Seared Duck Breast With Cherries And Port Sauce

Serves: 2

Irma Bergnaum

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

52

Spice

44

Sweetness

52

Sourness

44

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.6

Difficulty

Ingredients:

2 tbsps

Tawny Port

Directions:

1

Place duck breast halves between 2 sheets of plastic wrap

2

Pound lightly to even thickness (about 1/2 to 3/4 inch)

3

Discard plastic wrap

4

Using sharp knife, score skin in 3/4-inch diamond pattern (do not cut into flesh)

5

DO AHEAD: Can be made 8 hours ahead

6

Cover and chill

7

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat

8

Sprinkle duck with salt and pepper

9

Add duck, skin side down, to skillet and cook until skin is browned and crisp, about 5 minutes

10

Turn duck breasts over, reduce heat to medium, and cook until browned and cooked to desired doneness, about 4 minutes longer for small breasts and 8 minutes longer for large breast for medium-rare

11

Transfer to work surface, tent with foil to keep warm, and let rest 10 minutes

12

Meanwhile, pour off all but 2 tablespoons drippings from skillet

13

Add shallot to skillet and stir over medium heat 30 seconds

14

Add broth, cherries, Port, and honey

15

Increase heat to high and boil until sauce is reduced to glaze, stirring often, about 3 minutes

16

Whisk in 1 tablespoon cold butter

17

Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper

18

Thinly slice duck

19

Fan slices out on plates

20

Spoon sauce over and serve

21

Place duck breast halves between 2 sheets of plastic wrap

22

Pound lightly to even thickness (about 1/2 to 3/4 inch)

23

Discard plastic wrap

24

Using sharp knife, score skin in 3/4-inch diamond pattern (do not cut into flesh)

25

DO AHEAD: Can be made 8 hours ahead

26

Cover and chill

27

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat

28

Sprinkle duck with salt and pepper

29

Add duck, skin side down, to skillet and cook until skin is browned and crisp, about 5 minutes

30

Turn duck breasts over, reduce heat to medium, and cook until browned and cooked to desired doneness, about 4 minutes longer for small breasts and 8 minutes longer for large breast for medium-rare

31

Transfer to work surface, tent with foil to keep warm, and let rest 10 minutes

32

Meanwhile, pour off all but 2 tablespoons drippings from skillet

33

Add shallot to skillet and stir over medium heat 30 seconds

34

Add broth, cherries, Port, and honey

35

Increase heat to high and boil until sauce is reduced to glaze, stirring often, about 3 minutes

36

Whisk in 1 tablespoon cold butter

37

Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper

38

Thinly slice duck

39

Fan slices out on plates

40

Spoon sauce over and serve

41

What to drink: With the duck, pour a medium-bodied red from Spain's Rioja region

42

We like the Viña Santurnia 2005 Crianza Rioja ($13), which has black cherry flavors and smoky notes

43

With the duck, pour a medium-bodied red from Spain's Rioja region

44

We like the Viña Santurnia 2005 Crianza Rioja ($13), which has black cherry flavors and smoky notes