Video: Cook Like A Food Writer!
Okay, so I'm not a chef, but I do know a thing or two about food. Healthy Living graciously allowed me use of their fabulous Learning Center kitchen last week to help me share my knowledge with you. I went shopping, and voilà! Here are my instructions for making my favorite duck confit pasta salad. The recipe is below, for quick reference and more information.
The dish is simple and fun to make, especially if you're not as klutzy as I am. Most importantly, my potluck staple is just as good served hot or cold.
Alice's Duck Confit Pasta Salad
1 box whole-grain pasta (I like rotelli or elbows)
2 confit duck legs
About 5 leaves rainbow chard, stems removed
4 garlic cloves, peeled
Consider Bardwell Farm Pawlet cheese
Two pears, ripe but firm
Cape gooseberries, cut in half (amount to taste)
A handful fresh mint
A handful fresh parsley (flat or curly, or a mix)
5 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon truffle oil
6 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon cumin
Heat oven to 350. Roast duck confit until hot all the way through, about 15 minutes. Raise oven temperature to "broil" and move duck to the highest rack in oven. Crisp the duck skin five minutes or until dark brown and hard to the touch.
Cook pasta to a nice al dente, then set aside in a large bowl.
Chop chard leaves to 1/4-inch ribbons. Crush or chop garlic, leaving it in large chunks. Get a splash of olive oil sizzling at medium-low heat, then cook garlic until lightly browned. Add chard, cook until it begins to wilt, then squeeze in a splash of lemon juice. Add to bowl.
Peel pears and chop into 1/4-inch squares. Do the same with the cheese, taking care to remove the rind. Add to bowl.
If cape gooseberries are in season, remove them from their wrappers, then cut in half. Add to bowl.
Grab a hearty handful of mint. Remove the leaves, then chop them, but not too finely. Do the same with the parsley. Add to bowl.
Once the confit has cooled, tear bite-sized pieces from the legs and toss right into the bowl. Remove any excess fat with a knife, if necessary. Crisp skin is permissible; chunks of fat are not.
Lightly fold all ingredients, then pour in the oils, lemon juice and cumin. Fold again, making sure that every surface is coated with oil and lemon.
Enjoy! And know that it just gets better as it marinates, so eat your salad slowly!
Alice, that was hysterical and it looks super tasty! Like you, I have a epic affection for duck, especially confit . If (when) I make this, though, I might substitute lacinata kale, which did pretty well in our backyard this year (we've got a lot of it), and I'll use the stems. I just cook them longer.
You're great on camera (and the page).
LPR
Posted by: RudigerVT | October 13, 2010 at 10:56 PM