Duckstrami with smacked cucumber
Duck breasts are cured then coated with a pastrami rub and fried for a deliciously different dinner.
Ingredients
For the duck breasts
- 2 duck breasts, skin on
- 20g/¾oz fine sea salt
- 2 tsp soft dark brown sugar
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 4 juniper berries, ground
- 2 bay leaves, finely crushed
- 2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- 1 tsp cracked black pepper
- 4 spring onions, trimmed and cut diagonally, to garnish
- steamed jasmine or long-grain rice, to serve
For the pastrami rub
- 2 tsp coriander seeds, toasted and crushed
- 2 tsp cracked black pepper
- vegetable oil, for brushing
For the smacked cucumber
- ½ cucumber (halved lengthways)
- 1 tsp sea salt flakes
- 4 Szechuan peppercorns, toasted and ground
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp crispy chilies in oil (available in Asian supermarkets)
For the ginger sauce
- 2cm/1in piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp caster sugar
- 1 tbsp cider vinegar
Method
To make the duck, score the duck skin in a crosshatch pattern. Combine all of the remaining ingredients in a bowl and rub all over the duck. Place in the fridge for 24 hours.
To make the pastrami rub, mix together the coriander seeds and pepper. Remove the duck from the fridge, take out of the bowl, wash off and pat dry with kitchen towels. Brush the meat side of the duck with a little vegetable oil and generously apply half of the pastrami rub. Heat a dry frying pan over a medium–hot heat, cook the duck skin-side down for 3 minutes and then sear the other side for 2 minutes, or until cooked to your liking. Leave to rest.
Meanwhile, to make the smacked cucumber, place the cucumber on a board and place a flat metal implement, such as a spatula, on top. Using the palm of your hand, smack the metal implement until the cucumber splits and breaks. Chop into bite-sized pieces and transfer to a bowl. Add the salt, toss and set aside for 30 minutes. Whisk the remaining ingredients together in a bowl. Drain the liquid from the cucumber and top with chili dressing.
To make the ginger sauce, place the ginger and caster sugar in a saucepan with 50ml/2fl oz water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes, then finish with the vinegar.
To serve, slice the duck breasts. Place the cucumbers on a serving platter and top with the duck. Garnish with the spring onions and remaining pastrami rub and serve with the steamed rice and ginger sauce on the side.
