2660. MUSHROOM and BACON BISQUE with BEER FOAM

2 cups dried chanterelle mushrooms, soaked for 30 minutes in hot water, liquid reserved

1 1/2 cups duck stock (recipe below)
2 tablespoons unsalted cultured butter

2-3 tablespoons bacon fat (from 2 strips thick cut cured bacon, reserve bacon)

3-4 shallots
1 cup heavy cream



For duck stock
1 duck leg and thigh bone
reserved liquid from chanterelle mushrooms
5 cloves garlic, whole, skin on
3 shallots, peeled and left whole
salt, to taste

2-4 cups water



For beer foam

1 teaspoon of Soy Lecithin
250 ml beer

Pour mushroom liquid and 2 cups water over bone from duck leg and add the garlic cloves and shallots. Cook on low heat for an hour, adding water as the water evaporates and reduces. Taste the broth at the end of the hour and cook longer until you've reached your desired taste. Add salt at the end. Strain through cheesecloth.


For Mushroom Bisque: Add butter and bacon fat to medium hot pan, once butter is melted add diced shallots and stir until shallots become fragrant. Add soaked chanterell mushrooms and stir until most of the butter and bacon fat has been soaked up by the mushrooms. Add duck mushroom stock. Simmer for a good 15 minutes. Add the cream and remove from heat. Taste soup and add salt to taste. Blend in high powered blender until smooth.



For beer foam: Heat beer in small saucepan for about 5 minutes to cook off some of the alcohol. Blend Lecithin and Beer in tall glass until foamy.



To plate, spoon bisque in to small bowl, top with beer foam and crumbled bacon pieces.


bacon recipe courtesy of: EAT. Your Best Friends, December 21, 2009

2194. CRISPY DUCK LEG SALAD with POACHED PEARS and a WARM BACON VINAIGRETTE

yields four servings


Duck Confit
1 clove garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
1 bay leaf
4 tablespoons coarse sea salt
1 1/2 teaspoons black peppercorns
4x4 duck legs, thighs attached
1 pound rendered duck fat

Pears
3 pears, peeled, cored and cut into large dice
4 cups simple syrup
1 lemon

Vinaigrette
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 shallots, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, peeled and finely minced
3/4 cup diced double smoked bacon
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup hazelnut oil
1/4 cup grape seed oil
1 tablespoon rice vinegar

Salad
2 butter lettuce
1/4 cup finely sliced radicchio
lemon, juice only
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup Roquefort cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup toasted walnut pieces

Duck Confit: Mix together garlic, bay leaf, thyme, coarse sea salt and peppercorns in a roasting pan. Rub the seasonings onto duck legs and arrange them in one layer in the pan. Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours. Preheat the oven to 250 - 275 F. Take out duck from the refrigerator. Melt rendered duck fat (or lard) in a saucepan on medium heat and pour over duck legs, covering them completely. Cover the roasting pan with aluminum foil, shiny side in. Bake in the oven for 2 to 3 hours, or until the meat falls from the bone. Remove from the oven and allow duck to cool in the fat. Place duck legs in an airtight container and cover with duck fat strained through a fine-mesh sieve. Can be prepared ahead up to this point; will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 month or in the freezer for up to 1 year.

Pears: Place simple syrup in a large saucepan. Cut lemon in half and squeeze juice into simple syrup and also add lemon pieces. Add diced pears and bring to a simmer for about 20 – 25 minutes or until tender (can be easily pierced with a paring knife). Remove from heat and allow to cool in liquid.

Vinaigrette: In a large fry pan heat olive oil over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic and sauté for about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally as not to brown. Add bacon and cook until crisp. Stir in brown sugar and remove from heat. Add balsamic and Dijon mustard. Mix in hazelnut oil, grape seed oil, and rice vinegar. Return to heat for about 1 minute and keep warm.

Salad: Divide greens between 4 large plates. Add a little Roquefort, poached pears and walnuts to each salad. Place crispy duck leg on top and spoon over warm bacon vinaigrette. Serve immediately.

