Duck and Dogs on a Blanket

Name: Duck and Dogs on a Blanket
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT1H10M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT4H0M0.000S
Yield: 16 bites
Cuisine: american
Ingredients: 2 jalapenos, halved and thinly sliced; 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced; 3/4 cup red wine vinegar; 1/4 cup sugar; 1 teaspoon celery seeds; 1 teaspoon mustard seeds; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/4-inch dice; 1 or 2 legs duck confit; 2 large sweet onions, thinly sliced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed; Flour, for dusting; Whole-grain mustard, for spreading; 1/3 pound Gruyere, shredded; 2 hot dogs, split lengthwise and cut into fourths

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Level: Intermediate

Total: 4 hr (includes pickling and cooling time)
Active: 1 hr 10 min

Yield: 16 bites

Level: Intermediate

Total: 4 hr (includes pickling and cooling time)
Active: 1 hr 10 min

Yield: 16 bites

Ingredients

Pickled Red Onions:

2 jalapenos, halved and thinly sliced

1 medium red onion, thinly sliced

3/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon celery seeds

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

1 teaspoon salt

Balsamic Onions:

2 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/4-inch dice

1 or 2 legs duck confit

2 large sweet onions, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

Flour, for dusting

Whole-grain mustard, for spreading

1/3 pound Gruyere, shredded

2 hot dogs, split lengthwise and cut into fourths

Directions

Watch how to make this recipe.

For the pickled red onions: Put the jalapenos and onions in a heatproof, nonreactive bowl. Combine the vinegar, sugar, celery seeds, mustard seeds, salt and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepot over medium-high heat and simmer until the sugar dissolves. Pour the hot liquid over the jalapenos and onions. Set aside to pickle for 2 hours minimum or refrigerate overnight.
For the balsamic onions: Combine the bacon and duck legs in a large saute pan over medium heat. Saute until the bacon and duck skin have rendered their fat and become crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside to cool, leaving the rendered fat in the pan; you want about 3 tablespoons of fat. When cool enough to handle, separate and chop up the skin from the duck legs. Combine the duck skin with the bacon and set aside. Shred the duck meat into bite-size pieces and reserve separately.
Add the sweet onions to the pan with the rendered fat and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and caramelized, 20 to 30 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another 2 minutes. Add the balsamic vinegar and sugar, raise the heat and cook until the onions become jam-like, another 5 to 7 minutes. Add the bacon and duck skin to the onions, mix and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Lay the puff pastry out on a floured surface. Using a 1 3/4-inch cutter, punch out 16 rounds of puff pastry. Lay the rounds on a baking sheet, then place another clean baking sheet on top of the rounds to keep them flat while baking. Transfer to the oven and bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
Smear each puff pastry round with whole-grain mustard. Add a pile of balsamic onions, some shredded duck meat and a sprinkling of Gruyere, and top it off with a piece of hot dog. Return to the oven to warm everything through and melt the cheese, about 5 minutes. Finish with some pickled red onions and serve ... Oh my!