What makes pasta with duck breast a good choice?
This recipe is great because it uses few ingredients to create a sophisticated taste. Cooking pasta with duck breast allows the natural juices of the poultry to coat the pasta beautifully. It takes less than half an hour to prepare from start to finish. You get a restaurant quality meal without needing complex cooking techniques or expensive equipment.
How to cook pasta with duck breast
Prepare duck: Score the skin of the duck breasts in a diamond pattern without cutting the meat. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Place them skin side down in a cold frying pan and turn the heat to medium. Cook for about eight minutes until the skin is crispy and brown.
Cook pasta: Boil a large saucepan of salted water and add your pasta. Cook it according to the packet instructions until it is al dente. Drain the pasta but keep a little bit of the cooking water for the sauce. Thinly slice the garlic while the pasta boils.
Finish meat: Flip the duck breasts over and cook for another five minutes for medium rare. Remove the duck from the pan and let it rest on a board for a few minutes. Pour away most of the fat but leave a small amount in the pan for the sauce.
Combine sauce: Add the garlic to the pan and fry for one minute. Pour in the stock and balsamic vinegar and let it simmer until reduced by half. Toss in the spinach and the cooked pasta. Slice the meat and serve the pasta with duck breast immediately.
Good advice for making pasta with duck breast
Always start your duck in a cold pan to ensure the fat renders out slowly and the skin becomes very crispy. If the pan gets too smoky, lower the heat slightly. Letting the meat rest is essential so the juices stay inside when you slice it. You can add a splash of cream to the sauce if you prefer a richer finish to your pasta with duck breast. Try using wholemeal pasta for a nuttier flavour and more texture.
If you have fresh herbs like thyme or parsley, they make a great garnish at the end. Make sure to slice the duck against the grain for the most tender results. You can also add a handful of mushrooms when frying the garlic for extra depth.
You can also try these recipes:
soy-roasted almonds,
baked sole or
winter salad with duck.
