Best 7 Apricot Roast Duck Legs Recipes

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Indulge in a culinary journey with our Apricot Roast Duck Legs recipe, where succulent duck legs are elevated with a delightful blend of sweet and tangy flavors. The duck legs are meticulously roasted to achieve a crispy golden-brown skin and tender, juicy meat, while the homemade apricot glaze adds a burst of fruity sweetness and a hint of acidity that beautifully complements the richness of the duck.

This recipe provides a step-by-step guide, ensuring that even novice cooks can effortlessly create this delectable dish. We'll take you through the process of preparing the duck legs, creating the flavorful apricot glaze, and roasting the duck to perfection.

Along with the main recipe, we've included variations to cater to different preferences and dietary needs. For those who prefer a crispy duck skin, we offer a dry-brining technique that enhances the skin's texture. If you're looking for a gluten-free option, we provide a gluten-free apricot glaze recipe that maintains the dish's deliciousness without compromising taste.

Whether you're a seasoned cook or just starting your culinary adventures, our Apricot Roast Duck Legs recipe is sure to impress. With its delightful combination of flavors and textures, this dish is perfect for special occasions, dinner parties, or simply a cozy family meal. So, gather your ingredients, let's embark on this flavor-filled journey, and create a dish that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more!

Let's cook with our recipes!

APRICOT GLAZED DUCK



Apricot Glazed Duck image

Provided by Robert Irvine : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1/4 cup unsalted butter, plus 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 duck breasts
1 large white onion, diced
1 cup chopped dried apricots
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup white wine
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Cold water
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon freshly chopped tarragon leaves

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the duck breasts skin side down for about 2 minutes without shaking the pan. Turn over and cook on the other side for another 2 minutes. Remove to a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Transfer the duck breasts to a cutting board and set aside to rest.
  • Using the same pan you cooked the duck in, saute the onions, over medium heat, until golden brown. Add in the chopped apricots, apple cider vinegar, chicken stock and white wine. Cook until reduced by half, about 10 minutes.
  • In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with a little cold water to create a slurry. Slowly add it to the apricot mixture, stirring constantly until the desired consistency is reached.
  • Allow to cook until the paste taste disappears, about 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in the tarragon and the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter.
  • Slice the duck breast on a bias. Lay a little sauce on the base of each white serving plate and top with the duck. Spoon a little more sauce over the duck and serve.

APRICOT ROAST DUCK LEGS



Apricot Roast Duck Legs image

I adapted this recipe from a TV food show "Cooking Live". The original calls for a whole duck and szechuan peppercorns. If you want to use a whole duck, increase the cooking time by 15 minutes for the simmering and 15 minutes for the roasting.

Provided by chia2160

Categories     Duck

Time 1h10m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 duck legs, excess skin removed
2 cups duck stock or 2 cups chicken stock
2 cups water, more if needed to cover duck
1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
1/2 cup apricot preserves
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 birds eye chile
1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper, mix (red, black, white)
1 tablespoon green peppercorn, rinsed

Steps:

  • Place the extra fat in a stockpot with duck stock and water and bring to a boil.
  • Prick the duck legs all over and add to the pot.
  • Add extra water to cover, if needed.
  • Simmer 30 minutes.
  • Remove and let legs sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to dry skin.
  • Meanwhile preheat oven to 450.
  • In a saucepan heat the vinegar, preserves, soy sauce, chile, ground pepper, and peppercorns.
  • Divide sauce in half.
  • Place duck legs on a roasting pan, brush with sauce.
  • Roast for 30 minutes occasionally basting with sauce.
  • Serve with remaining sauce for dipping.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 105.3, Fat 0.1, Sodium 271, Carbohydrate 27.3, Fiber 0.5, Sugar 15.4, Protein 1

CRISPY BRAISED DUCK LEGS



Crispy Braised Duck Legs image

Make and share this Crispy Braised Duck Legs recipe from Food.com.

Provided by chia2160

Categories     Duck

Time 1h45m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 5

4 duck legs, trimmed of excess fat
1 large onion 8ounces carrot
3 celery ribs
salt and fresh black pepper
2 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put duck legs skin side down in a skillet large enough to accommodate all ingredients comfortably. Turn heat to medium, and cook, rotating so skin browns thoroughly and evenly but do not turn over completely. Meanwhile, peel onion and carrots, trim celery and roughly chop them all.
  • When skins are nicely browned, turn and sear the meat side just 1 to 2 minutes, and season with salt and pepper. Remove to a plate; remove all fat from pan except enough to moisten vegetables. Add vegetables and salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, over medium-high heat, until they begin to brown, 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Return duck legs skin side up to pan, and add stock; it should come about halfway up the legs but not cover them. Turn heat to high, bring to boil and transfer to oven.
  • Cook 30 minutes, and turn heat to 350 degrees. Cook undisturbed until duck is tender and liquid reduced, at least 30 minutes or a bit longer. Serve immediately, or let rest in a 200-degree oven for up to an hour.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 55.4, Fat 1.5, SaturatedFat 0.4, Cholesterol 3.6, Sodium 208, Carbohydrate 6.8, Fiber 1, Sugar 3.3, Protein 3.4

