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
Method for confit duck
- 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.
- Heat a heavy pan until warm and add the duck legs and duck fat to cover totally.
- 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.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/ Gas 4.
- Whisk the honey and oil together and smear over the duck legs.
- 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
- Place the potatoes and butter beans into a saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Drain and add the olive oil and milk and mash to a puree.
- Season with salt and white pepper.
Method for butter bean and tomato compote
- Heat a deep sided frying pan until hot and add the olive oil, onions and garlic and sauté for 3 minutes.
- 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.
- 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
- Heat a frying pan until hot and add half the butter and onions.
- Sauté the onions until they are well browned then add the stock and red wine.
- Simmer the sauce until it has reduced by half and slightly thickened, then pass through a sieve.
- Whisk the butter in and season with salt and black pepper.
To serve
- 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.