Stranger Foods

Duck breasts with juniper, blackberry and port sauce

Serves 2 | Prep 15 mins | Cook 27 mins

Dark, rich and a little gamey, duck breast is gorgeous paired with blackberries in a mellow port sauce. The skin does not turn quite as crisp as it does when cooked the conventional way, seared first in a frying pan on the stove, but it is delicious nonetheless.

Source: Foolproof Roasting Pan: 60 Effortless One-Pan Recipes Packed with Flavour

Ingredients

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Imperial

x0.5

2 boneless duck breasts, skin on
10 juniper berries, crushed
½ tsp sea salt flakes
3 cloves garlic, unpeeled and bashed
small bunch thyme
salad or greens (optional), to serve

For the sauce

5 tbsp port
180 ml beef stock (broth)
25 g light brown soft sugar
2 tbsp unsalted butter
150 g blackberries, generous

Instructions

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Preheat the oven to 240°C and place a 30 × 20 × 5 cm (8 × 12 × 2 in) roasting pan inside on the highest rack to heat.
Pat the duck dry with kitchen paper and score the skin diagonally with a sharp knife. Using a pestle, bash the juniper berries with the salt in a mortar, then rub the mixture into the duck skin.
When the oven has reached the correct temperature, quickly place the duck breasts, skin-side down, in the hot tray and roast for .
Reduce the oven temperature to 200°C, turn the duck breasts over and baste with the rendered fat. Add the garlic and thyme to the tray, shake well and roast for a further , basting halfway through.
Transfer the duck to a plate and cover loosely with foil. Tip out all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the tray. Stir in the port, stock, sugar and butter. Add the blackberries and squash them a bit with a fork. Return to the oven for - the mixture should thicken slightly.
Remove and discard the thyme sprigs. Squeeze out the garlic flesh and discard the skins. Mash the berries and garlic with a fork and amalgamate into the sauce, adding in any juices from the duck plate.
Serve the duck in slices with the sauce spooned over. Some new potatoes and salad or greens would be lovely alongside.

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