Roast wild duck breast with walnuts and celery

An elegant wild duck breast recipe combines the rich, gamey flavour of duck with sweet figs, aromatic herbs, and a luxurious Madeira sauce. The dish is complemented by a sophisticated garnish of sautéed celery, walnuts, and grapes, creating a perfect balance of flavours and textures. It’s a relatively quick preparation, taking about 30 minutes, ideal for an impressive yet manageable dinner

By Matt Tebbutt
From Saturday Kitchen

This recipe balances lean protein from duck with healthy fats and nutrients from fruits and nuts. However, the Madeira and butter increase its calorie content. The dish provides a good mix of vitamins and minerals from the fresh ingredients. more about nutri-score

Ingredients

For the duck:

• Wild duck breasts: 2 (or 1 farmed duck breast)
• Olive oil: 2 tbsp
• Black figs: 1, sliced
• Fresh thyme: 1 tsp, chopped
• Bay leaf: 1
• Madeira: 50ml/2fl oz
• Garlic clove: 1, crushed
• Dark stock: 100ml/3½fl oz (chicken or beef)
• Salt and black pepper: to taste

For the garnish:

• Unsalted butter: 50g/1¾oz
• Celery heart and leaves: 1 heart, sliced into 1-2cm pieces
• Fresh/wet walnuts: 6 (or dried)
• Muscat grapes: 10
• Black fig: 1, quartered

Method

Prepare the Duck

• Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
• Season duck breast with salt and black pepper.
• Heat oil in an ovenproof frying pan.
• Fry duck skin-side down until golden brown (about 2 minutes).
• Turn duck over and place on sliced fig, thyme, and bay leaf.

Roast the Duck

• Roast in the oven for 4-5 minutes until pink.
• Add Madeira, garlic, and stock.
• Cook for an additional 2 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let rest.

Prepare the Garnish

• In a separate pan, sauté celery in butter for 2-3 minutes until colored.
• Add walnuts, figs, and grapes.
• Remove from heat.

Serve

• Slice the duck.
• Serve with resting juices and the celery-grape garnish on the side.

Nutri-score Health Check

This recipe receives a Nutri-score of C, indicating it’s moderately healthy. The duck breast provides lean protein, while the fruits and nuts offer beneficial nutrients and healthy fats. However, the Madeira and butter increase the calorie and fat content. The dish is rich in vitamins and minerals from the fresh ingredients. To improve the score, consider reducing the amount of butter and Madeira, and increasing the portion of vegetables. The inclusion of figs and grapes adds natural sweetness and fiber, contributing positively to the overall nutritional profile.