Classic Duck à L'orange




This is an adaptation of Julia Child's recipe for French duck a l'orange, a dish that is a classic for a reason. Use fat ducks for this, either wild or domesticated. A small, fat goose is another option.

Source: Hank Shaw, Honest-Food.Net

Also see Easy Duck à L'Orange

Ingredients

  • 2 fat ducks, like mallards or pintail

  • Salt

  • 3 tablespoons sugar

  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar

  • 2 cups duck stock or beef stock

  • 4 sweet oranges

  • 1 tablespoon arrowroot or corn starch

  • 3 tablespoons Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur

  • 1/4 teaspoon orange bitters (optional)

  • 2 tablespoons room temperature butter


Instructions

  1. Use a needle or sharp knife point to pierce the skin of the fat ducks all over, taking care to not pierce the meat itself; go in at an angle. This helps the fat render out of the bird. Salt the ducks well and preheat the oven to 325°F.

  2. Put the ducks in an ovenproof pan. I rest them on celery leaves to prop them above the level of the pan; this helps them crisp better. If you want, surround the duck with some root vegetables. Roast for 90 minutes.

  3. Take the pan out and increase the heat to 425°F. When it hits this temperature, put the birds back in the oven and roast until the skin is crispy, about 15 to 20 minutes.

  4. Meanwhile, boil the vinegar and sugar in a small pot until it turns brown. Pour in the stock little by little, stirring all the while. Set aside.

  5. Shave the peel off the oranges, grating some fine and keeping the peel of 2 oranges in large pieces. Juice 2 oranges. Cut segments from the other 2 oranges. Here is a tutorial on how to do that.

  6. When the ducks are ready, remove them from the oven and let them rest on a cutting board.

  7. Finish the sauce. Bring it to a simmer, then add about 1/2 cup of orange juice and the large bits of peel. Simmer 5 minutes. Whisk together a little of the sauce with the starch, and, when it's mixed well, stir it into the saucepot to thicken. Add the Grand Marnier and enough salt and orange bitters to taste. Swirl in the butter one tablespoon at a time.

  8. To serve, carve the duck and arrange on plates. Give everyone some orange supremes and pour over the sauce. Garnish with the grated zest, and serve with good bread, mashed potatoes or celery root, or polenta.


Note:

June 27, 2021 I used a duck harvested from my friends Richard Knaggs and John McGuirk's Farm in Forestville, CA, the Rainbow Ranch. They have a guest house listed if you'd like to book a stay.

You can also get duck online from D'artagnan Foods


Its all about the sauce and the video below is perfect