Braised Duck Legs with Sweet and Spicy Pineapple

 

Duck is the “meatier” relative of chicken: its complex flavor and unique texture make it highly suitable for bold culinary combinations, which is exactly what I had in mind.
While I more often use duck breast, this time, I had D’Artagnan’s Rohan duck legs to experiment with, and I chose a classic pairing with pineapple, along with Asian inspired sweet and spicy sauce.

Orange and Quince Duck Legs

 

Whenever I’m lucky enough to find quince at the store, I immediately grab a few. It is such a wonderful and versatile fruit, and it is a real shame its’ season is fairly short.
On top of being such a fragrant fruit, quince has so much pectin in it, it is no wonder that its’ main use is in making jams, jellies and fruit pastes. Quince is also great for making Pate de Fruit, a recipe I have shared a while ago, and can be found HERE.

Orange Marmalade Chicken Thighs

 

Upon reading Dorothy’s post in her wonderful blog “The New Vintage Kitchen”,  about her friend’s Hilda’s chicken marmalade recipe, I knew I wanted to give it a try. Such simple, yet complex at the same time, recipes, always intrigue me. The fact that the main flavoring ingredient was orange marmalade, a favorite of mine, was definitely part of the attraction.

Pan Seared Duck Breast with Cherry Sauce

Pan seared duck is one of the most elegant choices for dinner, yet, at the same time, it’s one of the quickest and easiest to make, especially when paired with a quick yet flavorful sauce, that is prepared in the pan, while the duck is resting.

Duck Breast with Spiced Kumquat Marmalade and Mustard Glaze

Duck breast meat is a special delicacy: unlike most poultry, it is at its best when pan-fried to medium-rare degree, very much like a good steak. The meat is highly flavorful, while the layer of fat adds more flavor, and a slight smokiness, when it is rendered in the pan.

Wonton Wrappers with Pineapple-Coconut Milk Duck Filling

Wonton wrappers are a wonderful versatile item that I love using. Once filled, they can be steamed or fried, or turned into quick ravioli dishes. In the recipe here I’ve used them to prepare mini egg rolls and cooked ravioli, filled with a delicious duck filling.

Duck with Cranberries and Orange Sauce

With plenty of leftover cranberries and oranges, I’ve decided to put some into good use, in the form of a sauce for a duck dish.
Cranberries and oranges go so well together, and the acidity and mild sweetness is just perfect for a duck dish. The result was wonderful.

Roasted Duck Legs with Potatoes and Carrots

As much as I love cooked duck, or duck confit, roasted duck is another favorite. Not only the meat is perfectly cooked and still keeps its unique texture and flavor, in this method we get an extra bonus with the crispy skin.