Rose's April Shop Watch - Confit of Duck
Posted on 1 Apr 2019 by Rose
Confit of Duck
Mr. Duck and HG Walter
What?
Duck Leg Confit
Why?
Serve something different this Easter
Although lamb is traditionally served at Easter, British lamb is not yet at its best – you have to wait until the summer for that. So why not think of serving something different on Easter Sunday this year?
I found this confit of duck at my local butchers, H G Walter. Apart from anything else I fell in love with the name of the company – Mr Duck. And this lovely artisan company does just that – sell duck products. The company was started in the UK by a Frenchman, chef Thomas Maieli in 2007. He was inspired to set up the business in his garage in Acton London, because he couldn’t find the quality of duck in the UK for his restaurant – the breasts were not plump enough and the legs too small.
The confit is made from ducks imported from France, mainly from small farms in the Landes area (also famous for chickens too). The ducks are true free-range succulent birds, naturally fed and full of flavour. They are cooked the traditional French way – cured with a secret herbed salt (based on a family recipe) and then slow cooked in a vat of duck fat for hours. They come vacuum packed, which gives them a really long shelf life.
They have won a Great taste Award with the judge’s comments: “Excellent texture, crispy skin, very moist meat and excellent flavour. Smells fantastic. Beautifully tender and flavoursome.”
Now you could make the confit yourself but I always seem to imagine myself swimming in duck fat when I do so, even though I know that all the fat disappears before I eat it. But it is a labour of love. With these from Mr Duck you simply cook in the oven or pan-fry them, skin side down first, for about 25 minutes until the skin is crisp and a nutty brown colour. Serve it with mashed potato; or sautéed potatoes with onion and pancetta; or with cannellini beans cooked with tomato and pancetta.
While you are looking at the website it is also worth checking out some of their other duck delicacies. You can buy Duck Meat Confit, which is the boneless meat from the confit and is delicious in a duck cottage pie. Or some of the terrines to serve as a starter; or that big treat foie gras; or smoked duck breast: or the duck fat if you do decide to make your own.
Conclusion:
Love a duck!
Product Details:
Mr Duck: Duck Leg Confit
From £9.90 (2 pieces)
Contact:
Mr Duck
Tel.: 0203 713 8953
mrduck.co.uk
HG Walter
Barons Court, London
W14 9EB
Tel.: 0207 385 6466
hgwalter.com
Availability and price as at 31st March 2019
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