Karen Martini's duck with chickpeas, carrots, orange and anise

Name: Karen Martini's duck with chickpeas, carrots, orange and anise
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 4-6
Cuisine: European
Ingredients: 40ml extra virgin olive oil; 6 x 300g duck legs; salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper; 4 medium-large carrots, peeled and halved lengthways; 350g cooked chickpeas (or 1 can, drained); 300ml chicken stock; juice of 3 oranges; 1 orange, sliced into 1cm rounds; juice of 1 lemon; 8 thyme sprigs; 2 tbsp anise seeds (or fennel seeds); 3 star anise; 3 bay leaves; 1 cinnamon stick; 1 tbsp brown sugar

Karen Martini

January 28, 2022

Braised duck legs with carrots, chickpeas, orange and anise.William Meppem

Time:1-2 hoursServes:4-6

Sweet citrus and warm spices complement duck so well, especially the legs. The carrots – which are stunning with anise – add a rich, vegetable sweetness, perfectly marrying with the intense flavour of the bird. This is a very hearty and technically simple braise – and a wonderful surprise for those who think that duck is only for restaurants! Meanwhile, you'll be left with a stunning sauce that just begs to be soaked up with mashed potato, cous cous or tiny, buttered pasta.

Ingredients

40ml extra virgin olive oil
6 x 300g duck legs
salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper
4 medium-large carrots, peeled and halved lengthways
350g cooked chickpeas (or 1 can, drained)
300ml chicken stock
juice of 3 oranges
1 orange, sliced into 1cm rounds
juice of 1 lemon
8 thyme sprigs
2 tbsp anise seeds (or fennel seeds)
3 star anise
3 bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick
1 tbsp brown sugar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C (200C conventional).
2. Heat the oil in a large frying-pan over a medium heat. Season the duck generously with salt and pepper, then place skin-side down in the pan for 6 minutes. Flip and sear for 4 minutes, then transfer to a roasting tray, skin-side up.
3. Add all the other ingredients to the tray, seasoning with salt. Place the tray over a medium heat and bring to a simmer, ensuring the legs aren't submerged. Cover tray tightly with baking paper, then foil, and transfer to the oven. Cook for 1 hour.
4. After an hour, uncover the tray, remove the cinnamon and turn the temperature up to 200C (220C conventional). Roast for 25-30 minutes until the duck is coloured and the sauce has reduced a little. The meat should be falling from the bone.
5. Serve as is, or strain off some of the juices and reduce in a separate pan for a thicker sauce. Serve with mashed potatoes or cous cous and greens.
This recipe was originally published in Good Weekend magazine