Make Your Meal a Holiday Hit

Crispy Roast Duck with Giblet Gravy

Ingredients

• 2 Maple Leaf Farms Whole Ducks (5 pounds each), thawed if frozen
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup water
• 1 onion, unpeeled and quartered
• 2 large carrots, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
• 2 small sprigs fresh sage
• 1 large bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
• 3/4 cup dry vermouth or dry white wine
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper, to taste
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For more recipes, visit www.mapleleaffarms.com.

Preparation

1. Remove giblets and orange sauce packets from ducks and reserve for another use. Rinse ducks; pat dry with paper towels. Place breast sides up on rack in large shallow roasting pan. Roast according to package directions.
2. Place remaining duck giblets and necks in large saucepan. Add broth, water, onion, carrots, sage sprigs, bay leaf, thyme and peppercorns. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat; simmer gently uncovered 1 hour. Strain broth; set aside giblets and discard remaining solids. If broth measures less than 2 cups add water to equal 2 cups.
3. Remove roast ducks from oven and transfer to rack of broiler pan. Preheat broiler. Pour off and reserve drippings from roasting pan. Add vermouth to pan and cook over medium high heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon, until mixture is reduced by about half, 2–3 minutes.
4. Spoon off 1/4 cup fat from reserved drippings; transfer to medium saucepan. Add flour; cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat 1 minute. Add 2 cups strained duck broth and wine mixture to saucepan. Add drippings to saucepan. Cook, stirring frequently, until gravy thickens. Chop reserved giblets and add to gravy. Simmer 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
5. Broil ducks 5–6 inches from heat source until skin is well browned and crispy, 6–8 minutes. Cut each duck into quarters and transfer to serving plates. Pass gravy separately. Garnish with sage sprigs, if desired.

Serves
8

 A memorable holiday meal always comes down to the mouthwatering meals served by the host. This season, impress family and friends with three traditional courses many come to expect at such a gathering: a juicy bird, a hearty side and a sweet ending. Featuring flavor-packed herbs, spices and the freshest ingredients, these recipes allow you to serve up the very best of the season to those you love.