Time: 50 minutes

Serves: 2-4

  • 2 duck breasts (about 1 1/4 pounds total)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 golden delicious apples
  • 1/2 onion, peeled and sliced
  • 4 sprigs thyme
  • 1/2 cup apple juice
  • 1/2 stick butter
  • Kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup micro sprouts

ROASTED DUCK BREAST WITH APPLE-ONION PUREE

Recipe courtesy Tyler Florence

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut a few round slices off each apple (about ¼ inch thick) to roast and peel and chop the rest into cubes for pureeing.

Put the duck breasts on a cutting board skin side up and score all over in a tiny crosshatch pattern so that the fat will render and the skin will crisp.  Season all over with salt and pepper.  Film the bottom of a large sauté pan with olive oil and put the pan over medium heat.  When the oil is smoking, add the breasts, skin side down, and cook slowly for about 8 minutes until the fat is rendered and the skin is browned and crispy. Baste with fat as you cook it in the pan.  Take out of the pan and place on a roasting tray skin-side up with a couple of thin slices of apple.   Roast in the oven for 5-7 minutes.

Place onion, thyme, butter, and remaining apple cubes in a large saucepan and set over medium heat.  Add apple juice, cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes until apples are soft.  Puree in a food processor and season with salt and pepper.

Slice duck breast over apple-onion puree with roasted apple slices and garnish with micro sprouts.

Edited: October 14th, 2009