Confit duck leg, braised red cabbage, green peppercorn sauce, caramelised apples
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This majestic duck confit recipe from Andy Waters creates a stunning restaurant-style meal in the comfort of your own home. The duck legs are slowly-cooked with star anise and cinnamon, resulting in wonderfully-flavoured meat that is well-complemented with the braised red cabbage, caramelised Granny Smith apples and savoury green peppercorn sauce.
Ingredients
Duck leg confit
- 4 duck legs
- 2 large onions , large dice
- 2 carrots , large dice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 star anise
- 1 sprig of fresh rosemary
- duck fat , enough to cover
- 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 sprig of fresh rosemary
- 1/2 tsp green peppercorns , ground
- 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 recipe with the duck leg confit. Pre-heat the oven to 140˚C/gas mark 1. Remove the knuckle off the end of the drumstick and combine with the onion, carrot, cinnamon, star anise, bay leaf, rosemary and a generous season of salt and pepper
- 4 duck legs
- 2 large onions
- 2 carrots
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 star anise
- 1 sprig of fresh rosemary
- salt
- pepper
2
Add enough duck fat to cover the contents of the baking tray and cover with foil. Place into the oven for 2 1/2 hours. Remove and allow to cool in the fat, being sure to remove from the fat while still slight warm
3
For the braised red cabbage, combine the vinegar and sugar in large pan and bring to a simmer. Reduce until is 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
4
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
- 750ml of red wine
- 1 tsp green peppercorns
- 1 tsp juniper berries
- 1 sprig of sage
5
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 sprig of fresh rosemary
- 1/2 tsp green peppercorns
- 100ml of cream
6
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
7
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
8
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
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Confit duck leg, braised red cabbage, green peppercorn sauce, caramelised apples
