Recipes

Roast Duck with Citrus Pan Sauce

Name: Roast Duck with Citrus Pan Sauce
Total time: 165 min
Ingredients: One 5 1/2-pound Pekin or Long Island duck, neck reserved; Salt and freshly ground pepper; 1 navel orange—one half cut into wedges, one half juiced; 1 lemon—one half cut into wedges, one half juiced; 2 cups water; 2 tablespoons coriander seeds; 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce; 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened; 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

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A bright citrus pan sauce is all that's needed to round out this simple roast duck, cooked to a rich caramel brown. To render the fat and ensure a crisp skin, the duck is first steamed; Marcia Kiesel scatters a handful of coriander seeds over the steaming water, which releases their orangelike scent.

By Marcia Kiesel

Updated on June 13, 2017

Roast Duck with Citrus Pan Sauce — Photo: © Quentin Bacon

Active Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs 45 mins

Yield:

4

Ingredients

One 5 1/2-pound Pekin or Long Island duck, neck reserved
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 navel orange—one half cut into wedges, one half juiced
1 lemon—one half cut into wedges, one half juiced
2 cups water
2 tablespoons coriander seeds
1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325°. Prick the duck all over with a sharp knife. Season the cavity with salt and pepper and stuff it with the orange and lemon wedges.
In a medium roasting pan, combine the water, coriander seeds and duck neck. Place the duck on a rack, season with salt and pepper, set it in the roasting pan and cover with foil. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Transfer the duck to the oven and roast for 1 hour, until most of the fat has been rendered.
Transfer the duck to a work surface. Increase the oven temperature to 350°. Strain the pan juices into a medium bowl and skim off the fat. Return the duck to the roasting pan and prick it all over a second time. Roast uncovered for 1 hour.
Increase the oven temperature to 400°. Tip any juices from the cavity into the roasting pan and transfer the duck to a large rimmed baking sheet. Roast the duck for 45 minutes longer, until the meat is very tender and the skin is crisp.
Meanwhile, set the roasting pan over moderately high heat. Add the orange and lemon juices and boil for 1 minute. Add the reserved pan juices and the soy sauce and boil for 1 minute longer. Pour the liquid into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over moderate heat.
In a medium bowl, make a paste with the butter and flour. Whisk in 1/4 cup of the hot liquid until smooth, then scrape the mixture into the saucepan. Simmer over low heat, whisking, until the sauce has thickened, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Transfer the duck to a carving board and let rest for 10 minutes. Carve the duck and serve with the citrus sauce.

Suggested Pairing

Juicy, roasted duck goes very well with the Cabernet Sauvignon–dominated wines of Bordeaux's left bank; those wines' currant, tobacco and cedar notes complement the duck's rich gaminess.