Braised Duck Leg Recipe, Red Cabbage & Apples

by Andy Waters
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2
3 hours

Ingredients

Braised duck leg

  • 4 duck legs
  • 2 large onions, large dice
  • vegetable oil
  • 2 carrots, large dice
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 star anise
  • 5 bay leaves
  • 1 sprig of rosemary
  • 1.5l chicken stock
  • salt
  • pepper

Braised red cabbage

  • 1 red cabbage, finely shredded
  • 125ml of red wine vinegar
  • 100g of brown sugar
  • 1 large onion, finely sliced
  • 750ml of red wine
  • 1 tsp green peppercorns
  • 1 tsp juniper berries
  • 1 sprig of sage

Green peppercorn duck sauce

  • 500ml of beef stock
  • 1/2 tsp green peppercorns, ground
  • 1 sprig of rosemary
  • 100ml of cream

Caramelised apples

  • 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and turned or cut into wedges
  • 500ml of apple juice
  • 1 knob of clarified butter

Method

1
Start this duck recipe with the duck legs. Preheat the oven to 160˚C/gas mark 3. Remove the knuckle off the end of the drumstick and set aside until required
  • 4 duck legs
2
Heat a small amount of vegetable oil in a large pan on a medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, cinnamon, star anise, bay leaf and rosemary and cook for 5 minutes, allowing the vegetables to colour slightly
  • 2 large onions
  • vegetable oil
  • 2 carrots
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 5 bay leaves
  • 1 sprig of rosemary
3
Add the duck legs and a healthy seasoning of salt and pepper. Cover with chicken stock and bring to the simmer. Place the pan in the oven for for 2-2 1/2 hours, or until the meat in very tender. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the liquid
  • 1.5ml of chicken stock
  • salt
  • pepper
4
For the braised red cabbage, combine the vinegar and sugar in large pan and bring to a simmer. Reduce until it resembles a thin syrup consistency before adding the cabbage and onion. Sweat for 15 minutes
  • 1 red cabbage
  • 125ml of red wine vinegar
  • 100g of brown sugar
  • 1 large onion
5
Cover the cabbage with the red wine, adding the juniper berries, peppercorns and sage. Cook on low heat until the red wine has reduced down to a syrup and the cabbage is soft and tender. Season to taste with salt and set aside until required
  • 1 tsp green peppercorns
  • 750ml of red wine
  • 1 tsp juniper berries
  • 1 sprig of sage
6
For the duck sauce, place the beef stock and rosemary in a pan and bring to the boil. Reduce to the simmer and reduce to 375ml. Add the ground peppercorns and enough cream to give a strong coffee colour to the finish. Season to taste and set aside until required
  • 500ml of beef stock
  • 1/2 tsp green peppercorns
  • 1 sprig of rosemary
  • 100ml of cream
7
For the caramelised apples, add enough clarified butter to generously coat the base of a large frying pan. Place the pan on a medium heat and allow it come to temperature
  • 1 knob of clarified butter
8
Add the apples to the pan and toss gently until you have an even golden brown colour all over. Add the apple juice in small amounts and reduce, tossing the apples as you go. Repeat until all the juice has been used and the apples have nice glaze. Remove from the pan onto a small oven tray
  • 500ml of apple juice
  • 2 Granny Smith apples
9
To serve the duck, heat the grill and place the leg under the heat, skin side up until crispy. Meanwhile, heat the cabbage, sauce and apples and when hot divide the cabbage between 4 plates. Place the duck on top, the apples and around and drizzle with sauce