Duck a l'Orange

Duck a l’Orange is delicious, and most of us think its too difficult to make it at home. Here I show you how to make it in a few easy steps, including some shortcuts. I like to make it with duck quarter legs, you can pick them up at most large grocery stores or at your local oriental supermarket. Make it for yourself, or for a dinner with friends. Wow, it is as easy as it is delicious! Serve it with orange flavored asparagus and jasmine rice.

SERVES 2

INGREDIENTS

2  duck quarter legs
¼ tsp of salt
¼ tsp of ground black pepper
¼ tsp of 5-spice powder
1  tsp of olive oil
2  tbsp of orange marmalade

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine in a small bowl: salt, ground black pepper, 5-spice powder. Dry duck legs and cut gently the skin crosswise, without cutting through the skin to the meat. Place duck legs in an oven proof dish lined with aluminum foil (for easy clean up). Rub them gently with the spice mix; skin, the meat under the skin, and the bottom.

Drizzle oil over ducks skin and rub it into the skin along with the spices. Place it in the oven for 15 minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven and smear a tablespoon of orange marmalade over each legs. Put duck legs back in the oven for an additional 30 minutes and serve.

 

TIP DU JOUR:
Five-spice powder like the name implies is a mix of 5 spices. Overall they are sweet in flavour. If you don’t have it on hand, add a little of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Duck is typically fatty but a lot of fat melts away while the meat is in the oven.

Once the duck is out from the oven, take the legs immediately out from the pan to reduce the amount of fat reabsorbed back into the meat.

To further reduce fat content in the duck legs, place them on a small metal rack above the oven safe dish, this way the fat drips into the dish.

To make this dish leaner. Remove the skin of the meat and any fat that may be visible . A lot of fat is deposited right under the skin. This step will definitely contribute to reducing your daily fat intake.