Pan-Seared Duck Breast with Cherry Sauce
Crisp-skinned duck breasts served with a savory-tart cherry and red wine pan sauce.
Instructions
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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.
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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.
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Step 3
Turn the breasts and cook the flesh side over medium heat until the thickest part reaches 74°C.
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Step 4
Transfer the duck to a clean plate, skin-side up, and rest before slicing.
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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.
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Step 6
Add the red wine, scrape up the browned bits, and boil over medium heat until reduced by about half.
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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.
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Step 8
Remove the thyme sprigs. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the cold butter until the sauce is glossy.
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Step 9
Slice the rested duck breasts across the grain and serve with the warm cherry sauce.
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.