Roast Duck with Dried Cherry Sauce
Thursday, July 31st, 2003Prep time: 45 minutes | Start to finish: 3 hours | To make ahead,
see below
Tired of the same old turkey on the holiday table? This could be the
year to switch to duck. It’s easy to cook and practically impossible
to dry out—it stays moist and reheats well. Almost all the fat is
under the skin and drips off during cooking. We serve the duck with
an incredibly rich-tasting gravy, adding port and dried fruit to a
giblet stock for sophistication in seconds.
2 ducks, 5 to 5 1/2 pounds each, thawed if frozen (see Tip)
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Freshly ground pepper to taste
12 cloves garlic, peeled
12 sprigs fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried