Mallard Arancini with Mushroom Sauce
Serves
2
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
6-8 hrs
Serves
2
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
6-8 hrs
These deep-fried mallard and risotto balls make an irresistible starter. Treat someone special as part of a romantic 3-course dinner, or bump up the quantities and share them around with small bowls of velvety mushroom sauce set out ready for dipping.
Ingredients
| For the Mallard | |
| 8x | Mallard duck legs |
| 3x | Cloves of garlic |
| 50g | Fresh thyme |
| 300ml | Rapeseed oil |
| For the Arancini | |
| 250g | Risotto rice |
| 2x | Banana shallots |
| 500ml | Chicken stock |
| 100g | Panko breadcrumbs |
| 3x | Eggs |
| 100g | Plain flour |
| 15ml | Truffle oil |
| Vegetable oil, for frying | |
| For the Sauce | |
| 500g | Chestnut mushrooms |
| 50g | Unsalted butter |
| a pinch | Salt |
| 250ml | Chicken stock |
| 150ml | Double cream |
Equipment
| Oven-proof dish |
| 3 Mixing bowls |
| 2 Medium saucepans |
| Blender |
| Frying pan |
| Slotted spoon |
| Serving plate or boards |
Dry the mallard legs and place in a deep, oven-proof dish. Cover with the rapeseed oil, and then add the thyme and garlic.
Slow cook the mallard legs at 90°C for 6-8 hours. Allow to cool, then shred the meat into a mixing bowl, being careful not to add sinew or bones. Cover and leave to one side.
To make the arancini, dice the shallots as small as you can and add them to a saucepan with a little oil. Add the 250g risotto rice and start cooking, moving the rice around to coat it in the oil and lightly sweat the grains.
Slowly add the warm chicken stock, about 100ml at a time. You want to leave the rice a little firm, as you’ll finish cooking it once you’ve formed the risotto balls.
Once the rice is cooked enough for the arancini, add the confit mallard and truffle oil and mix well, then set aside to cool down.
To make the mushroom sauce, slice the chestnut mushrooms and fry them with the butter. Once soft, add 250ml of chicken stock and 150 ml of double cream then reduce until the mixture is creamy and sticky. Pour into a blender and blitz until smooth.
Crack 3 eggs into a bowl and place 100g of breadcrumbs into another.
Roll the arancini mix into rough 40g balls and dust them with the plain flour, making sure they’re fully coated. Dip each ball in the egg then roll in the breadcrumbs, again making sure they are covered completely.
Pour the vegetable oil into a deep, heavy-bottomed frying pan and put over a medium heat. Drop in a few breadcrumbs and if they sizzle and float, the oil is ready.
Use a slotted spoon to carefully place four arancini at a time into the oil. Deep-fry for 8 minutes, or until golden and crispy. Transfer to a double layer of kitchen paper to drain.
Serve the arancini with the creamy mushroom sauce in a jug on the side, or in a bowl for dipping.
Protein (g/100g) |
19 |
Calories (kcal/100g) |
337 |
Fat (g/100g) |
28 |
Cholesterol (mg/100g) |
84 |