Wild duck with juniper berries

Juniper, because of its powerful flavour goes particularly well with strongly flavoured game.  The combination of juniper and wild duck is exquisite.

Preparation Time: 15 Mins

Cooking Time: 1 Hr

Total Time: 1¼ Hrs

Ingredients

For 2 servings…

1                    Carrot  - chopped     

1                    Onion  - small, chopped finely  

1 stick             Celery  - chopped     

1                    Mallard      

16                  Juniper berries         

                     Salt          

10 cl               Stock  - chicken       

70 ml              Gin          

40 gms            Butter       

To garnish

                     Watercress

Method

Put the carrot, onion and celery in a roasting tin.  Add the giblets from the duck.

Crush half the juniper berries and place them in the cavity of the duck.  Sprinkle salt over the skin.

Place the duck on the bed of vegetables and roast in hot oven (200°C) for 45 minutes.  Turn the duck over so that it is breast down, roast for a further 10 minutes and then transfer it to a hot serving dish and keep it hot.

Pour off all the fat from the roasting tin and add the remaining juniper berries and the stock.  Boil fast for 5 minutes, stirring to mix in the pan juices, strain the liquid into a jug and discard the vegetables and giblets.

Pour the gin into the hot pan and light it.  Pour the strained juices back into the pan and boil fast for 3 minutes until slightly thickened.  Remove from the heat and add the butter, in small pieces.  Stir until the pieces of butter have melted and amalgamated into the sauce.

Carve the duck and garnish with the watercress.  Spoon a little sauce over the meat and serve the rest of the sauce separately in a bowl.

Variations

The recipe can be used with other wild ducks such as teal or widgeon, but adjust the cooking time to reflect the size of the bird.

Wine recommendations

A robust red wine or a Bordeaux-style wine.

Conventional

     Côtes du Rhône

Interesting

     Bourgueil

     Côtes du Luberon

     Irouleguy

     Loire gamay

     Saumur-Champigny