Jul 14 2026

Hudson Valley Duck Recipe

Time1h
Serves2

Seared Crispy Duck Breast, Cherry Balsamic Glaze, Forbidden Black Rice

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Ingredients

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Duck Breast

Forbidden Black Rice

Method

Preparing the Duck Breast

  1. 1

    Score the Duck Breasts

    Score the skin of the duck breasts in a crosshatch pattern, being careful not to cut into the meat.

  2. 2

    Season the Duck

    Season both sides of the duck breasts generously with salt and black pepper.

  3. 3

    Render the Duck Fat

    Place the duck breasts skin-side down in a cold skillet. Turn the heat to medium and allow the fat to render slowly while the skin crisps up, about 6-8 minutes.

  4. 4

    Sear the Duck

    Once the skin is crispy and golden brown, flip the duck breasts over and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until the desired doneness is reached.

  5. 5

    Rest the Duck

    Remove the duck from the skillet and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing.

Making the Cherry Balsamic Glaze

  1. 6

    Combine Ingredients

    In a saucepan, combine the fresh cherries, balsamic vinegar, honey, and chopped thyme.

  2. 7

    Simmer the Glaze

    Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

  3. 8

    Reduce the Glaze

    Allow the glaze to reduce for about 15-20 minutes until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon.

  4. 9

    Cool the Glaze

    Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.

Cooking the Forbidden Black Rice

  1. 10

    Rinse the Rice

    Rinse the forbidden black rice under cold water until the water runs clear.

  2. 11

    Combine Rice and Water

    In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed black rice, water, and salt.

  3. 12

    Cook the Rice

    Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30-35 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed.

  4. 13

    Fluff the Rice

    Remove from heat and let it sit covered for an additional 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork.