Muscovy duck breasts w/juniper braised cabbage and mushroom

6 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
poundsMuscovy duck breasts (about 3)
2tablespoonsOlive oil
1tablespoonChopped fresh marjoram or 1 tsp. dried
3clovesGarlic, chopped
1tablespoonBlack peppercorns, crushed
2tablespoonsItalian parsley, chopped
1Red cabbage
1tablespoonOlive oil
4ouncesSmoked bacon
1smallOnion, diced
¾cupRed wine
½cupApple juice
1Bay leaf
3Juniper berries
1Inch piece cinnamon stick
2tablespoonsSugar
2tablespoonsRed wine vinegar
2tablespoonsButter
1tablespoonOlive oil
12ouncesBrown mushrooms, cleaned and quartered
2teaspoonsMinced garlic
¼cupMinced shallot
2teaspoonsLemon juice
1tablespoonChopped fresh sage
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

MARINADE

BRAISED CABBAGE

MUSHROOMS

Trim duck breasts of excess skin and fat. With a sharp knife, score skin in a cross hatch pattern but do not cut through the flesh. Combine oil, marjoram, garlic, peppercorns and parsley and spread over duck breasts.

Marinate for up to 12 hours in refrigerator.

Slice cabbage in half, lengthwise, and remove core. Slice thinly. You should have about 8 cups cabbage. Heat oil in skillet, on medium heat. Add bacon and onion and saute until bacon releases its fat, about 5 minutes.

Add cabbage and remaining ingredients. Bring to boil. Cover skillet and cook on medium low heat, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes or until cabbage is tender. Uncover and simmer 5 minutes longer. Reseason and make sure there is a balance of sweet/sour flavors. Remove bay leaf and cinnamon stick. Reserve cabbage.

In large skillet, heat butter and oil over medium high heat. When butter begins to foam, add mushrooms and cook, stirring often for 5 minutes or until mushrooms are browned. Stir in garlic and shallots. Cook for 2 minutes longer. Add lemon juice, sage, salt and pepper and reserve.

Season duck breast with salt. In a heavy skillet, on medium heat, add duck breasts skin side down and cook for 5 minutes draining fat as it accumulates. Flip over breasts and cook another 5 to 7 minutes or until breasts are medium rare. Remove duck and let sit for 5 minutes.

Slice duck across the grain into thin slices and fan out on plate. Garnish with cabbage and mushrooms and serve with any juices from the skillet.

Serves 6 Typed in MMFormat by cjhartlin@... Source: Autumn in Ontario's Wine Country.

Posted to MM-Recipes Digest by "Cindy Hartlin" <cjhartlin@...> on Sep 28, 1999