Wild Game Recipes

Mocha-Rubbed Duck Breast with
Cherry and Red Wine Pan Sauce

In this Mocha-Rubbed Duck Breast recipe, cocoa powder, ground coffee and savory spices are rubbed onto the meat before it is seared and smothered with a luscious sweet cherry and red wine sauce.

Mocha Rubbed Duck Breast

Prep: 2 hr 10 min | Cook: 35 min | Servings: 4

(Family Features) If chocolate for dinner sounds too good to be true, it’s because chocolate is usually associated with decadent desserts. However, it can also take comfort food to a whole new level when paired with savory ingredients like red meat.

A bit of bittersweet cocoa powder helps balance out the richness of red meats like duck. Although it’s leaner and lower in saturated fat than other red meats, duck has a bold flavor and texture similar to steak.

The toasty, nutty flavor of coffee complements the cocoa while dark sweet cherries, red wine and toasted almonds complete the sweet and savory dish.

Ingredients

Mocha Rub

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coffee
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder
  • 4 Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breasts, thawed

Cherry and Red Wine Pan Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons reserved duck fat
  • 1/2 cup minced shallots
  • 3/4 cup dry red wine
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 5 ounces frozen dark sweet cherries, thawed and halved
  • 5 sprigs fresh thyme
  • Salt, to taste
  • Ground black pepper, to taste
  • Toasted sliced almonds, for garnish

Instructions

Mocha Rub

  1. In small bowl, mix brown sugar, paprika, coffee, salt, pepper and cocoa powder. Set aside.
  2. Pat duck breasts dry and score according to package directions. Use half of rub on meat side of breasts. Cover breasts and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
  3. In cold saute pan, place duck breasts skin-side down. Place pan over low-medium heat for 8 to 12 minutes, or until fat is rendered and skin is crisp and brown.
  4. Turn breasts over and sprinkle remaining rub on skin side. Cook breasts for 1 to 2 minutes skin-side up. Turn breasts back to skin-side down for 1 to 2 minutes to caramelize rub. Reserve approximately 2 tablespoons duck fat for sauce.
  5. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
  6. Place duck breasts skin-side up on rimmed baking sheet; bake for 5 to 6 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 155 degrees F. Let breasts rest for 4 or 5 minutes before slicing. Temperature will rise during resting period to reach 165 degrees F.

Cherry and Red Wine Pan Sauce

  1. Place saute pan with reserved duck fat over medium heat. Add shallots and cook until softened. Add wine to pan to deglaze. Stir in balsamic vinegar, sugar, cherries and thyme sprigs; simmer until reduced. Remove thyme sprigs. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
  2. Serve sauce over cooked duck breasts. Garnish with toasted almond slices.

Notes

Find more comfort food recipes and tips for cooking with duck at mapleleaffarms.com.



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