Neven Maguire's Breast of Thornhill Duck with Sweet Potato Fondants

Method

Ken Moffit is one of our oldest suppliers and operates less than five minutes from the restaurant. He rears a specific breed called Peking duck, which are smaller than usual and are specially bred for flavour.  

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F/gas mark 6) and preheat the grill to medium.
2. Score the fat on the duck in a criss-cross pattern. Season the duck on both sides with the cracked black pepper and salt. Heat a large ovenproof frying pan over a medium to high heat and add the duck breasts, skin side down (this helps render the duck fat, giving it a crispy skin,) and cook for about 2 minutes, until the skin is crisp.
3. Turn the duck breasts over and cook for another minute, then transfer the frying pan to the oven and cook for 8 minutes for a pink finish or 10 minutes if you prefer your duck a little more well done. For the last few minutes of the cooking time, brush the skin of the duck breasts with the honey, which will give a wonderful flavour and caramelise the skin. Leave to rest in a warm place for 5 minutes, without covering.
4. To serve, carve the duck breasts into thin slices and arrange on warmed plates on a bed of creamed cabbage with 2 of the sweet potato fondants to one side. Add the spinach and sweet potato purées, then drizzle over the honey and clove sauce. Finally, garnish with the garlic confit.
5. Place the stock, honey, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, ketchup and cloves in a small pan. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer vigorously for 5 minutes, until the mixture has thickened to a sauce consistency that coats the back of a spoon. Season to taste, then pass through a sieve into a clean pan, discarding the cloves. Reheat gently and use as required.
6. Heat a pan over a medium heat. Add the oil and gently sweat the carrot and celeriac for 3–4 minutes. Add the butter and once it has melted, tip in the cabbage and cook for 2–3 minutes, until the cabbage is wilted.
7. Pour in the cream, stirring to combine, then allow to simmer and reduce until slightly thickened. Season to taste and use as required.
8. Note: This can be made up to 12 hours in advance, then cooled and kept covered with clingfilm in a bowl in the fridge until needed. Place in a pan and reheat gently, stirring occasionally.
9. Peel the sweet potatoes and trim down until they are 8cm (3in) long so you are left with cylindrical sections. Place these on your chopping board and cut each one into 2cm (3/4in) slices, then use a straight-sided cutter to stamp out 8 x 4cm (1 1/2in) rounds.
10. Heat a frying pan over a medium heat and add the butter and oil. Add the sweet potato discs and cook for 2–3 minutes on each side, until golden. Season to taste and pour in enough stock to come three-quarters of the way up the sweet potatoes.
11. Add the thyme sprigs to the fondants, then increase the heat and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 10–12 minutes without moving the potatoes, until all of the stock mixture has gone and the potatoes are tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife. Turn the discs over carefully with a spatula. You will notice that the bottoms have started to brown and caramelise. Cook for 3–4 minutes, until browned and completely tender.
12. Note: Make the sweet potato fondants up to 2 days in advance and keep covered in the fridge until needed. Reheat on a baking sheet at 180°C (350°F/gas mark 4) for 10 minutes. They also keep well in a cool oven.
13. Blanch the spinach or watercress in a pan of boiling salted water for 30 seconds, then refresh quickly under cold running water. Drain well and pat dry with kitchen paper.
14. Place in a Thermomix or blender for 5–7 minutes, adding the oil in a slow, continuous stream until the purée comes together. Season to taste and use as required.
15. Place the celeriac (sweet potato) in a pan with the cream and stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20–25 minutes, until the vegetable is completely soft.
16. Once the celeriac (sweet potato) is cooked, place the mixture into a Thermomix (see page 273 for details) or blender and blitz until smooth. Add the butter and blitz again for 5–7 minutes. Season to taste and use as required.
17. Warm the duck fat in a pan until it's no longer solidified. Add the garlic cloves and thyme sprigs and simmer very gently over a low heat for about 40 minutes, until meltingly soft. Remove from the oil and gently squeeze the cloves out of their skins. Use as required.

Wine:

For a wine match, either a Burgundy white Chardonnay or red Pinot Noir would be a good match for this recipe. Alternatively, a Rioja Reserve goes very well with oven-cooked duck.