magret with rhubarb and blood oranges

prep time:  tbd
cook time:  tbd
servings:  6

ingredients:
2 duck breasts (magrets)
salt
pepper
1/2 pound rhubarb - leaves removed, but in 1/2-inch pieces
1 1/2 tablespoon sugar
1 cup finely chopped red onion
zest and segments from 2 blood oranges
1 cup dry red wine
1 tablespoon red miso

steps:
1.  heat oven to 175 degrees.  with a sharp knife, score the skin side of the duck breasts in a crisscross pattern but do not cut into the flesh.  season with salt and pepper.  heat an ovenproof skillet, preferably cast iron, to very hot.  place duck breasts in pan, skin side down, and sear until browned, about 2 minutes.  remove.  reserve 1 tablespoon of fat and discard rest.  return duck to pan, skin side up, and place in oven for 1 1/2 hours.

2.  place reserved duck fat in a 10-inch skillet on medium-high heat.  add rhubarb, sprinkle with half the sugar and cook a couple of minutes, until the pieces start to brown but are still somewhat crisp.  remove to a dish.  reduce heat to medium-low.  add onion and saute slowly until very tender.  stir in orange zest and wine.  simmer until wine is reduced by half.  stir in remaining sugar and the miso.  season with salt and pepper.  set aside.

3.  when duck has finished cooking, remove it to a cutting board, slice it thin o the bias and arrange the slices on a platter.  briefly reheat wine sauce and fold in the rhubarb and orange segments.  check seasoning and spoon sauce alongside duck.

- new york times, april 2014

fennel and blood orange salad

prep time:  tbd
servings:  4

ingredients:
2 fennel bulbs - shaved thinly on a mandolin or with a vegetable peeler
1/4 cup fennel fronds (the wispy green leaves that look like dill from the top of the fennel)
3 tablespoons cilantro leaves
4 blood oranges - skin and pith discarded, cut into thin circles
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
coarse salt
freshly ground black pepper

steps:
1.  toss everything together and season to taste with salt and pepper.

note:  don't let this sit too long before serving or the fennel will lose its nice crunch

- goop, march 2009