Duck with winter pear

 

Duck is a dish that’s very highly regarded in Catalan cuisine and is one of the undisputed stars of French gastronomy. It’s also typical in Scandinavian countries and in Germany, Poland and Hungary.  

In fact, duck has been on the menu for humans for millennia: ducks were first domesticated 4,000 years ago. This animal has had many uses over the ages, so we can safely say that, like with pigs, every last part of the duck is used: meat, eggs and feathers. Interestingly, all the current domesticated varieties of duck have their origins in the domestication of two wild species: the mallard and the Muscovy duck.

Duck with pears is a dish that is traditionally saved for special occasions. This casserole appears in the cuisine of many Catalan-speaking regions and is one of many dishes that can be made with this highly prized type of waterfowl. Its rich texture and clean taste help bring out the ingredients it’s cooked with, especially the fruit. Other equally delicious duck recipes are duck à l’orange, duck with wild mushrooms or apple and honeyed duck.

Duck magret and duck confit are two other famous dishes made using this meat. And here’s a fun fact: the species used to make the famous ancient recipe for Peking duck, made since imperial times, is different from the species we have available to us in Andorra.  

RECIPE

Method:

Season the duck with salt and pepper and place in a casserole dish together with the oil, onions, red pepper, garlic cloves and duck liver. Once golden brown, remove the onions, pepper, garlic and liver, chop finely and mix well. Next, return the mixture to the casserole dish, along with the orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, white wine and Curaçao. Cover and cook. When the dish is nearly done, add the winter pears and cook for another 20 minutes. 

Ingredients for duck with winter pear:

- Duck
- Duck liver
- Orange zest
- Curaçao liqueur
- White wine
- Onions
- Red pepper
- Garlic cloves
- Salt
- Pepper
- Oil
- Winter pears
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg

 

Bibliography:

Book: Cuina casolana d’Andorra (Andorran Home Cooking)
Author: Maria Dolors Ribes Roigé
Edition: 1991