Pan Fried Duck Breasts With Orange Glaze

Even though we live in a city of over 200,000 people there are very few upper end eateries aside from the various country clubs. Therefore we spend plenty of money on dining when we travel to other places. When at home we seldom eat out because it makes us both angry about paying ridiculously high prices for below standard food and service. Outback is not an upper end steakhouse chain, people!

Mexican restaurants abound here. There is practically one on every other block, often right next door to one another. However, Mexican food will make you fat if that's all you eat. There. I said it. And it's true. Once a month for us. Maybe.

We also quit eating fast food due to health concerns but we still have it once or twice a month. We can't always be expected to be good. Right?

So, since the kids no longer live at home, we have both learned to cook and we are both pretty adept. We watch food shows, we subscribe to food magazines, and we always have the internet for even more information. We have learned to be a bit daring and often shop for foods when in the Big City, that aren't available to us here. For instance, I drive to San Antonio two to three times per year just to stock up on seafood, with my ice chests in tow. I also include trips to Central Market and Whole Foods seeking other things we don't have access to here.

Our latest culinary adventure was to make the perfect duck breasts. Items like duck breasts are only stocked sporadically so when we saw them at the store, we jumped at the chance to give them a try. Out here in the wilds of West Texas it cost us a whopping $70.00 for two duck breasts so I was determined to to get them right. And right I did. They were beyond delicious and way more than either of us could eat. Still, they were worth every penny, as well as the effort.

Pan Fried Duck With Orange Glaze:

Ingredients:

2 Boneless Peking or Muscovy Boneless Duck Breasts (I used Peking duck)
Kosher Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper

For the Glaze:

2 tablespoons of orange liqueur (I used Grand Marnier)
1 cup fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
2 star anise
freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon orange zest
2 tablespoons butter

Directions:

Using a sharp knife, lightly score the skin side of the duck breast and season with salt and pepper. Place the duck breast skin side down in a cold saute pan and place over medium heat. Cook until the duck skin is crispy, 8-10 minutes. Drain and discard the duck fat that pools on the bottom of the pan as they cook and the skin renders.

Flip the duck breasts and cook very briefly (about 30 seconds) on the other side.
Remove from pan and set aside to rest as you prepare the glaze.

Take the pan that you cooked the duck breast in and pour out the fat, wipe out any excess salt and discard. Away from the heat, add orange liqueur to de-glaze then return to heat and add orange juice, spices and sugar. Reduce for 2-3 minutes until thickened and rich. To the pan add orange zest and cold butter. Swirl as it melts and serve with sliced duck breasts.
 
 I served the duck with a brown & wild rice medley and sugar snap peas, which was the perfect combination. Cheers! (Recipe is from Top Chef University.)

This recipe is thanks to Top Chef University Online. They offer a great online cooking course but it is lengthy.