Crispy Duck Breasts With Pear and Peppercorn Sauce

MsKittyKat's Note:

The sauce makes this dish extra-special. I like to serve this with a warm goat-cheese salad and parsley new potatoes.

• Total Time: 25 mins
• Prep Time: 0 mins
• Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 ½ lbs boneless duck breasts
• 1 firm-ripe bosc pear
• ¾ cup apple juice
• ½ teaspoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons calvados or 2 tablespoons armagnac (can use apple juice if you prefer)
• 1 tablespoon green peppercorn , packed in brine,drained and crushed lightly
• 1 tablespoon duck, demiglace or 1 tablespoon veal demi-glace or ½ extra-large vegetarian vegetable bouillon cube
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves or ¼ teaspoon dried thyme , crumbled

Directions:

1. Trim excess fat from duck breasts.
2. Heat a 12-inch heavy skillet over high heat until very hot.
3. Pat breasts dry and season with salt.
4. Put breasts, skin sides down, in skillet and reduce heat to moderate.
5. Cook breasts 20 minutes, or until skin is crisp and mahogany-colored, removing fat from skillet as it is rendered.
6. Turn breasts and cook about 2 minutes for medium-rare or to desired doneness.
7. Transfer breasts to a plate and keep warm, covered loosely.
8. While duck breasts are cooking, peel pear and cut into 1/4-inch dice.
9. Pour off all but about 1 tablespoon fat from skillet and sauté pear until lightly browned, about 1 minute.
10. In a measuring cup stir together apple juice and cornstarch.
11. To pear add Calvados or Armagnac.
12. Stir in cornstarch mixture, peppercorns, demiglace or bouillon cube, and thyme and simmer, stirring, 2 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
13. Serve duck breasts, sliced, with sauce spooned over them.