Paul Foster plays with texture to create a simple yet elegant duck breast dish. The smooth, oily texture of the mushrooms and duck are given a satisfying counterpoint by pumpkin seeds and peanuts.
Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas mark 6. Start by pickling the mushrooms. Bring the water, vinegar and sugar to the boil, pour over the mushrooms and leave to lightly pickle for 20 minutes
Meanwhile, to prepare the duck, trim off any sinew from the breasts and place skin-side down in a hot dry frying pan. Cook for 4 minutes on a medium heat - pour off any fat from the pan as it renders out
Turn over and cook for a further minute then turn back on the skin-side for another 2 minutes. Repeat once more as this will render the fat, crisp the skin and take the breast to medium rare. Remove from the heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes in a warm place
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For the pumpkin seeds and peanuts, sauté the pumpkin seeds in oil until puffed up, drain from the pan and place onto absorbent kitcen towel. In the same pan add the butter and toast the peanuts until golden, drain and combine with the pumpkin seeds
Drain the mushrooms out of the liquid (reserve 1 tsp for the dressing) and allow to dry on absorbent kitchen towel. Heat the butter in a large pan and sauté until lightly golden. Add the spinach to the pan to wilt and season to taste with sea salt
Combine all the ingredients for the dressing, including the mushroom pickling liquid, and taste for seasoning and acidity. Adjust accordingly with more soy, or vinegar to your liking
Place the duck breast into an oven for 3 minutes to reheat
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Spoon the mushroom mix onto each plate. Carve the duck breast and season with sea salt, sprinkle the dish with pumpkin seeds and peanuts, drizzle with the dressing and serve immediately
Focused, skilled and intelligent, Paul Foster works with the materials he has around him to create extraordinary dishes which sing with a vibrancy perfectly in tune with their surroundings.
