Confit Duck, Butter Bean Mash, Tomato, Butter Bean Compote

  • Cook time
  • Serves 4
cooked duck confit

Ingredients

  • for confit duck
  • 4 duck legs
  • 15g table salt per kilo of duck legs
  • sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped
  • 300g (11oz) duck fat
  • 4 tbsp clear honey
  • butter bean mash
  • 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 600g (1lb5oz) king Edward potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1 x 400g (14oz) tinned butter beans
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 75ml (3floz) milk
  • for butter bean & tomato compote
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2 sprigs thyme
  • 2 x 400g (14oz) tinned chopped tomatoes
  • 110ml (4floz) white wine
  • 1 x 400g (14oz) tinned butter beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 tbsp flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped
  • 25g (1oz) butter
  • ½ red onion, thickly sliced
  • 250ml (9fl oz) red wine
  • 750ml (1pt 6floz) fresh beef stock

Method for confit duck

  1. Weigh the duck legs and sprinkle with 15g of salt per kilo on a tray and sprinkle with the thyme. Wrap and place in the fridge overnight.
  2. Heat a heavy pan until warm and add the duck legs and duck fat to cover totally.
  3. Bring the fat to a gentle simmer and cook slowly for about 2½ hours until very tender then remove from the fat and place on a roasting tray, draining off the excess fat.
  4. Preheat the oven to 180°C/ Gas 4.
  5. Whisk the honey and oil together and smear over the duck legs.
  6. Roast the legs in the oven for about 20 minutes, spooning the honey glaze over the legs 2-3 times.

Method for butter bean mash

  1. Place the potatoes and butter beans into a saucepan and bring to a boil.
  2. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
  3. Drain and add the olive oil and milk and mash to a puree.
  4. Season with salt and white pepper.

Method for butter bean and tomato compote

  1. Heat a deep sided frying pan until hot and add the olive oil, onions and garlic and sauté for 3 minutes.
  2. Add the thyme, tomatoes and white wine and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer for 15-20 minutes until thickened.
  3. Add the beans and simmer for a further 15 minutes, season with salt and black pepper and stir in the chopped parsley.

Method for red wine sauce

  1. Heat a frying pan until hot and add half the butter and onions.
  2. Sauté the onions until they are well browned then add the stock and red wine.
  3. Simmer the sauce until it has reduced by half and slightly thickened, then pass through a sieve.
  4. Whisk the butter in and season with salt and black pepper.

To serve

  1. Place a spoonful of the bean mash in the centre of the plate, top with the duck confit, place a spoonful of tomato beans on the side and serve with the sauce spooned around.