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    Home » Special Diet » Gluten and Lactose Free » Wild Duck Recipe with Blueberry Sauce

    Wild Duck Recipe with Blueberry Sauce

    Posted on November 9, 2021 By Beth Neels

    206 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This is the simplest Duck Breast Recipe you will find! This Duck Breast is made with wild duck and contains absolutely no fat, like domestics. It is crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside!

    Thinly slice duck breasts with noodles and peas on gray plate.

    Unlike domestic duck, wild duck contains very little fat! Our local population of wild ducks are well fed. There are many cornfields locally, which, along with aquatic vegetation, seeds, nuts and berries, are their main diet. Some ducks will also eat salamanders, tadpoles and insects, although they are mainly vegetarian.

    Duck species suitable for food in the Northeast US

    sliced duck with side dishes dinner plate.

    The duck breasts we made today are wood ducks. Other wild ducks that are suitable for food are mallard, teal, pintail, black duck, and others. Many people steer clear of the diving ducks, like merganser, because they eat fish and, through biological magnification, may contain higher levels of heavy metals.

    What does duck taste like?

    Domestic duck is more fatty than chicken. It has a texture and flavor more like the thigh of the chicken.

    Domestic duck is best roasted. Using a sharp knife, score the skin in a criss-cross pattern without going into the meat layer. This will allow the fat to render from the duck and the finished product will be more appetizing.

    Wild duck breast has a denser texture than domestic duck but the flavor is more robust and much less fatty.

    Duck breasts will have the same appearance as a beef steak, after cooking.

    How to clean a wild duck

    Cleaning the ducks requires using a sharp knife. A filet knife works great for this. Field dress the duck. (remove the innards.)

    Although, you can pluck the feathers and save the entire duck, it takes a considerable amount of time, if you don’t have the right tools.

    It is much easier to skin the duck whole. Using your sharp knife, remove the breasts skin. Then run your knife very close to the breast bone to remove the breast from the body. (Use the bones and the remainder of the meat for fresh duck stock)

    What you need

    • boneless skinless duck breast
    • sea salt or kosher salt
    • black pepper to taste
    • unsalted butter
    • Olive Oil

    For Sauce

    • brown sugar
    • half red wine and half sherry vinegars or just use red wine.
    • onion, grated into pot
    • fresh ginger, grated into pot
    • blueberries fresh or frozen
    • freshly cracked black pepper
    • Salt
    • cornstarch mixed with 1 Tbsp. warm water – used to thicken sauce, if desired.

    How to make this duck breast recipe

    1. Salt duck breasts heavily. Let salt stand on them for about 15 minutes.
    2. Rinse off salt and pat very dry.
    3. Meanwhile, start sauce. Add vinegar to make saucepan.
    4. Measure brown sugar. Add to vinegar.
    5. Grate onion and ginger into sauce ingredients.
    6. Add blueberries.
    Duck on board with salt. Duck rinsed and dried with paper towel. Vinegar in small pot. Measured brown sugar. Onion and garlic grated into pot. Frozen blueberries in cup.
    1. Mix. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat and simmer.
    2. Melt butter and olive oil in cast iron skillet. Heat to high. Place seasoned duck breasts into hot fat.
    3. Flip when breasts they turn brown on the edges. Notice the two on the far right. You could also grill the meat over medium heat on the grill and baste with butter.
    4. Cook until breasts measure about 135°F, for medium rare. **See recipe notes** Remove to a clean plate and tent with aluminum foil.
    5. Add cornstarch slurry to sauce. Allow to simmer 5 minutes to thicken. Stirring occasionally.
    Blueberries added to pot. Duck breasts added to cast iron pan. Breasts in cast pan flipped to side. Breasts on plate resting. Cornstarch added to blueberry sauce.

    Once sauce thickens, slice duck breasts thinly and serve with sauce and your choice of sides.

    What to serve with pan seared duck breasts

    • Spätzle

     

    • Casserole Marie Blanche
    • Wild rice
    • Potatoes
    • Roasted Butternut Squash
    • Glazed Carrots
    • Peas
    • Asparagus
    Sliced duck served with sauce and spaetzle.

    Other delicious Field to Table Recipes

    • Venison Meatballs
    • Venison Stew
    • Rabbit Loin Parmigiana
    • Rabbit Coconut Curry
    • Venison Burger
    • Alligator Hush Puppies
    duck breast dinner on gray plate.

     

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    Sliced duck breasts with blueberry sauce on grey plate.

    Tools I use to make this recipe

    Contains affiliate links, for full disclosure, see FTC Disclosure, here.

    • cast iron skillet
    • cutting board
    • chef’s knife
    • duck breasts (domestic)

    That’s how easy it is to make this Duck Breast Recipe. Thanks for stopping by today!

