Pan Seared Duck Breast With Pumpkin Polenta Recipes

PAN ROASTED DUCK BREAST

Steps:

• Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Score the skin of the duck breasts and season them lightly with salt and pepper. Add 1/2 tablespoon of the olive oil to the skillet and put in the duck breasts, skin side down. Cook slowly, rendering the fat, until the duck skin is golden and crisp, about 5 to 6 minutes. Turn the duck breasts over and cook them in the duck fat for 2 minutes. Remove the duck breasts from the pan to a plate, cover them with foil, and let them rest for 5 minutes.
• After the duck has rested, return them to the skillet, skin side down, over medium heat. Spoon the duck fat over the breasts until they are just heated through. The skin should be crispy and duck meat should be pink in color. Transfer to a cutting board.
• In another medium skillet over medium-high heat, add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the pancetta and cook until it begins to color, about 5 minutes. Add the shallot and garlic and cook until they are soft, about 5 minutes. Lower the heat to medium and add in the spinach and the frisee. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, then add the hazelnuts and toss the greens gently to coat them with the oil. Cook the greens until just wilted, about 2 minutes.
• To serve, divide the greens onto 2 plates and garnish with the chives. Slice the duck breasts and fan them over the greens. Spoon the Razz Cherry Garlic Glaze across the duck and garnish with chervil.
• Combine the red wine, grenadine, vinegar, and sugar in a saucepan over high heat and bring it to a boil. Peel and slice the garlic as thinly as possible. Add the garlic and razz cherries to the pan and reduce the heat to medium. Continue to cook until the sauce is reduced and syrupy, about 15 minutes.
• Yield: about 1 cup

PAN ROASTED DUCK BREAST W/ TRUFFLED POLENTA AND LINGONBERRY SAUC

Steps:

• For sauce:.
• Bring wine, chicken broth, beef broth, thyme sprigs, and bay leaf to boil in heavy large saucepan. Boil until reduced to 1 cup, about 35 minutes. Mix butter and flour in small bowl to blend. Whisk butter-flour mixture into broth. Simmer until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in lingonberry preserves; simmer 1 minute. Remove thyme sprigs and bay leaf. (Sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm before serving.).
• For polenta:.
• Spray 8x8x2-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; stir until beginning to brown, about 30 seconds. Add all mushrooms; sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add chicken broth; bring to boil. Gradually whisk in polenta. Reduce heat to medium and cook until polenta is tender and mixture is very thick, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Stir in truffle oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to prepared pan, spreading evenly. Press plastic wrap onto surface of polenta. Refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.).
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Preheat oven to 450°F Score skin of duck breasts in crisscross pattern (do not cut through to meat). Sprinkle duck with salt and pepper. Heat heavy large ovenproof skillet over high heat. Add duck breasts, skin side down, to dry skillet. Reduce heat to medium and cook until skin is golden brown, about 7 minutes. Turn duck over and transfer skillet to oven; roast to desired doneness, about 5 minutes for medium-rare. Using tongs, transfer duck to cutting board; tent with foil. Let stand while grilling polenta.
• Cut polenta into 6 rectangles; brush both sides with additional olive oil. Grill until warm and slightly charred, about 3 minutes per side. Place 1 polenta rectangle on each of 6 plates. Cut duck breasts crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices; fan 1 duck breast over polenta on each plate. Drizzle with sauce and serve.
• *Sold at Italian markets, natural foods stores, and some supermarkets. If unavailable, substitute regular yellow cornmeal and cook for about half the time.

PAN SEARED DUCK BREAST WITH PUMPKIN POLENTA

Steps:

• To make the marinade, combine the ginger, clove, vanilla bean and wine in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add 2 of the minced shallots. Set aside until cool. Place the duck breasts in a large bowl. Add the marinade. Cover. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours, turning once. Take the duck breasts out of the marinade. Pat dry and set aside until the breasts reach room temperature. Strain the marinade and reserve.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Brush a pie plate with 1 teaspoon of the oil. Set aside. Pour 1 cup of the chicken broth in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low. Gradually add the cornmeal. Add the pumpkin puree. Whisk constantly until smooth, about 5 minutes. Spread the cornmeal into the pie plate. Place in the warm oven.
• Heat the remaining oil in a heavy-bottom skillet. Add the duck, fat side down, and cook over medium-high heat until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Turn the duck over, lower the heat to medium and cook until medium rare, about 3 more minutes. Remove the duck and set aside. Pour the marinade into the pan. Add the remaining shallots. Simmer over high heat until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining broth and simmer until reduced to 1 cup, about 5 to 10 minutes. Strain. Set aside.
• Remove the polenta from the oven. Cut into 8 wedges. Place 2 pieces on each of 4 plates. Cut the duck into thin strips crosswise and arrange around the polenta. Drizzle each plate with 2 tablespoons of sauce. Garnish with sage. Serve immediately.