Duck with Blackberry Sauce

Serves 4 people

Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/3 cup dry white wine
  • 1/3 cup orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar
  • 1 1/4 cups frozen blackberries
  • 1 1/4 cups canned beef broth
  • 1/2 cup canned low-salt chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons Cognac or brandy
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • 4 × 5- to 6-ounce duck breast halves with skin
  • Additional blackberries (optional)
Instructions
Sauce

Can be prepared 1 day ahead - cover and chill if so

  1. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy, large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat
  2. Add sugar and stir until sugar dissolves and the mixture turns a deep amber colour (about 5 minutes)
  3. Add wine, orange juice and vinegar (mixture will bubble vigorously)
  4. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve caramel
  5. Add 1 1/4 cups berries and both broths and boil until the sauce thickens and is reduced to about 1 cup, stirring occasionally (about 25 minutes)
  6. Strain sauce through sieve into heavy small saucepan, pressing on berries with back of spoon
  7. Mix in Cognac and maple syrup
  8. Set sauce aside
Duck
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F
  2. Trim any excess fat from duck breasts
  3. Cut three 4-inch-long by 1/16-inch-deep lengthwise slits in skin (not meat) of duck
  4. Season duck with salt and pepper
  5. Heat heavy large ovenproof skillet over high heat until hot
  6. Add duck, skin-side down, and sear until brown (about 5 minutes)
  7. Turn over and cook for 3 minutes
  8. Transfer skillet to oven, continue cooking to desired doneness (about 3 minutes for medium)
  9. Meanwhile, bring sauce to simmer over low heat
  10. Add remaining tablespoon of butter and whisk until just melted
  11. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper
Serving
  1. Spoon sauce onto plates
  2. Slice duck and place atop sauce
  3. Garnish with additional berries if desired and serve

Submitted by Betty McCormick, who suggests serving green beans for a colourful presentation. This recipe is used at the Post Hotel at Lake Louise, Alberta.

This recipe is ©2007 CondéNet, Inc.; All Rights Reserved.