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Episode 201 - En Francais!
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Duck Breast With Champagne and Grape Sauce
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Looking for inspiration for that special meal? Our Duck Breast with Champagne and Grape Sauce will certainly fit the bill (no pun intended). As a side dish we suggest parisienne potatoes, haricots verts and baby carrots. You may also wish to try a selection of your favourite grilled vegetables. Unforgettable!
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Cooking The Duck Breast:
Ingredients (Serves 4)
- 2 (8-10 ounce) Boneless Duck Breasts (Magrets)
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Season the duck breasts with the allspice, salt and pepper. Place the duck breasts, skin side down into a frying pan that has been heated on medium-high. Saute the breasts until they are golden brown, draining off the excess fat as required. This will take approximately 10 minutes. Turn the breasts over and allow them to cook for an additional 5-7 minutes until they're cooked medium. Place them to the side.
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Champagne and Grape Sauce:
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1/4 cup shitake mushrooms (portobello or fresh Nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste button mushrooms also work well)
Using a double boiler, melt the butter and stir in the flour. Once blended, add the chicken stock and allow the mixture to thicken. Add the mushrooms, reduce the double boiler to simmer and allow this sauce to cook for one hour. Strain the sauce through a fine sieve and then add seasoning to taste. You've just made 1 1/2 cups of white sauce or veloute!
Next we need...
- 1 cup champagne
- 1/2 cup of peeled and halved seedless Thompson grapes
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of fresh sage, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped shallots
Begin this next step by cooking the champagne, shallots and grapes in a separate pan until the mixture reduces to a glaze. Remove the pan from the heat and add the butter in six equal portions. Make sure your butter does not liquefy, but rather melts into the glaze. Once all of the butter has been added, stir in the chopped herbs. To complete this sauce, mix the white sauce with the champagne sauce and serve over the duck breasts. Garnish with a sprig of fresh herbs.
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