Pan-Seared Duck Breast with Cherry Sauce

Pan-Seared Duck Breast with Cherry Sauce

Crisp-skinned duck breasts served with a savory-tart cherry and red wine pan sauce.

Instructions

  1. Step 1

    Pat the duck breasts dry. Score the skin in a shallow crosshatch without cutting into the meat, then season both sides with the salt and black pepper.

    Timer: 5 min (fixed)

    Ingredients used: 4.0 piece Duck Breast, 9.0 gr Fine Salt, 2.0 gr Ground Black Pepper

    Cookware: Chef Knife, cutting board

  2. Step 2

    Arrange the seasoned breasts skin-side down in a cold skillet. Set over medium heat and cook until the skin is deeply golden and much of the fat has rendered.

    Timer: 10 min (fixed)

    Cookware: skillet, tongs

  3. Step 3

    Turn the breasts and cook the flesh side over medium heat until the thickest part reaches 74°C.

    Timer: 7 min (fixed)

    Cookware: instant-read thermometer, skillet, tongs

  4. Step 4

    Transfer the duck to a clean plate, skin-side up, and rest before slicing.

    Timer: 5 min (fixed)

    Cookware: plate, tongs

  5. Step 5

    Carefully pour the rendered fat into a heatproof bowl, leaving a thin coating in the skillet. Add the shallot and cook over medium heat until softened.

    Timer: 2 min (fixed)

    Ingredients used: 50.0 gr Shallot

    Cookware: Heatproof Bowl, skillet, wooden spoon

  6. Step 6

    Add the red wine, scrape up the browned bits, and boil over medium heat until reduced by about half.

    Timer: 4 min (fixed)

    Ingredients used: 180.0 ml Dry Red Wine

    Cookware: skillet, wooden spoon

  7. Step 7

    Stir in the chicken stock, cherries, thyme, honey, and balsamic vinegar. Simmer over medium heat until the cherries soften and the sauce lightly coats a spoon.

    Timer: 8 min (fixed)

    Ingredients used: 15.0 ml Balsamic Vinegar, 300.0 gr Cherry, 180.0 ml Chicken Stock, 15.0 gr Honey, 4.0 piece Thyme

    Cookware: skillet, wooden spoon

  8. Step 8

    Remove the thyme sprigs. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the cold butter until the sauce is glossy.

    Timer: 1 min (fixed)

    Ingredients used: 30.0 gr Butter

    Cookware: skillet, wooden spoon

  9. Step 9

    Slice the rested duck breasts across the grain and serve with the warm cherry sauce.

    Timer: 2 min (fixed)

    Cookware: Chef Knife, cutting board, plate

Nutrition (Estimated)

Food safety

Caution: high

Prevent raw duck and its utensils from contacting ready-to-eat foods. Cook each breast to 74°C in the thickest part. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and consume them within 3 days.

Risk factors

  • Raw poultry can carry harmful bacteria.
  • Hot rendered duck fat can cause serious burns.
  • Undercooked duck may present a foodborne-illness risk.