Archive | January, 2016

Five spice duck with a honey and soy glaze with sesame noodles 

11 Jan

Five spice duck with a honey and soy glaze with sesame noodles   
Ingredients 

For 2 people

* 2 small duck breasts
* 4 tsp five-spice powder

* salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the sauce

* 2 tbsp clear honey

* 6 tbsp soy sauce

For the noodles

* salt

* 4 spring onions

* 1 packet oriental-style egg noodles (2 squares of dried noodles)

* sesame seeds, to taste

* toasted sesame oil, to taste

To serve

* squeeze fresh lime juice
Preparation method

* Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

* With a sharp knife, score the fat of the duck into a cross-hatch

* Sprinkle the five-spice powder onto the skin of the duck breasts and rub it into the fat well. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

* Heat a heavy-based ovenproof frying pan. Don’t add oil. Place the duck breasts skin-side down in the hot pan. Season the other side with five-spice powder and salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook until most of the fat has run out into the pan and the skin has a golden colour (about three minutes).

* Turn the duck breasts over and cook the other side for a minute or so.

* Place the duck breasts in the oven for 3-5 minutes to finish.

* To make the sauce, warm the honey and soy sauce together in a small pan. Bring up to boiling point and let it bubble for a minute or two to reduce. Take off the heat and allow to cool. The sauce should have a syrup-like consistency.

* Remove the cooked duck breasts from the oven and leave to rest in a warm place.

* While the duck is resting, heat a medium pan of salted water for the noodles.

* Meanwhile, cut the white and green parts of the spring onions into slices on the diagonal.

* When the water is boiling, add the egg noodles and cook for 3-4 minutes or according to packet instructions.

* Drain the noodles and place them in a bowl. Sprinkle in the sesame seeds, drizzle with a few drops of sesame oil and sprinkle with cut spring onions, reserving some for the garnish. Stir together well.

* To serve, place the noodles onto a plate. Squeeze over a bit of lime juice. Slice the duck breasts into strips and place next to the noodles. Sprinkle over the remaining spring onion and drizzle over the honey and soy sauce.