2011, Recipes 29-31: Roasted Duck, Duck Fat Smashed Potatoes and Sauteed Savoy Cabbage

Roasted Duck

Recipe courtesy of Allrecipes.com

• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 (5 pound) whole duck
• 1/2 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Rub salt, pepper, and paprika into the skin of the duck. Place in a roasting pan.
Roast duck in preheated oven for 1 hour. Spoon 1/4 cup melted butter over bird, and continue cooking for 45 more minutes. Spoon remaining 1/4 cup melted butter over duck, and cook for 15 more minutes, or until golden brown. 

Results: Yum!!  One recipe-maker suggested eliminating the butter because duck is very fatty anyway.  I agreed and it was still delicious!  Another person suggested adding garlic powder.  Wish I'd remembered!!  Next time.

Duck Fat Smashed Potatoes

Recipe courtesy of Williams-Sonoma

• Kosher salt, to taste
• 2 lb. small Yukon Gold potatoes, 1-2" wide
• 6 tbsp. duck fat 
• 2 tbsp. canola oil
• Fresh ground pepper, to taste

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Salt the water, add the potatoes and boil for 15-20 minutes until tender when pierced. Drain the potatoes and transfer to a towel-lined baking sheet to cool and dry.


Using the smooth side of a meat tenderizer, carefully smash the potatoes so they are about 1/2" thick.

Preheat an oven to 200°F.  Set wire rack on baking sheet.

In a large fry pan over medium-high heat, warm 3 tbsp. of duck fat and 1 tbsp. of canola oil until just smoking.  If using larger potatoes, cut in half, place the potatoes, cut side down, in the pan in a single layer.  Working in batches & adding more duck fat and oil as needed, sear the smashed potatoes, turning once until well browned and crispy, about 3 minutes per side.  Transfer to the rack-lined baking sheet and season with salt and pepper.   Keep warm in the oven until ready to serve.  Serves 6-8.

Results: Yum! I would never make this w/o making a duck but since I knew I was cooking duck, I grabbed a recipe card at W-S.  Extra exciting!  Do you know how expensive it is to buy duck fat?  It's a shame!  $10.95 for 11 oz.???  So I saved mine for the next time I cook these potatoes or some other equally ridiculous recipe. LOL

Savoy Cabbage

Recipe courtesy of Cooking with Patty

• 2 lbs. fresh wrinkly-skinned Savoy Cabbage
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Peel away the outer leaves of the cabbage and discard them. Then slice the rest of the cabbage into thin 1/4" strips.
2. Heat the garlic cloves in the oil in a large nonstick pan.
3. When the oil is hot add the cabbage and salt.
4. Mix often until the cabbage is thouroughly cooked.
5. Salt and pepper to taste.

Results: YUM AGAIN!!! DING DING! WINNING!!! I'd never had savoy before but it was on sale so I bought it and I'll definitely buy it again!  Yummy meal!