I decided to try another new way to prepare a duck breast with a new sauce, both my hubby and I enjoyed this. I thought it turned out really well with sauce really complimenting the duck. I did adjust the ingredients several times but I think I have written the right quantities for 2 people.

                                                                                                                                                                                Ingredients

2 Duck breasts (I live near France so I buy magret they are larger than regular breasts so choose ones of a nice size.)
1 Garlic clove, bruised
1 Tablespoon thyme leaves
Zest of half of an orange

Blueberry Port Sauce

1 Cup port
1 Tablespoon redcurrant jelly
150g Blueberries
11/2 Teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 Teaspoon cornflour

Spinach

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Red onion, finely chopped
1 Clove garlic, crushed
30g Butter
300g Baby spinach leaves

Rosti Style Potatoes

2 Medium potatoes, coarsely grated
1 Onion, finely chopped
1 Clove garlic, crushed
25-30g Butter

Method

Duck Breast

1. Place the duck breast in a container with the garlic, orange zest and thyme. Cover the container and place it in a refrigerator, leave it to infuse for a few hours.

2. Cook duck breast skin side down over medium/high heat to render fat and crisp skin. This will take 8-10 Min’s, you will have to drain fat periodically as a lot of fat will fill the pan, just be careful. as it is very hot.

3. Transfer duck to an oven proof dish, place on a wire rack and cook in 180c oven for 20-25 Min’s, this will leave it nice and pink in the middle. I turn the oven, to grill, for the last few Min’s to really crisp up the skin, but take your pick I like it this way.

Blueberry Sauce

1. Heat port, half the berries and redcurrant jelly in a pan. Heat to a medium/high heat and leave to simmer for 8-10 minutes until it reduces to a thin sauce consistency.

2. Add a little water to cornflour and add to sauce to thicken slightly, add Dijon mustard and whisk to dissolve.

3. Remove from heat and stir in remaining berries and serve immediately.

Spinach

1. Heat oil in a large pan add onion and garlic, cook until onion softens.

2. Melt butter in same pan, add spinach and cook until spinach is soft.

Rosti Style Potatoes

1. Heat butter in a pan, add onion and garlic and cook until soft, using an absorbent cloth squeeze any excess liquid from potatoes and add to pan, cook until potato is sticky. Remove mixture from pan.

2. Using egg rings place mixture inside and cook until browned and crisp on both sides.

3. Alternatively I did this last night as I was on a hurry, but it does not make for the best presentation. Just leave potato in pan and stir cooking until crisp, it is a little quicker but potato is in bits rather than a nice shaped ring.

To Serve: Pour a little sauce on plate, place sliced duck breast on top of sauce, serve spinach and rosti on the side.

All photo’s taken by me unless otherwise stated.