Duck Salad Recipes

VIETNAMESE GRILLED DUCK SALAD WITH CUCUMBER, RADISHES AND PEANUTS

Steps:

• Whisk together 1/4 cup soy sauce, juice and zest of 1 lime, ginger, and sesame oil. Mash half the garlic into a paste and whisk it into this marinade. Trim away the duck skin and most of the fat (reserve for rendering, if you like). Place the duck in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over it, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 12 hours. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking.
• In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup soy sauce, vinegar, juice of 2 limes, fish sauce, 2 jalapeños (finely chopped) and oil. Mash the remaining garlic to a paste and whisk into this vinaigrette.
• Light a grill for high indirect heat (or heat a broiler with a rack 8 inches from the heat). Remove the duck from the marinade, scraping off any excess bits, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer duck to the unlighted portion of the grill; close cover and cook to desired doneness, 5 to 6 minutes per side for medium-rare. (If broiling, place duck on a baking sheet. Broil, turning once halfway through, 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare.) Transfer to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes. Thinly slice against the grain.
• In a large bowl, toss together cucumber, carrots, radishes, cilantro, mint and 1 jalapeño (thinly sliced), with just enough of the vinaigrette to lightly coat everything. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Toss in the peanuts. Place salad on a large platter and top with sliced meat. Drizzle with more of the vinaigrette, and sprinkle with cilantro and mint.

DUCK SALAD

Steps:

• Roast the duck according to the directions in the recipe for Basic Roast Duck, through Step 5. Remove the duck from the oven and allow to cool.
• Boil the noodles until just done, about five minutes. Drain, rinse in cold water and allow to drain again. When thoroughly drained, toss the noodles with two tablespoons of the peanut oil and season lightly with salt and pepper.
• Roast the pepper by turning it over a gas flame or placing it under a broiler until the skin has blackened. Place the pepper in a plastic or paper bag for about 10 minutes to steam off the charred skin. Remove the skin, seed the pepper and cut it in slivers. Toss the noodles with the pepper, scallions, cucumber and coriander.
• Remove the duck skin from the duck and reserve. Pull the meat of the duck off the bones.
• Dice the duck skin and fry the pieces in a skillet until crisp. Allow to drain on absorbent paper.
• Combine the remaining peanut oil, the sesame oil, lemon juice and soy sauce. Beat until well-blended.
• Arrange the watercress on each of six plates. Toss the noodles with about half the sauce and arrange atop the watercress on each plate. Arrange the duck pieces on the noodles and sprinkle with the rest of the sauce. Scatter the bits of fried duck skin on top and serve.

BOLO'S DUCK SALAD

Steps:

