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Duck Breast with Red Wine Sauce and Butternut Squash Gnocchi

Spoil yourself with Chuck Hughes' succulent and tender duck breast, served with an irresistible red wine reduction sauce.

Recipe courtesy Chuck Hughes
Show: Chuck's Day Off Episode: Hospital Staff

Photo: Duck Breast with Red Wine Sauce and Butternut Squash Gnocchi

TOTAL TIME: 3 hr 25 min
Prep: 25 min
Inactive Prep: 5 min
Cook: 2 hr 55 min
 
YIELD: 4 servings
LEVEL: Intermediate

ingredients

RED WINE SAUCE:
  • 2 tablespoons/30ml olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon/15ml mustard seeds
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 1 large beet, cut into pieces
  • 3 cups/750ml red wine
  • 1/2 cup/125ml fresh orange or honey tangerine juice
  • 1/2 cup/125ml sherry vinegar or Xeres vinegar
  • 1/4 cup/60ml honey
  • 4 cups veal stock
  • 1/4 cup/60ml cold butter, cubed
  • Salt and pepper
    DUCK BREASTS:
    • 4 duck breasts
    • Salt and pepper
      SERVING:
      • Butternut Squash Gnocchi, recipe follows
      • Roasted Fennel, recipe follows
      BUTTERNUT SQUASH GNOCCHI:
      • 6 tablespoons/90ml olive oil
      • 1 large butternut squash, halved and seeded
      • Salt and pepper
      • 2 eggs, beaten
      • About 2 cups/500ml all-purpose flour, plus more for the work surface
      • 1/2 cup/125ml veal stock
      • 2 tablespoons/30ml butter
      • 1/2 cup/125ml finely chopped fresh chives
      • 1/2 cup/125ml grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
      ROASTED FENNEL:
      • 3 tablespoons/45ml olive oil
      • 2 fennel bulbs, quartered
      • Salt and pepper
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      Directions

      For the red wine sauce: Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook the mustard seeds and shallots until the shallots are translucent. Add the beets and cook for 1 minute. Add the wine, orange juice, vinegar and honey, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer gently until reduced to about 1 cup (250 ml), about 30 minutes.

      Meanwhile, in another saucepan, bring the veal stock to a boil, then let it reduce to about 1 cup (250 ml) over low heat, about 30 minutes.

      Strain the wine mixture through a fine sieve set over the pan of reduced veal stock, pressing down on the vegetables to extract maximum flavor; discard the solids. Stir the sauce, then continue to cook over low heat until slightly thick, about 15 minutes. Add the butter, whisking constantly. Season with salt and pepper. Keep warm.

      Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

      For the duck breasts: Score the duck on the skin side. Remove the excess fat around the breast, and remove the tip, if desired. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

      Place the duck breast, skin-side down, in a room-temperature skillet with no oil. Set the skillet over medium-high heat and cook for 5 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the oven and cook until medium-rare, 8 to 10 minutes. Let the duck breasts rest on a cutting board for about 5 minutes.

      Slice the duck. Divide the Butternut Squash Gnocchi among plates. Top with the Roasted Fennel and duck. Add a spoonful of sauce and serve.
      Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper and flour them to prevent the gnocchi from sticking.

      Drizzle 2 tablespoons olive oil over each squash half and season with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet, cut-sides down, and bake for 1 hour. Let cool.

      Scoop the flesh of the squash into the bowl of a food processor. Add the eggs, flour, 1 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Process just until the dough is soft (depending on the size of the squash, you might need more flour). Do not overmix.

      Transfer the dough to a floured surface. Roll portions of dough into long ropes that are 2 centimeters (about 3/4-inch) in diameter. Cut ropes crosswise into pieces that are 2 centimeters (about 3/4-inch) long. Transfer the prepared baking sheet.

      Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the gnocchi until they float to the surface, about 2 minutes. Transfer the gnocchi with a slotted spoon or wire skimmer to a bowl of icy cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain.

      Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute the gnocchi until golden. Add the veal stock and butter, and season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook until the gnocchi are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chives and cheese.
      Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

      Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fennel and season with salt and pepper. Cook, turning to sear all sides, until caramelized, about 5 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast for 30 minutes.

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      5

      Newest Ratings and Reviews

      Read all 3 reviews

      • on January 16, 2012

        Flag

        I'be only made the duck breast and sauce, but it turns out great every time. I have an electric ( not gas stove and I have to turn the heat up a little more than directed, especially for the sauce. I had never cooked duck before, but the instructions on how to cook the meat in the recipe were spot on. It was so good. This is the best way to cook a duck breast that I have found, even without the sauce. Even my picky one year old devours this duck. Oh, so good!

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      • on December 24, 2011

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        I cooked this meal (san gnocchi for 13 ladies. Awesome! Chuck rocks.

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      • on October 10, 2011

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        So I only made the gnocchi, paired it with roasted pork loin. Butternut swash is my favorite of the squash and the gnocchi tuned out amazing! Texture was perfect, super easy and fast after the squash cooked! I sauteed them with beef stock and thyme in the end, they were an awesome side! next time I'll have to try the duck!

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