Monday’s farmers’ market was pretty grim. I think the French ate everything during the holidays; very few vendors and not a lot of choice. I guess it could just be that it’s winter, but I still think they ate everything 😀
Fellow blogger Greg inspired me to give the baby turnips a closer look. They were cute and looked relatively undamaged by the cold weather.
I decided to go with some diced green bell pepper, shallots and a Jamie size knob of butter. I could have stopped there, but why? There was that huge duck breast from Jean Louis in the refrigerator, yearning for my attention.
Having lost the market rhythm, I walked right past all the fresh herbs, thinking of nothing or too much. Whatever, I used dried herbs on the breast but fresh would have been better. Because it was pretty thick, in addition to scoring the fat side, I lightly slashed it 3 times on the meat side, then cooked it normally.
Duck Breast with Baby Turnips in Butter Sauce
1 large duck breast
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
Mixed fresh herbs (sage, rosemary, thyme), chopped
1 lb baby turnips, quartered
1 knob of butter
1 large shallot, chopped
1/4 large green bell pepper, diced
3-4 tbsp chicken or vegetable broth
Score the duck breast on the fat side in a diamond pattern. Lightly slash the meat side 3 times. Season with salt and pepper, rub on a little olive oil, then rub in the herbs. Wrap in plastic wrap and set aside for an hour.
Melt the butter in a frying pan, add the shallot and bell pepper, then saute until the vegetables just begin to soften. Add the turnips and brown a little. Add the chicken broth, cover and steam for about 10 minutes. Set aside and keep warm.
Cook the duck breast in a hot skillet on the fat side for 8 minutes, pour out the accumulated fat, turn the breast over and continue to cook for 6 minutes. Allow to rest for 5 minutes, then slice and serve with the turnips.
I’m left wondering wondering what a Jamie size knob of butter is now 🙂
About the size of a walnut.
Aahhhhhh
That sounds good, and yes, blame it on the French, they eat everything. LOL
😀
That’s a beautiful duck breast and I’m sure that eating everything is good, except when there’s nothing left 🙁
Agreed.
Monday’s farmers’ market (IN FRANCE!) was pretty grim…Ahhhhh! You’re killing me with envy! 😉 Looks like you managed to create something absolutely scrumptious anyway. Kudos!
Thank you Serena.
Looks good! I never like baby turnips but I’ll just have to try this!
Thank you Khoa.
Trade you on the farmer’s markets! If I was in France I would eat everything too. 🙂 Though I’d have to do a ton of walking. Another great duck dish.
Thank you Virginia. I walk to the market but it’s only 3 minutes 🙂
Ours is only a 10 minute walk for the summer one. I can’t wait for it to start up again.
Lovely looking meal. Duck is one of my favorite meats but, alas, it’s red meat and Baby Lady doesn’t eat red meat. As such, duck is generally off the menu. 🙁 Of course, that didn’t stop her from eating the duck pastrami I made. 😀 Go figure.
Duck pastrami! Did I miss that recipe?
You must have. Here it is. http://remcooks.com/2012/09/04/duck-pastrami/
Thank you.
This looks delicious, and my boyfriend adores turnips, and I never really know what to do with them. I’ll let him get some next time we go to the market. Our market on Sunday was quite the opposite; empty of people (probably still digesting their New Year’s “réveillon” 😉 ) and full of beautiful food. I even found parsley roots!
Thank you. Sounds wonderful! Maybe our market will be up to speed by Friday.
I love the shot of the finished dish Rosemary. The duck looks glorious.
Happy New Year,
Conor
Thank you Conor. Happy New Year to you and yours.
That is an enormous duck breast! I am going to grow ducks this year so I can have breasts like that!! ha ha ha .. (ok that was lame but i am cold!!) lovely lunch..I love turnips, we used to eat them all the time in NZ.. c
🙂 Turnips are great roasted also.
Our turnips weren’t nearly that cute. Glad we could inspire you. That duck is making me want duck all over again! And the turnips look wonderful.
I loved your turnip mash!
That looks delicious, Rosemary – great shots. Hope you’re keeping well.
Thank you Frugal. I’m okay.
That duck breast looks to die for 🙂 .Naughty french people for emptying the market 😉
The French take their holidays seriously!
How funny – the French ate everything but you made do very well and those turnips look gorgeous. I rarely think of serving them alone (i.e. not in a soup or stew).
Thank you Chica. Turnips are also great in stews/soups. I’ll have to make something like that this winter.
you truly cook some beautiful food!
Thank you morefood 🙂
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