• Make the duck/marinade: 8 hours to 1 day before serving, prick the entire skin of the duck all over with a fork. In a large pot over high heat, bring 6 quarts of water to a rapid boil and blanch the duck for 7 to 8 minutes in hot water. Remove the duck from the water and place on a plate in the refrigerator. Allow the duck to sit 3 to 4 hours. Remove from the refrigerator and wipe the rendered fat from the skin of the duck. In a medium saucepan, combine the marinade ingredients and cook over low to medium heat until thickened. (Do not boil. This will give the marinade a burnt taste due to the amount of brown sugar). Allow the marinade to cool then brush the duck generously with the mixture. (Reserve some of the marinade to baste the duck with while roasting.) Refrigerate 6 to 8 hours or overnight. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the duck in a roasting pan and roast for 15 minutes, basting with the reserved marinade every 5 minutes. Remove the duck from the oven and let rest 10 minutes. Remove the breasts from the bone and the thighs with the legs attached. Place the thigh/legs into a medium saucepan pan with 1-inch of water in it. Cover the pan and place in the 350 degree oven for approximately 40 minutes or until the meat falls off the bone. Remove from the oven and set aside. When cool enough to handle pick the meat from the bone and tear into bite sized-pieces. Just before serving, place the breasts in a oven-proof skillet skin-side-down and heat 6 to 8 minutes (depending on your preference of doneness, i.e. rare, medium rare). Slice the breasts very thinly on the bias (each breast should yield 3 servings). Keep the meat warm until service.
• Make the vinaigrette: In a saucepan over high heat, reduce the orange juice until it forms a syrup. Let cool. In a blender, combine the orange syrup, vinegar, honey and chili powder (if using). Blend for 30 seconds. With the blender running, slowly add the olive oil until the dressing emulsifies. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour into a plastic squeeze bottle. (May be prepared up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated.) Bring to room temperature before serving.
• Make the sauteed pears: In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter, sugar and cinnamon and cook to a light syrup. Add the sliced pears and cook until they are soft but still retain their shape. Set aside.
• Make the peanut brittle Make a caramel with the sugar, add the peanuts and pour onto a lightly greased baking sheet. Let harden and coarsely chop.
• Assemble the salad: In a large bowl dress mesclun greens lightly with some of the orange vinaigrette and arrange on the top halves of 6 plates. Arrange the breast in a fan shape beneath the greens and place the thigh meat on both sides of the greens. Scatter the pears over the duck and dress lightly with the remaining vinaigrette. Top with peanut brittle and chopped chives.

CRISPY DUCK SALAD WITH BITTER ORANGE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Score fat and skin on duck breasts. Place duck breast skin side down in a large cold skillet with a heat safe handle. Put skillet on stove and turn burner on to moderate heat. Cook breasts 5 to 8 minutes, turning once the skin crisps and most of the fat is rendered. Place the skillet in the oven and cook another 9 to 12 minutes. Meat should be pink at center.
• Arrange greens on individual plates or 1 large platter. Arrange frissee and scallions on bed of baby greens.
• Combine shallots, vinegar and marmalade. Let stand 10 minutes. Whisk in extra-virgin olive oil.
• Slice duck breast and serve 6 to 8 ounces per person, arranging the sliced duck on the salad. Grilled or sauteed chicken or pork is delicious with this dressing as well. Pour dressing evenly over duck and salad.

CRISPY DUCK SALAD WITH GREEN BEANS AND HONEYED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook honey and salt until thin and runny, then mix in almonds until coated. Add sugar and toss to coat. Spread nuts on baking sheet (lined with parchment paper) and bake, stirring once, until deeply golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Let nuts cool, then break up clumps with your fingers.
• In a medium pot on medium-high heat, bring six cups salted water to boil. Fill a medium bowl with ice water. Cook green beans until bright green and tender, 2 to 4 minutes depending on thickness of beans. Drain, then plunge into ice water to stop cooking. Drain and pat dry.
• Raise oven heat to 400 degrees. Using a sharp knife, score duck fat into a crosshatch pattern, with cuts a half-inch apart. You want to cut through fat but not into flesh of duck.
• In a small bowl, mix salt, chili, pepper, cumin and cinnamon. Rub mix all over duck, working it into the fat.
• Set an ovenproof pan on the stove over medium-low heat. Add 1 teaspoon of oil, heat for a few seconds, then add duck, fat side down. Sear without moving until dark brown, about 10 minutes (if it starts to burn, lower the heat). Flip duck and cook for 1 minute, then transfer pan to oven and roast until meat is done to taste, 4 to 8 minutes longer for medium rare (130 degrees). Let duck rest on a cutting board. Reserve 2 tablespoons of fat from pan.
• Using mortar and pestle or side of a heavy knife, make a paste from garlic and a pinch of salt. In a small bowl, mix it with lime juice and a half-teaspoon salt, then drizzle in remaining olive oil, whisking well.
• In a large bowl, toss green beans and watercress with reserved pan drippings and just enough of dressing to coat. Taste and add salt if desired.
• Slice duck breasts and toss with salad. Garnish with almonds and serve.