Duck Breast with Grapes, Turnips and a Port Emulsion

Recipe courtesy Lisa Nakamur, The French Laundry

Rated 5 stars out of 5
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  • Read 3 Reviews
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Ingredients

  • 4 Pekin duck breast
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 clove garlic, crush slightly but unpeeled
  • 1/4 to 1/2 pounds cold unsalted butter cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 tablespoons shallots
  • 1 cup ruby port
  • 1 tablespoon freshly ground coriander seed
  • 1/4 teaspoon red wine vinegar
  • Butter or vegetable oil for sauteing
  • 2 turnips, cut into medium dice
  • 1 pound assorted grapes, halved and seeded

Directions

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Score the duck skin with a sharp knife. Season both sides of the breast with salt, but only put pepper on the flesh side. Place breast in a cold saute pan and place over low heat. As fat renders out of the skin, drain it off. When skin is crisp and golden, increase flame to medium and turn breast over. Add 2 of the thyme sprigs, the garlic clove and about 2 tablespoons butter. Finish cooking the breasts until medium rare. Remove from the pan and hold in a 200 degree oven. Drain off excess fat from pan. Add shallots and cook until translucent, about one minute. Add port, remaining thyme sprigs, ground coriander seeds and vinegar. Reduce until almost all the liquid is gone. Whisk in cold unsalted butter cubes in small additions. If emulsion becomes too thick , add a touch of chicken stock or water. Strain and keep in a warm, not hot, place. Saute in butter or vegetable oil the turnips until golden or tender. Season with salt and black pepper. Drain on paper towels and keep warm. Repeat the process with the grapes. Drain on paper towels and keep warm. To serve, slice the duck breast thinly. Arrange on warm plates (not too hot, or your emulsion may break). Mix together the emulsion, turnips, and grapes. Spoon over the duck and serve immediately. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves, chervil pluches, or chive points.

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 3 reviews

  • on February 08, 2013

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    This is hands down my favorite duck breast recipe. The method for cooking the duck breast produces a crisp skin and perfectly cooked breast. I use the method for other duck breast recipes, but I always keep coming back to this one.

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  • on April 25, 2009

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    Both my husband and I loved this recipe. The tang of the grapes adds a nice counterpoint to the sweet port. I had a package of four duck breasts, so we made the whole recipe instaed of halving it for the 2 of us and we were glad we did. It was even great leftover. Duck breast is expensive so we'll probably just make this for special occasions like the first reviewer but it will definitely be a go to recipe when wanting to impress.

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  • on August 08, 2006

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    This is a fabulous recipe that is quite easy to do and doesn't require a ton of ingredients. The most annoying aspect is it has to be done in steps, which is why I rate it as a special occasion dish (along with the spotty availability of duck...

    I've followed it to the letter (it's easy to half twice, and can't think of a way to tweak it and make it better. Skin crispy, breast perfectly cooked, slightly sweet but not cloying, wonderfully complex. Serve with rice and fresh spinach sauteed in garlic (as the original show demonstrated and it is a perfect meal.

    people found this review Helpful.
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