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Ingredients
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 cups refrigerated pomegranate juice (such as Pom)
- 2 cups low-salt chicken broth
- 4 large dried California chiles,* stemmed, seeded, torn into 1-inch pieces
- 1 1/2 teaspoons adobo sauce from canned chipotle chiles in adobo**
- 1 1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin (not toasted)
- Coarse kosher salt
- 8 5-to 6-ounce boneless duck breast halves, skin and fat trimmed to size of breast
- Coarse kosher salt
- Ground coriander
- Fresh pomegranate seeds
Details
Servings 8
Adapted from epicurious.com
Preparation
Step 1
For sauce:
Stir sugar and 1/2 cup water in heavy
large saucepan over medium heat until
sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil until
syrup is deep amber color, swirling pan
occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add juice,
broth, and California chiles. Boil until sauce
is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 25 minutes.
Remove from heat; cool. Puree in tightly
covered blender until smooth, about 2
minutes. Transfer to bowl. Whisk in adobo
sauce, vinegar, and cumin. Season to taste
with generous amount of coarse salt and
pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 week
ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm over low
heat before using.
For duck:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Score skin
of duck (don't cut into flesh) with 5 cuts in
1 direction; repeat in opposite direction,
making diamond pattern. Sprinkle duck all
over with coarse salt, pepper, and ground
coriander. Place 2 large ovenproof skillets
over medium-high heat. Add duck, skin side
down, to skillets, dividing equally. Cook
duck until skin is crisp and deep brown,
about 7 minutes. Turn duck over; cook 1
minute. Pour off fat. Transfer skillets to
oven. Roast duck until cooked to mediumrare,
about 5 minutes.
Transfer duck to cutting board. Let
rest 5 minutes. Thinly slice each breast
crosswise on slight diagonal. Arrange slices
on plates. Spoon sauce over. Sprinkle with
pomegranate seeds.
* Available at some supermarkets and at
specialty foods stores and Latin markets.
** Dried, smoked jalapeños in a spicy tomato
sauce called adobo; available at some
supermarkets and at specialty foods stores
and Latin markets.
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