Stark Duck with Pumpkin and Apples
8 servings
120 minutes
You don't have to be a die-hard George Martin fan to have a reason to cook Stark Duck with Pumpkin and Apples. This simple Westerosi recipe fits perfectly into the concept of "Game of Thrones" - and although it is fictional, it is also well suited for a real holiday table. Those who are not yet familiar with this literary masterpiece can appreciate, if not the entourage of the dish, then the simplicity of its preparation and originality. There is only one important and exhausting moment here - preparing the duck. The bird is marinated for several hours in a brine with honey and spices and baked in the oven for another two hours. The pumpkin and fruit are prepared separately from the duck, but their flavors combine perfectly when served.
1
Boil five liters of water, add dill seeds, 100 grams of salt, star anise, allspice berries, pour in honey, mix and let cool.
- Dill seeds: 1 tablespoon
- Salt: 110 g
- Anise (star anise): 4 pieces
- Allspice peas: 8 pieces
- Honey: 50 g
2
Place the duck in brine. Refrigerate for six to eight hours. Remove the duck from the fridge, dry it with paper towels, and put it in a preheated oven at 90 degrees for one and a half hours. Then increase the heat to 200 degrees and roast the duck for another half hour until done.
- Duck: 1 piece
3
Cut the pumpkin into pieces of 5-6 cm, quarter the apples and remove the core. Place on a baking tray, drizzle with vegetable oil and balsamic cream, add thyme sprigs, season with salt and pepper, and put in the oven when it reaches 200 degrees.
- Pumpkin: 1.5 kg
- Apple: 1 kg
- Vegetable oil: 50 ml
- Balsamic cream: to taste
- Thyme: 8 stems
- Salt: 110 g
- Ground black pepper: to taste