Duck Salad with Spiced Pears and Sweet Soy Dressing
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Prep Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Description: Dark soy sauce offers a remarkable depth of flavor that pairs beautifully with succulent roast duck or grilled steaks. For this delectable dish, Kikkoman’s sweet soy sauce enhances the dressing wonderfully; however, if you’re using plain soy sauce, feel free to add an extra tablespoon of muscovado sugar to achieve a delightful sweetness that balances the dish perfectly.
Recipe Category: Duck Breasts
Keywords: Duck, Poultry, Meat, Quick Recipes
Nutritional Information
| Nutrient | Amount Per Serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 833.9 |
| Total Fat | 42.8 g |
| Saturated Fat | 8.6 g |
| Cholesterol | 326.4 mg |
| Sodium | 545.2 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 52.3 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.6 g |
| Sugars | 44.6 g |
| Protein | 60.3 g |
Ingredients
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 6 | Duck breasts |
| 1 | Honey |
| 1 | Dark soy sauce |
| 3 | Chicory lettuce |
| 1 | Watercress |
| 3 ½ | Red wine vinegar |
| 1 | Light muscovado sugar |
| 1 | Soy sauce |
| 1 | Garlic |
| 1 | Fresh cilantro |
| 4 – 6 | Pears (medium-sized) |
| 6 | Cinnamon stick |
| 1 | Cloves |
| 1 | Fresh ginger |
| 1 | Fresh lemon rind |
| 2 – 3 | Lemon juice |
| 1 | Cold water |
Instructions
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Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C), allowing it to reach the desired temperature while you prepare the duck.
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Prepare the Duck: Using a fork, gently prick the skin of each duck breast. This step is essential, as it helps the fat render out during cooking, resulting in crispy skin.
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Make the Marinade: In a small bowl, mix together the honey and dark soy sauce until well combined. Brush this mixture generously over the skin of each duck breast, ensuring an even coating for enhanced flavor.
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Roast the Duck: Place the duck breasts skin-side up on a rack in a baking dish or roasting tin. Add 2 tablespoons of cold water to the bottom of the dish to create steam during roasting. Roast the duck in the preheated oven for approximately 35 to 40 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the skin is beautifully golden brown and the meat is still a touch pink in the center. Remove the duck from the oven and allow it to cool slightly.
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Prepare the Salad Greens: While the duck is roasting, take the chicory lettuce and remove the core from the stalk end of each head using a small knife. Shred the leaves into thin slices and set them aside. Next, pick over the watercress, discarding any tough stalks or wilting leaves.
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Make the Dressing: In a medium bowl, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, light muscovado sugar, and sweet soy sauce, mixing them together until the sugar has dissolved completely. Peel the garlic clove and flatten it gently with the blade of a knife; add it to the dressing to infuse its flavor. Allow this mixture to sit while you prepare the pears, letting the garlic impart its aroma to the dressing.
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Prepare the Pears: Choose a medium-sized pan that will snugly fit 6 pears. Measure out 2 cups of cold water into the pan, adding the light muscovado sugar, cinnamon stick, cloves, and lemon rind. Stir the mixture over low heat until the sugar dissolves completely.
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Cook the Pears: Peel each pear while leaving the stalks intact, then drop them gently into the syrupy mixture as you go. Once all the pears are in the pan, bring the mixture back to a gentle simmer. Cover the pan partially with a lid and allow the pears to cook gently for about 30 to 40 minutes or until they are tender when pierced with a knife. Once cooked, add the lemon juice to the syrup and let the pears cool in the liquid, which enhances their flavor while preventing them from browning.
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Slice the Duck and Pears: After the duck has cooled, thinly slice the breasts lengthwise into elegant strips. For the pears, cut each one into quarters lengthwise, ensuring the beautiful shape is maintained for presentation.
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Assemble the Salad: To bring this dish together, arrange the shredded chicory and fresh watercress on a large serving platter as a bed for the duck salad. Next, elegantly scatter the sliced duck and pear quarters over the greens, creating a vibrant, colorful presentation.
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Finish with Dressing: Remove the garlic from the dressing and stir in the chopped fresh cilantro, adding a burst of freshness. Drizzle the dressing generously over the assembled salad just before serving, ensuring that every component is beautifully coated in the sweet and savory flavors.
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Serve and Enjoy: This Duck Salad with Spiced Pears and Sweet Soy Dressing is perfect for a refined lunch or dinner, offering a delightful blend of rich, savory duck paired with the sweet, aromatic pears, all enhanced by a luscious dressing that ties the entire dish together. Serve immediately and enjoy the exquisite harmony of flavors!
This salad not only delivers on taste but also presents beautifully, making it an ideal dish for special occasions or a casual dinner that feels indulgent. Enjoy your culinary creation from Love With Recipes!