ONE-PAN ROAST DUCK LEGS WITH WHITE BEANS & CARROTS



One-pan roast duck legs with white beans & carrots image

Make a minimalist version of cassoulet by slow-roasting duck legs with white beans and carrots. It's a dish that's big on flavour but with few ingredients

Provided by Tom Kerridge

Categories     Dinner

Time 2h50m

Number Of Ingredients 6

4 duck legs
handful of thyme sprigs
sunflower oil, for drizzling
500g carrots, sliced
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 x 400g cans white beans, drained

Steps:

  • If you have time, lightly salt the duck legs a day or two before cooking, scatter with some of the thyme sprigs, then cover and chill until needed. (If you don't have the time, this is not an essential step.) Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Heat a little oil in a shallow flameproof casserole or roasting tin. If the duck legs have been salted in advance, pat them dry with kitchen paper. Sizzle the legs in the tin or casserole, skin-side down, until golden brown and the fat has rendered out. Turn and cook for 10-15 mins to brown them all over.
  • Remove the duck legs to a plate and pour away half the fat from the casserole or tin (you can save this for roasties). Return it to the heat and fry the carrots, garlic and thyme along with some seasoning for 5 mins until the carrots are starting to soften. Sit the duck legs on top, skin-side up, then pour about 100ml water over the veg. Bring to a simmer, cover and transfer to the oven to cook for 1 hr 30 mins.
  • Remove the casserole from the oven and uncover. Turn the oven up to 200C/180C/gas 6. Lift the duck out onto a plate and stir the beans through the carrots and thyme. Sit the duck back on top, then return to the oven, uncovered, to cook for another 20-30 mins until the duck skin is crisp and the beans are simmering. Remove from the oven and leave to rest for 10 mins, then serve straight from the dish.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 584 calories, Fat 37 grams fat, SaturatedFat 11 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 28 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 10 grams sugar, Fiber 13 grams fiber, Protein 28 grams protein, Sodium 0.4 milligram of sodium

ROAST DUCK WITH APRICOT GLAZE



Roast Duck With Apricot Glaze image

I love preparing duck, because nothing is wasted. Use the liver and make a deconstructed pate by sauteing shallot in butter; add the liver and mash, then add a little S&P. Served on baguette, this makes for an easy appetizer. After many less than optimal results with roasting duck, I finally learned that the secret to a really good crispy skin is boiling it before roasting. I also let it dry in the fridge for a couple of days before roasting. Save the broth, chill it, then skim off the fat that will rise to the surface and save for use in other recipes. Julia Child was right when she said, "Always save your duck fat." Once the broth is reduced, combine with veal stock, reduce more, & you will have a lovely sauce. The first time I boiled a duck, I didn't realize how out of control a hot slippery duck could be--sloshing hot greasy liquid all over my tiny kitchen. So the second time, I trussed the legs together, leaving the twine long, in order to have something to hold on to.

Provided by French Terrine

Categories     Whole Duck

Time 4h30m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 (5 lb) whole duck
1 1/2 teaspoons quatre-epices
salt
1/2 cup apricot jam
2 cups veal stock

Steps:

  • Boil duck for 30-45 minutes in enough water so that it is completely submerged.
  • Remove and blot dry inside and out with paper towels. Place in fridge for a couple of days to allow the skin to become very dry.
  • Refrigerate the lovely greasy duck broth. Once the fat has all risen to the top, skim it off and save to use in other recipes--like potatoes roasted with duck fat----YUM.
  • Reduce your duck broth, concentrating it down to 2--3 cups. Combine with veal stock and reduce down to another 2--3 cups. This will take several hours. If you wish to thicken it, make a little roux with some duck fat and some flour, slowly whisking some of the reduction, whisking continuously, allowing to boil gently. Then add the remainder of the reduction. Adjust your seasonings with salt and pepper.
  • Remove duck from fridge for an hour or so before roasting.
  • Preheat over to 400 degrees F.
  • Salt generously and dust with the quatre epices--see note below.
  • Roast breast side up for 90 minutes, spreading apricot jam on it for the last half hour.
  • Remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes if you can wait that long.
  • Carve up and serve with the reduction/sauce.
  • **********************************************************************************.
  • Quater epices (meaning four spices) is a French spice blend, but it is also found in Middle Eastern kitchens. It is often used in terrines, fresh sausages, and pates. Add a heaping teaspoon to a pot of hearty stew for a surprising new depth. Here's an example of this versatile blend:.
  • Combine 2 tablespoons white peppercorns, 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg,1/2 teaspoon (about 12) whole cloves, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger.
  • Grind up peppercorns and cloves, and combine with the rest. Store in cool, dark, dry place.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 2389.5, Fat 223.3, SaturatedFat 75, Cholesterol 431.3, Sodium 373.5, Carbohydrate 25.8, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 17.4, Protein 65.5