    Enjoy! And have fun cooking!

    Xoxo,

    Binky’s Signature
    Slices of duck breast with blueberry sauce.

    Duck Breast Recipe

    This is the simplest Duck Breast Recipe you will find! This Duck Breast is made with wild duck and contains absolutely no fat, like domestics.
    See Step by Step Photos Above!Most of our recipes have step by step photos and videos! Also helpful tips so that you can make it perfectly the first time and every time! Scroll up to see them!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: entree, Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 204.29kcal
    Author: Beth Neels
    Cost: $4

    Ingredients

    • 4 duck breast halves, wild, boneless, skinless
    • Salt
    • Pepper to taste
    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 2 teaspoon Olive Oil

    For Sauce

    • 1/2 cup brown sugar
    • 1/3 cup cider vinegar half red wine and 1/2 sherry vinegars or just use red wine.
    • 1 tablespoon grated onion
    • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
    • 1 cup Blueberries fresh or frozen
    • 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
    • pinch Salt
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 Tbsp. warm water
    • ½ teaspoon grated garlic

    Instructions

    • Salt duck breasts and set aside.
    • Measure all sauce ingredients into small sauce pan, except cornstarch and water. Bring to boil.
    • Reduce heat and simmer until duck is done.
    • After letting salt sit on duck breasts about 15 minutes, rinse salt off and dry thoroughly with paper towel. Season with salt and pepper.
    • Melt butter and olive oil in cast iron pan. Heat to high.
    • Add duck breasts to pan. Sear on one side. When color of breast starts to change on the sides, flip breasts and brown the other side. (See step by step photographs in post above.)
    • USDA recommends cooking cooking duck to 170°F. We like our medium rare, so we cook ours to 135°F. Measure temperature with an instant read meat thermometer.
    • Set duck breasts on a clean plate. Loosely cover with foil.
    • To finish sauce, mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Add to sauce. Cook about 5 minutes, until thickened and smooth.
    • Serve duck with sauce.
    cast iron frying pan 12″
    cutting board, bamboo
    knife, chef’s knife
    See all of my favorite tools and gift ideas on my New Amazon Store!Check out Binky’s Amazon Store!

    Notes

    Notes** See post for helpful step by step photographs.
    Do NOT overcook! Duck breasts should be cooked to medium rare, and not over 135°F.
    Leftovers can be stored up to 3 days in refrigerator.
    Best if leftovers are eaten cold, such as in salads or sandwiches.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 204.29kcal | Carbohydrates: 34.66g | Protein: 45.15g | Fat: 14.7g | Saturated Fat: 5.02g | Cholesterol: 181.55mg | Sodium: 138.13mg | Potassium: 670.75mg | Fiber: 0.95g | Sugar: 30.49g | Vitamin A: 227.22IU | Vitamin C: 17.6mg | Calcium: 29.61mg | Iron: 10.47mg
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    This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you go to the link and purchase something, at no additional cost to you. See FTC Disclosure, here.

    Originally published November 8, 2019. Updated November 9, 2021.

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    206 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Elaine Benoit

      November 08, 2019 at 2:43 pm

      5 stars
      Yummy! I love duck and this looks fabulous! Especially with that delicious sauce.

      Reply
      • Beth Neels

        November 08, 2019 at 3:55 pm

        Thank you Elaine! I appreciate that! Have a great weekend!

        Reply
    2. Alison

      November 08, 2019 at 11:19 am

      5 stars
      Wonderful sauce that really compliments the duck. I would never have thought of pairing a blueberry sauce with duck, but it works!

      Reply
      • Beth Neels

        November 08, 2019 at 11:20 am

        Thanks so much! I thought the blueberry sauce was excellent with them too!

        Reply
    3. Calleigh

      November 08, 2019 at 11:00 am

      I was so intimidated to cook duck and just normally ordered it at restaurants but your recipe is pretty easy to make.. thanks for the recipe inspiration.

      Reply
      • Beth Neels

        November 08, 2019 at 11:21 am

        It’s really easy! Just don’t overcook it, Calleigh! Let me know how it goes!

        Reply
    4. Veena Azmanov

      November 08, 2019 at 10:37 am

      5 stars
      I just cant wait to taste this yummy and delicious dish. Duck breast sounds like a delicacy. Love the combination of ingredients and sauces to make it so perfect.

      Reply
      • Beth Neels

        November 08, 2019 at 11:22 am

        Thank you so much Veena! This duck breast is perfect for company!

        Reply
    5. Beth

      November 08, 2019 at 10:27 am

      5 stars
      I’ve only had duck over pasta but really loved the flavor! I really want to give this a try and that sauce seems amazing!

      Reply
      • Beth Neels

        November 08, 2019 at 11:23 am

        The sauce pairs really well with the duck! Thank you Beth!

        Reply

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