Seared Duck Breasts with a Citrus-Tea Sauce

Ingredients

• 4 boneless muscovy duck breast halves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Essence, recipe follows
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup sliced shallots
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sliced garlic
• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• 2 tablespoons loose Earl Grey tea leaves
• 3 cups dark chicken or duck stock
• 4 teaspoons sweet orange marmalade
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
• 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Score the fatty side of the duck breasts. Season on both sides with the Essence, salt and pepper and place in the refrigerator overnight.

In a large, heavy skillet over high heat cook duck breasts skin side down until golden brown and crispy, about 6 minutes. Turn and sear for 1 minute. Transfer the duck breasts to a pan.

Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the duck fat from the skillet. Add the shallots and saute for 1 minute. Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Add the orange juice and tea. Bring to a boil and reduce by half in volume. Add the stock, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer until reduced by half in volume, about 15 minutes. Place the duck breasts in the oven to heat through and finish cooking while the final sauce is being assembled, about 5 minutes for medium-rare.

Strain the sauce through a fine mesh strainer, pressing on the solids with the back of a spoon to extract all the liquid. Return the sauce to the pan. Add the marmalade and rosemary, and stir to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary. Whisk in the butter and remove from the heat. Remove the duck breasts from the oven and divide among 4 serving plates. Spoon the sauce over the duck breasts and serve.

Essence (Emeril's Creole Seasoning):

• 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.

Yield: about 2/3 cup

Recipe from New New Orleans Cooking, by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.