Assembly: Preheat the oven to 350 F. Remove duck legs from fat, wiping off excess with a paper towel, and place on a baking sheet or in an oven proof fry pan. Put in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes to heat through and to crisp skin. Remove from the oven and keep warm. In a large stainless steel bowl, add salad greens, lemon juice and season with salt and freshly ground white pepper. Drizzle in olive oil and toss together. Divide greens between 4 large plates. Add a little Roquefort, poached pears and walnuts to each salad. Place crispy duck leg on top and spoon over warm bacon vinaigrette. Serve immediately.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Rob Feenie, New Classics with Chef Rob Feenie, Food Network Canada

1952. DUCK CONFIT with PUY LENTILS, BACON and LOVAGE

serves four


A tin of 4 confit duck legs
1 white onion, finely chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped into small cubes
4 rashers of streaky bacon, chopped into chunks
2 garlic cloves, crushed
200 grams puy lentils
200ml chicken or vegetable stock
200ml white wine
a handful of rosemary and thyme leaves, finely chopped
5 to 6 large lovage leaves (depending on strength), chopped
a large tablespoon of herb mustard

Preheat the oven to 180 C. First cook your lentils. Rinse under cold water then place in a saucepan and cover with twice their volume in stock and white wine. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 15 to 20 mins until cooked but still al dente. Top up with stock and wine if required. Meanwhile, fry the bacon in a large pan until starting to turn golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside. Now sweat off the onions in a little butter and olive oil. When starting to soften add the diced carrot and cook gently till the onion and carrot are soft. While the lentils and onions/carrots are cooking sort out your duck. Drain off most of the fat then place in the oven in a roasting tray for 10 minutes until warmed through. Remove from the oven and heat your grill to a high heat. Grill briefly until the skin is crisped up. To finish the dish, add your garlic, chopped herbs and a glug of white wine to the onions and cook for a couple of minutes on a medium heat. Add your cooked lentils to the mix and check the seasoning. To serve, place a mound of lentils in the centre of each plate and top with a confit duck leg (or roast, sliced duck breast). Top with a torn lovage leave and serve immediately.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Jenny McNeill, Ginger Jar Food, 58 Woodlands Park Road, London, SE10 9XA, October 5, 2009

1545. CRISPY DUCK and BACON FRITTER with WATERMELON and MOZZARELLA SALSA

serves four


1 tablespoons olive oil
4 smoked bacon, cut into strips
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 cooked duck legs, flesh shredded
4 tablespoons mashed potato
black pepper
4 large spring roll wrappers
1 egg, beaten
vegetable oil, for deep-frying
alfalfa shoots, to garnish

For the watermelon and mozzarella salsa:
1 small watermelon, cut into batons
150 grams bocconcini (small balls of mozzarella cheese)
bunch of leaves basil
juice of 1/2 oranges, reduced by half
1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
black pepper

Heat the olive oil in a heavy-based frying pan. Add the bacon and fry until golden brown.

Add the onion and garlic. Fry until softened slightly and then add the duck leg meat and mashed potato. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper.

Divide the duck mixture into four portions. Place each portion on a spring roll wrapper, brush the edges with beaten egg and roll up each wrapper over the duck to form a spring roll, pressing the edges together firmly.

Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or deep fat-fryer. Deep-fry the duck fritters until crispy and golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain on kitchen paper, set aside and keep warm.

Meanwhile, arrange the watermelon on a serving plate. Scatter with the mozzarella balls and shredded basil.

Mix together the reduced orange juice, mustard, vinegar and olive oil. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper.

Slice the fritters into pieces, arrange on the watermelon plate in a tower and finally drizzle over the orange dressing.

Scatter with the alfalfa shoots and serve at once.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Andrew Nutter, Good Food Live, Good Food Channel, UKTV

1322. DUCK CONFIT with FINGERLING POTATOES and BACON in BROTH

yields six servings


Duck Confit:
6 duck legs, cleaned, skin-on
5 cups rendered duck fat
6 garlic cloves, whole
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 carrot, sliced
1 onion, sliced
3 tablespoons Kosher salt

To Garnish:
8 fingerling potatoes, sliced
2 tablespoons canola oil
3 slices bacon, chopped
3 cloves garlic
2 cups greens, chopped
1 cup chicken stock
¼ cup dry cherries
salt, to taste

For the Duck Confit: In a deep aluminum pot, combine the duck legs, duck fat, whole garlic, celery, carrots, onion, salt. Cover the pot with foil and place in a 350°F oven for 2 ½ hours or until the meat begins to fall off the bone. Take the duck legs out of the fat, place them on a baking sheet and set aside.

To Garnish: Place the sliced potatoes on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with canola oil and sprinkle with a little salt. Place them in the oven for twenty minutes or until soft, and set aside. In a large sauté pan, place the chopped bacon and render until the bacon is crisp. Add the sliced garlic, roasted potatoes, greens, and chicken broth and let the broth come to a boil. Place the sheet of duck legs back into the oven until the skin is crisp. Season the brothy mixture with salt and place it into a serving bowl. Place the crisp duck legs on top and sprinkle with the dried cherries.


courtesy of: Chef Brooke Williamson, Amuse Café, 796 Main Street, Venice, California 90291, (310) 450-1956