Duck breast:: how to cook?

Question

I have roasted duck but never cooked the breast alone, and now I have company coming and this MASSIVE hunk of moulard duck breast in the freezer. How would you prepare it? I'm not too concerned about side dishes (have red cabbage in mind, maybe mashed potato/celery root), but how to cook the breast itself?
 
Any suggestions welcome. Must be fairly easy - I tend to perform at less than my full potential when guests are coming.

Answer

i cannot give you any advice on duck breast since i've never cooked it either. BUT i can give a piece of advice that you may have heard before. 
 
Never make a brand new recipe for company. If you must do this, have a back up plan, something very easy to prepare that comes together quickly. have everything you might need for plan B on hand. 
 
This way, if you mess things up halfway through, you are not panicked. and if you get to the end and things are truly awful and irreparable, you can start on plan B, with hopefully not much delay in the schedule. 
 
That said, best of luck and please tell us what you end up doing with the duck.
renee

Answer

Preheat the oven to 450. Score the skin and fat on the breasts in a crosshatch pattern (being careful not to pierce the flesh) and season with salt and pepper. Put the breasts, skin side down, in a hot ovenproof skillet and cook over medium heat until the skin turns golden brown. That should take somewhere between 5 and 8 minutes. Turn the breasts and put the skillet in the oven to roast for about 5 minutes for rare or a few minutes longer if you like it not quite so red. Let the meat sit for about 5 minutes before slicing it.
 
There's an interesting-looking recipe on iChef which I've linked for you. Cooking method is slightly different, but it sounds really good to me.

Link: http://www.ichef.com/recipe.cfm/smocid/164/recipe/Grille%20Duck%20Breast%20on%20Creamy%20Polenta%20with%20Port%20and%20Sundried%20Cherries/itemid/396278/task/display/recipeid/117672/recipecategoryid/178

Answer

There is a superb recipe for broiled duck breat in Paula Wolfert's Cooking of SW France.It is also very easy. 
 
You marinate two whole duck breasts (skin on) for 12-24 hrs (can be longer) in the refrigerator in a rub made of 1-1/2 tsp kosher salt, 1-1/2 tsp chopped shallots, 1 tsp chopped parsley, 1/2 tsp crumbled bay leaves, 1/4 tsp crumbled thyme, 12 crushed peppercorns, and 1 clove sliced garlic.PW then says to stack them skin side down in a covered container in the refrigerator. When the time comes to cook, wipe rub and liquid off the breasts til dry (dont have to be compulsive about getting off every last leaf and grain) and allow them to warm to room temperature. Preheat broiler set rack 4 in from heat, then score the skin side of the breasts and grill, first 1 min skin side down then about 4 min skin side up. PW instructs that the cooking will firm up the breast; if you pinch the meat, top to bottom, it will be "springy" if rare and have more give if medium. Transfer to cutting board, allow to rest for a couple minutes and slice on a diagonal as with london broil. She advises a dusting of fresh pepper before serving. 
 
We used to have a source of inexpensive duck breasts nearby and made this often on our grill. Not for many years, tho.
 
ps. This book has several good duck recipes - highly recommended.

Answer

I made this last fall for a gourmet club dinner. I have no idea where the hosts got the recipe. It was very good.
 
Crispy Duck Breasts
With Pear and Green Peppercorn Sauce

2 - 3 pounds boneless duck breasts (8 breast halves)
2 firm-ripe Bosc pears
1 ½ cups apple juice
1 teaspoon cornstarch
4 tablespoons Calvados or Armagnac
2 tablespoons green peppercorns packed in brine, drained and lightly crushed
2 tablespoons duck or veal demi-glace, or 1 extra-large vegetarian vegetable bouillon cube
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or ½ teaspoon dried
 
Trim excess fat from duck breasts. Heat a 12-inch heavy skillet over high heat until very hot. Pat duck breasts dry and season with salt. Put breasts, skin sides down, in skillet and reduce heat to moderate. Cook breasts 20 minutes, or until skin is crisp and mahogany-colored, removing fat from skillet as it is rendered. Turn breasts and cook about 2 minutes for medium-rare. Transfer breasts to plate and keep warm, covered loosely.
 
While duck breasts are cooking, peel pear and cut into 1/4 inch dice. Pour off all but about 1 tablespoon of fat from skillet and sauté pear until lightly browned, about one minute. In a measuring cup stir together apple juice and cornstarch. To pear add Calvados or Armagnac. Stir in cornstarch mixture, peppercorns, demi-glace or bouillon cube, thyme and simmer, stirring for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened.
 
Serve duck breasts sliced with sauce spooned over them.

Answer

I would prepare the duck breast simple (sear/crisp on both sides in salted hot pan and then finish in the oven), slice thinly and serve with roasted lentils with root veggies. This recipe (lentils) is on the Saveur website. The combo (unadorned, perfectly cooked duck and caramelized, savory lentils and veg) is perfect.

Answer

The key to duck breast is a medium heat for the right amount of time. Don't be tempted to turn up the heat.
 
As to such a large piece of duck breast, any leftovers are wonderful on top of a good salad.

Answer

and don't you dare throw away the fat that will render from the skin. Let it cool slightly, strain it, and keep it in a glass jar in the fridge. 

A spoonful of duck fat changes fried potatoes to manna of the gods.

(do beware the fat...the meat itself is very lean, but the skin is very fatty, and you'll have quite a lot of it in the pan.)

Answer

Just a general reply, since I'm quite certain Sir Gawain has already cooked his duck....:)

The other day, I had a beautiful duck breast to experiment with. Patted it dry, rubbed it with salt, pepper, fresh thyme and garlic. Let it sit in the fridge for 24 hours, Zuni-style.

Then, I removed the skin. (Don't worry- I didn't throw it out!) But, I didn't want to see what would happen if I just cooked the skinless breast on its own. Seared it over medium-high heat on my gas stove till it was medium rare by touch. Let it rest.

Then, I rendered the fat and saved it. This way I got to use the fat in the best way possible, IMHO. Had a few gribenes, but mostly had a lot of 'liquid gold' to stash in the fridge for judicious later use.

Sliced the meat thinly over a mixed green salad with orange segments, olives and a ginger vinaigrette. Dang.....It was good.

I always had trouble cooking the breast so that the skin is perfectly crisp while the meat is less than well-done....not even trying anymore. :)

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