ROAST DUCK BREAST WITH BALSAMIC AND APRICOT SAUCE



Roast Duck Breast with Balsamic and Apricot Sauce image

Categories     Duck     Fruit     Poultry     Roast     Apricot     Brandy     Port     Fall     Gourmet

Yield Serves 4

Number Of Ingredients 10

For sauce
1/4 cup minced shallot
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cold unsalted butter
1/2 cup Tawny Port
1 tablespoon brandy
1 cup duck-and-veal demiglace (a 6 1/2-ounce container stirred together with 3 tablespoons water)
1/3 cup julienne strips dried apricot
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 whole 1-pound boneless duck breasts with skin (preferably Long Island, or Pekin, halved
1 teaspoon vegetable oil

Steps:

  • Make sauce:
  • In a 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan cook shallot in 1 teaspoon butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened. Carefully add Port and brandy and boil until reduced by half. Add demiglace and simmer 5 minutes, or until reduced to about 2/3 cup. Pour sauce through a fine sieve into a small bowl and return to pan. Stir in apricot, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer sauce until apricot is just heated through and stir in remaining tablespoon butter.
  • Preheat oven to 450° F.
  • Put duck breasts, skin sides down, on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife and following shape of breast, trim all sinews, excess skin, and fat. With a fork carefully prick skin all over without piercing meat.
  • Heat an ovenproof cast-iron skillet over moderately high heat until hot and add oil, swirling skillet until coated evenly. Pat duck dry and season with salt and pepper. Put duck, skin sides down, in skillet. Reduce heat to moderate and cook duck until skin is deep golden, about 3 minutes. Turn duck over and cook 2 minutes more. Remove duck from skillet and pour off fat. Return duck, skin sides down, to skillet and roast in middle of oven 5 minutes for medium-rare. Keep duck warm and reheat sauce over low heat.
  • Slice duck on the diagonal and serve with sauce.

ROAST DUCK LEGS WITH RED WINE SAUCE



Roast duck legs with red wine sauce image

It's almost impossible to overcook duck legs - so try this rich, slow-roasted dish

Provided by Mary Cadogan

Categories     Dinner, Main course

Time 1h20m

Number Of Ingredients 6

4 ducks legs
½ tsp five spice powder
bunch of rosemary sprigs
4 fat garlic cloves
half a bottle of red wine
2 tbsp redcurrant or quince jelly

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Put the duck legs in one layer in a roasting tin on a bed of rosemary sprigs and garlic cloves. Sprinkle with salt and five-spice powder. Roast for 1 hr.
  • Bring the wine and jelly to a gentle simmer, stirring to dissolve the jelly, then continue to simmer for 5 mins. When the duck has been cooking for an hr remove from the oven and spoon off almost all the fat (save it for roast potatoes), then pour the wine mixture around it and return to the oven for 10-15 mins to finish cooking and reduce the sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 473 calories, Fat 20 grams fat, SaturatedFat 6 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 7 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 3 grams sugar, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Protein 48 grams protein, Sodium 0.51 milligram of sodium

Tips:

  • Choose high-quality duck legs: Look for duck legs that are plump and have a good amount of fat. This will ensure that the legs are moist and flavorful after cooking.
  • Score the duck legs: Scoring the duck legs helps the fat to render out and allows the marinade to penetrate the meat. Use a sharp knife to make shallow cuts in the skin of the legs, about 1/4-inch deep.
  • Marinate the duck legs: Marinating the duck legs in a mixture of olive oil, garlic, herbs, and spices helps to infuse them with flavor. You can marinate the legs for anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight.
  • Roast the duck legs at a high temperature: Roasting the duck legs at a high temperature (425 degrees Fahrenheit) helps to create a crispy skin and juicy meat. Place the duck legs on a wire rack over a roasting pan and roast them for about 45 minutes, or until the skin is browned and crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Baste the duck legs with the marinade: Basting the duck legs with the marinade while they are roasting helps to keep them moist and flavorful. Use a pastry brush to baste the legs every 15 minutes or so.
  • Let the duck legs rest before serving: Let the duck legs rest for about 10 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, making it more tender and flavorful.

Conclusion:

Apricot Roast Duck Legs is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a weeknight meal. The combination of sweet apricots, tangy orange, and savory herbs and spices creates a flavor that is sure to please everyone. Serve the duck legs with your favorite sides, such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or rice.

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