKS WITH RICOTTA AND DRIED FIGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Toast breadsticks on a baking sheet in middle of oven until golden, about 15 minutes.
• Wrap each breadstick with a slice of prosciutto, leaving ends of bread exposed, and keep, covered, at room temperature.
• Stir together ricotta, tarragon, figs, garlic (to taste), oil, 2 tablespoons milk, salt, and pepper. If too thick for dipping, stir in 1 or 2 tablespoons of remaining milk.
• Just before serving, drizzle ricotta dip with additional oil and serve with breadsticks.