French cuisine made its debut in America thanks in part to this famous duck a l'orange recipe for seared duck breast glazed with sweet orange sauce. This sophisticated dish is a wonderful addition to party menus and romantic dinners. The easy sauce can be prepared ahead of time and the duck seared right before serving.
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons Sherry vinegar
- 1 ½ cups orange juice
- 2 tablespoons shallots, minced
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 4 oranges, sections cut from membranes
- 2 duck breast halves, seasoned with salt and pepper
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
Preparation:
Boil the sugar and water for several minutes, until the syrup caramelizes and turns a golden brown color. Add the vinegar, juice, shallots, and chicken stock and simmer until the sauce is reduced to a little less than a cup. Add butter and 1 tablespoon of orange zest. Stir in orange sections.
In a skillet, sear the duck breasts over high heat. Cook the duck for about 9-11 minutes on each side. Pour the prepared sauce over the duck breasts and garnish with the remaining orange zest.
This duck a l'orange recipe makes 2 servings.
