Duck With Lentils And Bacon Date Puree Recipes

Steps:

• Pull as much fat as possible off the duck and reserve.
• Place the duck in a saucepan with the peppercorns, the onion stuck with cloves, celery and about one-half teaspoon salt. Cover with cold water, bring to a boil and simmer for about one and a half hours, until the duck is cooked through. Skim the surface from time to time, especially in the beginning. Remove the duck from the broth and set aside. Strain the broth. You should have four to five cups. Add water if necessary to bring the quantity of broth to five cups. Taste and season it with additional salt if necessary.
• Chop the reserved duck fat. If you have less than two tablespoons, add additional duck fat or chicken fat or oil. Melt the fat in a heavy casserole and saute the onion and green pepper in the fat until soft but not brown. Add the mushrooms and saute a few minutes longer. Stir in the garlic and season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
• Remove the skin from the duck and reserve it. Remove the skin and as much fat as possible from the duck and reserve it for another use if you wish; you will not need it in this recipe. Dice the duck meat and add it to the vegetables in the casserole.
• Rinse the lentils and add them to the casserole along with the five cups of stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer until the lentils are tender, 45 minutes to one hour.
• While the lentils are cooking, cut the duck skin in thin strips and saute it in a skillet until it is crispy and brown. Before serving the casserole, scatter the fried duck skin pieces over the top and dust it with parsley.

Steps:

• For the lentils: Add olive oil to a high-sided saucepan with a lid and heat until shimmering. Add white onion and saute until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and saute for an additional minute. Add carrot and celery and cook until just softened, about 4 minutes. Add lentils, bay leaf and thyme stir to coat lentils. Add 2 cups water to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook until tender, about 30 minutes. Remove and discard thyme bundle.
• For the rice: Meanwhile, add olive oil to a small saucepot. Heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the rice and mix to coat in oil. Add the coconut milk and a big pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook until rice is tender, about 20 minutes.
• For the spice blend: Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add coriander, cumin, fenugreek, peppercorns, nutmeg and cloves. Moving the pan constantly, toast the spices until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Remove spices to a spice grinder and pulse a few times until mixed (it's okay if there are some larger pieces). Set aside until ready to use.
• For the chutney: Add duck fat to a medium saucepot over medium heat and cook until shimmering. Add the garlic and shallot and saute until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the peaches, turmeric, vinegar, crushed red pepper, a pinch of salt and 1 teaspoon of the spice blend. Cook, stirring, until peaches begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add brown sugar, coconut milk and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and allow to reduce by half until thick and syrupy, about 20 minutes.
• For the pickled mustard seeds: Add vinegar, mustard seeds, salt, granulated sugar and 1/2 cup water to a small saucepot and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, then allow to cool at least 30 minutes at room temperature or up to overnight in the refrigerator. Set aside until ready to use.
• For the mustard greens: Meanwhile, add duck fat to a medium saute pan and heat over medium heat until shimmering. Add mustard greens and a big pinch of salt and saute until just tender.
• For the duck: Add olive oil to a large saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle duck breasts with salt and add duck breasts to pan skin-side down. Cook until skin fat is rendered and skin is crisp, about 15 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
• Slice duck breasts on a bias and garnish with chutney and mustard seeds. Serve with rice, greens and lentils on the side.

Steps:

• For bacon-date puree:
• Sauté bacon in small saucepan over medium heat until crisp. Stir in brandy, scraping up browned bits. Add dates and 1 1/4 cups water; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until dates are very soft, about 12 minutes. Transfer to blender. Puree date mixture until smooth, adding more water by tablespoonfuls if too thick to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Date puree can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.
• For lentils:
• Place 8 cups water, lentils, garlic, and bay leaves in medium saucepan. Sprinkle with salt. Bring to boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer until lentils are just tender but still firm to bite, about 15 minutes or longer, depending on type of lentils. Drain; rinse under cold water to cool. Drain; discard garlic and bay leaves. Transfer to large bowl.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add carrot, celery, and 1/3 cup shallots. Sauté until carrots and celery are crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Stir carrot mixture into lentils. Mix remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons shallots and red wine vinegar in small bowl. Let mixture soak 5 minutes, then whisk in remaining 6 tablespoons oil. Add vinaigrette to lentil mixture; toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• Using sharp knife, score skin of duck breasts diagonally to create 3/4-inchwide diamond pattern. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat 1 large skillet and 1 medium skillet over medium-high heat. Place 2 duck breasts in large skillet and 1 duck breast in medium skillet, skin side down. Cook until skin is brown and crisp, about 8 minutes. Turn duck, skin side up, and cook until brown and thermometer inserted horizontally into center registers 130°F, about 6 minutes.
• Transfer duck to work surface. Drain all but 1 tablespoon fat from 1 skillet. Add shallot and sauté until beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add Sherry vinegar and stir, scraping up browned bits. Add broth; bring to boil. Season sauce with salt and pepper.
• Thinly slice duck breasts. Spoon 1/4 cup date puree in center of each of 6 plates and spread with back of spoon, forming well in center; spoon lentils into each well. Place duck breast slices atop lentils, dividing equally. Drizzle sauce over and serve.