Pressed Duck White House Recipes

PRESSED DUCK: WHITE HOUSE

Steps:

• First prepare a consommé from the duck wings, necks, gizzards, and hearts. Put them in a saucepan with 2 cups water, 1 onion, 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Strain and save the stock. Roast the ducks in a hot oven (425°F) for 30 minutes. Crush the duck livers and put them into a chafing dish with port and cognac. Cut the duck breasts into thin slices and put them in the chafing dish. Cut off the legs and set them aside. Crush the carcasses in a duck press to extract the juices. Pour duck consommé through the press. Pour the juices and consommé over the duck slices, livers, and the wine and cognac. Add the lemon juice. Cook in the chafing dish over a high flame for 20-25 minutes, stirring briskly until the sauce becomes thick and chocolate colored. Salt and pepper the pressed duck to taste. Serve hot. Broil the legs under medium heat for 10 minutes. Serve them separately as a second course.

PRESSED DUCK

Steps:

• Cut ducklings lengthwise into halves. Trim fat from pork. Cut bamboo shoots lengthwise into thin strips. Cut green onions into 2-inch pieces cut pieces lengthwise into thin strips.Heat 2 quarts water, the soy sauce, gingerroot, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and the five-spice powder to boiling in Dutch oven add duckling and pork. Heat to boiling reduce heat. Cover and simmer 1 1 /2 hours. Remove duckling and pork cool. Skim fat from broth. Reserve and refrigerate 1 cup broth. Remove bones from duckling, keeping meat and skin as intact as possible. Shred pork and any small pieces of remaining duckling meat from boning. Mix water chestnut flour, 1/3 cup cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir half of the flour mixture into shredded meat. Brush both sides of duckling halves with half of the egg whites. Sprinkle both sides of duckling with half of the remaining flour mixture. Place duckling halves, skin sides down, in greased square pan, 9 x 9 x 2 inches. Press shredded meat firmly and evenly on duckling halves. Brush with remaining egg whites sprinkle with remaining flour mixture. Place pan on rack in steamer cover and steam over boiling water 20 minutes. (Add boiling water if necessary.) Remove duckling from steamer cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until cold. Heat vegetable oil (1 1/2 inches) in wok to 350°. Fry almonds 1 minute or until light brown. Remove almonds from wok drain on paper towels. Chop almonds finely. Fry 1 duckling half at a time 5 minutes or until golden brown, turning once drain on paper towels. Cut each lengthwise into halves cut halves into 1/2-inch slices. Arrange on heated platter.Heat reserved broth, the chicken broth, bamboo shoots and oyster sauce to boiling. Mix 3 tablespoons cornstarch and 3 tablespoons water stir into broth mixture. Cook and stir until thickened pour over duckling. Sprinkle with almonds garnish with green onions.8 servings**Pressed Duck can be prepared in advance. After steaming, cover duck and reserved stock separately and refrigerate no longer than 24 hours. Just before serving, continue as directed above.From "Betty Crocker's New Chinese Cookbook." Text Copyright 2005 General Mills, Inc. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.