Roasted Duck with Apples
I'm very happy that I managed to show you this duck recipe. It's one of the simplest, yet very impressive. It really is as tasty as they say, you know :) We liked it so much! The star is the duck - the apples, the salt and the pepper are here just to enhance its taste and texture.
The recipe can also be made with a whole duck, it's cooked in the same way. Rub the duck with spices (salt and pepper in the simplest case), arrange the apple slices around, you can insert one whole apple in the belly and that's it. Don't forget to grease it while roasting with the released juice, for a more beautiful glaze. However, I choose to make the recipe with separate legs and breast. A duck might look impressive on a festive table, but when you start cutting and slicing, the whole impression goes away ... Especially when everyone wants to eat the duck's legs!
Prepare and wash the duck. If you have breast as well, cut into 2-3 pieces.
Core the apples and cut into thick slices.
The apple variety doesn't really matter, I used all I had.
Place the duck in a large oven sheet. Don't grease, the duck will release enough fat.
Sprinkle the meat with salt and pepper on all sides.
Arrange the apple slices among the pieces of meat.
Have in mind two aspects here:
- the meat and the apples shouldn't be too crammed into the pan
- turn the thighs and the breast skin side up at the end, before they go in the oven.
Place the sheet in the preheated oven at 200 degrees C for 45-50 minutes.
At times, remove from the oven and grease the meat (using a brush) with the cooking juice it releases.
This is what it should look like in the end: no soup in the pan, the apples are roasted, not boiled, and slightly glazed.
Serve this duck next to your favorite garnish - mashed potatoes, peas, rice, salad or anything else you like.
Enjoy!
