Peppered Duck With Vanilla Mash Pea Wild Mushroom Ragout Recipes

WILD MUSHROOM RAGOUT

Steps:

• Place a large, deep skillet over medium heat and add the butter and oil. Add the carrots, onion, celery and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Clean the mushrooms, trimming or removing tough stems depending on the variety, and cutting any that are very large into smaller pieces. Add the mushrooms to the skillet and continue to cook until the mushrooms are soft and lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
• Add the stock, sherry, bay leaf and tomato paste and simmer gently until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Season the mushrooms to taste with salt and pepper, stir in the savory and parsley and transfer the mixture to a casserole dish. Sprinkle the top with the cheese and bake until the cheese is melted and lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately with buttered pasta or rice on the side.

DUCK RAGOUT

Steps:

• In a large saute pan, over medium heat, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the shallots. Season the shallots with salt and pepper. Saute the shallots for 1 minute. Stir in the garlic and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Saute for 2 minutes. Stir in the duck meat. Saute for 1 minute. Stir in the reduction and bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the butter and parsley. Remove from the heat and re-season if necessary. Serve over mash potatoes or cheesy grits.
• In a large saucepan, add the stock, onions, carrots, celery, and bouquet garni. Bring the liquid up to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer until the liquid reduces by half, about 1 1/2 hours. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and cool. Refrigerate overnight and remove any congealed fat from the surface. The reduction can be stored in the freezer in ice cube trays for 1 month.
• Break and crack the carcass. In a large stockpot, heat the vegetable oil. Season the bones with salt and pepper. Add the bones to the pot and brown for about 10 minutes, stirring often. Add the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and bay leaves. Season the mixture with salt. Cook until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Add the wine and tomato paste and stir to mix. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the water. Put the thyme, parsley sprigs, and peppercorns in a piece of cheesecloth, tie it together with kitchen twine, and add it to the mixture. Bring the mixture to a boil. Skim off any cloudy scum that rises to the surface. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, for 3 hours. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and cool. Refrigerate overnight and remove any congealed fat from the surface. The stock can be stored in the freezer for 1 month.

PAN-ROASTED DUCK WITH WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Rinse dried mushrooms to remove sand or dirt and place in a bowl. Cover with boiling water and let steep for 30 minutes.
• Lay duck breasts skin-side down on a cutting board. With your fingers, remove the thin tenderloins from the underside of each breast and reserve for sauce. With a sharp knife, trim away any gristle. Turn breasts skin-side up and trim excess fat from the edges. Score the skins in a diamond pattern. Season generously with salt and pepper, transfer to a plate and leave at cool room temperature for 1 hour.
• Put olive oil in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. When hot, add the reserved tenderloins and brown well on both sides. Add butter and flour to pan, and cook, stirring, until mixture is lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add soaked mushrooms and soaking liquid, and stir well as sauce begins to thicken. Add wine, thyme and bay leaf, turn heat to low, and simmer gently until gravylike, but not too thick, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove and discard tenderloins, thyme and bay leaf. Taste sauce and adjust seasoning. Keep warm. (Sauce may be prepared several hours or up to 2 days in advance.)
• Set a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. When pan is hot, add duck breasts to skillet skin-side down and let sizzle. Lower heat to medium and cook for about 7 or 8 minutes, making sure skin doesn't brown too quickly. (This will render fat and crisp the skin.) Turn breasts over and cook 3 minutes more for rare (thermometer should read 120 degrees), or 4 to 5 minutes for medium-rare (thermometer should read 125 degrees). Transfer to a warm platter and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Pour off all but 2 tablespoons rendered fat from the pan, and raise heat to medium-high. Add sliced mushrooms and sauté, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, letting them brown nicely. Season with salt and pepper. Turn off heat and stir in garlic and parsley.
• Slice duck 1/4-inch thick, crosswise at a slight angle, and serve immediately. Each serving should have 4 to 5 slices of duck, a large spoonful of mushrooms and a bit of sauce.