ALMOND-CARAMELIZED DUCK BREASTS WITH AMARETTO JUS

Generally speaking, there’s no need for me to post someone else’s recipe. It can already be found on the internet or in a book, with proper credit given to its creator. My reason for posting this recipe here is that I’m using it in my menu for Parasha Vayakhel and I want to ensure that you can find it easily if you’re following that menu. If you’ve come here just looking for a special recipe for duck breasts, I highly recommend this one, crafted by one of the world’s most celebrated chefs.

How clever to turn Jordan Almonds, those hard, sugar-crusted nuts found at Italian weddings, into a sweet and crunchy topping for rich, succulent duck breasts!

Adapted From Home Cooking with Jean-Georges: My Favorite Simple Recipes, by Jean-Georges Vongerichten

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar

• 1/3 cup amaretto

• 1/3 cup ruby port

• 1/3 cup dry red wine

• 3/4 teaspoon fennel seeds

• 1 (1 3/4-to 2 1/2-pound) boneless skin-on whole magret duck breast, halved

• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 1 teaspoon grapeseed or other neutral oil

• 1 cup Jordan almonds, preferably all white

• 2 teaspoons honey

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

Method:

• Arrange one oven rack in the lowest position. Place another oven rack 8 inches from the broiler heat source. Preheat the oven to 450º F.

• Bring the vinegar, amaretto, port, wine, and fennel to a boil over high heat in a medium saucepan. Continue boiling rapidly until syrupy and reduced to 1/3 cup, about 20 minutes.

• Meanwhile, heat a large ovenproof skillet over high heat. Season both sides of the duck breasts with salt and pepper. Add the oil to the pan, swirling to coat the bottom, then add the duck, skin side down. Transfer the pan to the lowest rack in the over. Cook until the skin is dark golden brown and the meat feels firm, 10 to 12 minutes.

• Transfer the duck to a rimmed baking sheet, skin side up. Let rest for 5 minutes. (The meat will be medium rare.) Heat the oven to broil, preferably a low broil setting if you have it.

• With another heavy skillet, firmly press down on the almonds until they are all crushed into tiny bits. Spread the crushed almonds in a thin, even layer on your work surface.

• Spoon ½ teaspoon honey on the skin side of each duck breast, then press into the almonds. Return to the baking sheet, skin side up. Fill in any gaps with the almonds; the whole skin side should be evenly coated.

• Broil until the almonds are toasted and the sugar starts to melt, about 7 minutes. Check on the crust occasionally; you don’t want the almonds to burn before the sugar starts to melt. Remove from the broiler and let rest for 5 minutes.

• While the duck rests, heat the sauce over low heat until the sauce emulsifies. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.

• To serve, slice the duck breasts, divide the sauce among 4 dinner plates, and on each plate, fan out the slices of meat.