Elegant, delicious and colorful, this French duck dish is perfect to serve for special occasions. —Francine Lizotte, Langley, British Columbia

Duck with Brandy Bing Cherry Sauce

Duck with Brandy Bing Cherry Sauce
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
35 min
Yield
4 servings
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound fresh dark sweet cherries, pitted and halved
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 4 duck breasts with skin (about 5 ounces each)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons Cognac
- 1/4 cup cherry syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 ounces cherry brandy
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Place cherries and wine in a small bowl. Stir well; set aside.
- Pat duck breasts dry with paper towel; using a sharp knife, score fat to create a tight diamond pattern. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Place duck breasts, fat sides down, in a cold ovenproof skillet. Heat pan over medium-low heat. Cook, uncovered, until skin is browned, 7-8 minutes, pouring drippings from pan as needed. Save duck fat for another use. Turn duck, fat side up.
- Bake until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium, a thermometer should read 165°; well-done, 180°), 10-12 minutes.
- In a small saucepan, heat Cognac over low heat until vapors form on surface. Carefully ignite Cognac and slowly pour over duck breasts, coating evenly. Leaving skillet on the cooking surface, gently shake pan back and forth until flames are completely extinguished. Remove duck; keep warm. Skim fat from cooking juices.
- To same pan, add cherry syrup and thyme. Drain cherries, reserving fruit. Stir drained liquid into pan; bring to a boil. Cook until mixture is reduced by half, 3-5 minutes. Add cherry brandy and reserved cherries; cook 2 minutes longer. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes.
- If desired, remove skin from duck before slicing. Serve with cherry sauce.
Nutrition Facts
1 duck breast with 1/2 cup sauce: 494 calories, 25g fat (9g saturated fat), 74mg cholesterol, 539mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 1g fiber), 17g protein.
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