FEATURE RECIPE
Duck meatballs with lasagnette

Duck meatballs with lasagnette

Serves 4



1 (about 2.2kg)   duck
200 ml   red wine
2   fresh bay leaves
80 ml (1/3 cup)   extra-virgin olive oil
1   onion, finely chopped
1   carrot, peeled and finely chopped
2 stalks   celery, finely chopped
70 gm (1 cup)   fresh breadcrumbs
1   egg
½ tsp   ground cinnamon
100 ml   pouring cream
400 gm   dried lasagnette (see note)
1 tbsp   finely chopped French tarragon
To serve:   shaved parmesan


1 Using a sharp knife remove skin from duck and discard, then remove fat and flesh from bones and reserve all.
2 Preheat oven to 250C. Coarsely chop duck carcass and place bones in a roasting pan. Roast for 20 minutes or until browned, deglaze roasting pan with red wine then transfer duck bones and juices to a large saucepan. Add 1.5 litres water and bay leaves and simmer over medium-high heat for 40 minutes or until reduced by half. Strain stock through a fine sieve and set aside.
3 Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a small saucepan and sauté onion over low-medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 6 minutes or until translucent. Add carrot and celery, cook for a further 3 minutes or until softened. Cool.
4 Place duck meat and fat in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add breadcrumbs, egg, vegetable mix and cinnamon and pulse to combine. Season to taste, then with wetted hands form 1½ tablespoonfuls of mixture into balls. Place on a tray in a single layer, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
5 Heat remaining olive oil in a large frying pan, add meatballs and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, for 6 minutes or until golden brown, add reserved stock and simmer for 10 minutes or until reduced to a sauce consistency. Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until al dente, drain and return to pan. Add cream to meatballs and bring to a simmer, then add pasta, toss to combine, sprinkle with tarragon and serve with parmesan.

Note Lasagnette is a long pasta, about 4cm wide with rippled edges. It’s available from Simon Johnson and select delicatessens.

RECIPE Emma Knowles PHOTOGRAPHY William Meppem STYLING Emma Knowles


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