Red Wine-Braised Duck on Soft Polenta
Medium
2.5hrs
4
Red Wine-Braised Duck on Soft Polenta
Rated 5.0 stars by 2 users
Servings
4
Cook Time
2 hours 30 minutes
This is the ultimate in winter indulgence. The duck is tender and rich with the flavours of spice and wine, and served atop silky, creamy polenta – it is certainly not a warm weather dish! All this needs is a big bowl of green beans with a tangy vinaigrette, or some spinach finished with plenty of lemon, to cut through a little of the fat. Also, a very large glass of fruity red wine.
Ingredients
-
4 duck marylands
-
Olive oil
- 1 tbsp Gewürzhaus Bavarian Roast Chicken Spice
-
1 onion, chopped
-
1 carrot, chopped
-
1 celery stalk, chopped
-
4 baby onions, peeled
-
100g button mushrooms
-
6 garlic cloves, peeled
-
500ml red wine
-
300ml duck stock, or chicken stock
-
4 sprigs thyme
- Gewürzhaus Black Peppercorns, freshly ground
-
Handful flat leaf parsley, chopped
-
500ml milk
-
500ml water
-
180g polenta
-
40g butter, chopped
-
50g parmesan, freshly grated
Directions
Preheat oven to 150°C. On the stove top, heat olive oil in a large, ovenproof casserole dish.
Season the duck skin with Bavarian Roast Chicken Spice, then place into the pan skin side down. Cook until the skin is golden brown, then turn and quickly sear the flesh side. Remove from pan and set aside.
Pour off most of the duck fat from the pan (keep the fat and use it for roast potatoes at a later date!). Add the chopped onion, carrot, celery, whole garlic cloves and cook, stirring until softened. Add the baby onions and button mushrooms and cook until they have taken on a little colour, then add the spices and cook for about 5 minutes.
Return the duck to the pan and pour in the wine. Simmer until it has reduced a little, then add the stock. Bring to the boil, cover and place in the oven. Cook for 1 ½ – 2 hours, or until the duck is very tender and falling off the bone.
Meanwhile, combine milk with 500ml of water and bring to the boil over medium heat. Gradually add the polenta to the liquid, whisking continuously, then whisk (and then stir) until thick and silky – about 10 minutes. Stir through the butter and parmesan and season to taste.
Once duck is tender, remove the duck, mushrooms, garlic cloves and baby onion from the liquid, then return the pan to high heat and reduce cooking liquid by about half. Return the duck and vegetables to the pan to warm through and glaze.
To serve
Serve the duck on a healthy spoonful of polenta, surrounded by the mushrooms, garlic and baby onions, drizzled in plenty of sauce.
