Food & Drink

Let me entertain you: Niall McKenna's duck a l'orange and pineapple tart tatin

Niall McKenna's pineapple tarte tatin
Niall McKenna's pineapple tarte tatin

OUR renowned and entertaining cookery classes have been running for over 12 years now, and with the bigger and better premises at Waterman House, we are receiving more requests for chef-inspired cooking at home.

This week’s recipes, Duck a l’Orange and a Pineapple Tarte Tatin, are not just restaurant inspired, but once these recipes are tried and tested, they could easily become your signature dishes for at-home cooking, giving you the confidence to entertain more often.

 Why not give them a go, or check out our cookery classes at: www.waterman.house or follow us on Instagram @waterman.house

Niall McKenna's duck a l'orange
Niall McKenna's duck a l'orange

DUCK A L’ORANGE

Ingredients

(Serves 4)

4 duck legs

1 large orange

1 onion, peeled and sliced

2 bay leaves

Sprig of rosemary

Salt and pepper

For the sauce

1 onion, peeled and finely sliced

4 tbsp orange liqueur, e.g. Cointreau

75ml red wine

150ml orange juice (approx. 2 large oranges)

3 tbsp orange marmalade

2 tsp cornflour

Method

Begin by preheating your oven to 200C.

Remove any excess fat from the duck and pierce the skin with a sharp knife or skewer. Then place the duck into a large bowl, covering with boiling water. Once a minute has passed, turn the duck over, letting it stand for another minute.

Remove the duck from the water and drain and pat dry with kitchen paper. Peel the orange and slice the peel into julienne strips, setting aside for later. Cut the rest of the orange into slices, placing the duck on top of the orange slices, onion, rosemary and bay leaves and seasoning with salt and pepper. Place on a baking tray.

Place into the preheated oven and roast for 45-55 minutes until cooked. Once cooked, transfer the duck to a resting plate, leaving to rest for at least 15 minutes.

While the duck is resting, it’s time to make the sauce which should begin by taking one tablespoon of duck fat from the roasting tray and placing it into a saucepan over a medium heat. Then add in the sliced onion and gently fry for approximately five minutes until golden and softened.

Add in the orange liqueur and red wine, allowing it to bubble for a few seconds. Then add the orange juice along with 150ml of cold water and let it simmer for two minutes.

Next, add the julienne strips of orange peel and marmalade, and again, bring it to a simmer.

Mix the cornflour with one tablespoon of cold water in a small bowl, mixing until smooth. Stir this paste into the orange sauce and cook for one-two minutes, stirring continuously until the sauce has thickened. Then pour any juices from the rest of the duck into the sauce and let it simmer for another few seconds.

On a warm plate, serve the duck on top of the roasted orange and onion from the baking tray before pouring on some of the warmed sauce.

Read more:

  • James St Recipes: Niall McKenna's prawns with garlic and chilli, and crème caramel
  • Make it chicken tonight with these two delicious recipes from Niall McKenna
  • James St Recipes: Niall McKenna's spiced mincemeat and mince pie cookies
Niall McKenna's pineapple tarte tatin
Niall McKenna's pineapple tarte tatin

INDIVIDUAL PINEAPPLE TARTE TATIN

Ingredients

(Serves 4)

1 tin pineapple rings

1 roll puff pastry, cut into disks (size of ramekins)

150g Demerara Sugar

30g butter

2 tbsp rapeseed oil

Method

Preheat your oven to 190C.

Place the sugar into a pan on a medium heat, letting the sugar melt into a golden colour. Then add in the butter and cream, combining thoroughly. Once combined, leave to the side to cool.

To prepare the pineapple, put the oil in a pan and bring to a high heat. Place the pineapple rings into the pan and cook on one side until golden.

Take the ramekins and place the caramel into the bottom of the dish with the pineapple on top, topping off with the pre-cut puff pastry. To let out the steam whilst cooking, make a small incision in the top of the pastry. Pop into the oven to bake for 15 minutes.

Once the time has passed, remove from the oven and turn onto plates, serving with creamy vanilla ice-cream.