Grilled Duck with Strawberry-Fig Sauce

Here we pair a luscious strawberry-fig sauce with grilled duck for a simple yet elegant main dish. Serve with rice pilaf and grilled vegetables.

Makes 4 servings

ACTIVE TIME: 50 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 50 minutes

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium shallot, sliced
1/3 cup port (see Note)
2 tablespoons chopped dried figs
2 1/2 cups halved fresh strawberries (about 12 ounces), divided
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 1/2-2 pounds boneless duck breasts (see Shopping Tip), trimmed, skin removed
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add shallot and cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, about 1 minute. Add port and figs and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add 1 1/2 cups strawberries, 1 cup broth, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries are very soft and broken down and the sauce has reduced slightly, about 15 minutes.
2. Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer into a 2-cup glass measuring cup or bowl (discard the solids). You should have about 1 cup liquid. (If you have more than that, return the sauce to the pan and continue reducing until you have about 1 cup.) Combine the remaining 2 tablespoons broth and cornstarch in a small bowl. Return the strained sauce to the pan along with the cornstarch mixture; cook over medium heat, stirring, until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and has reduced by half, 5 to 7 minutes. Combine 1 tablespoon of the sauce with the remaining 1 teaspoon vinegar in a small bowl to use as a basting sauce. Cover the remaining sauce to keep warm.
3. Meanwhile, preheat grill to medium.
4. Season duck breasts with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Oil the grill rack (see Tip). Grill the duck, basting twice, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 150°F for medium, 4 to 8 minutes per side, depending on the thickness. Transfer to a clean cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes.
5. While the duck is resting, chop the remaining 1 cup strawberries. Slice the duck and serve with the sauce, garnished with the chopped strawberries and basil.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 298 calories; 16 g fat (5 g sat, 7 g mono); 95 mg cholesterol; 7 g carbohydrate; 26 g protein; 1 g fiber; 519 mg sodium; 395 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (40% daily value), Iron & Zinc (20% dv).
1/2 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 1/2 fruit, 3 1/2 lean meat, 1 fat

TIP: Shopping tip: Boneless duck breasts range widely in weight, from about 1/2 to 1 pound, depending on the breed of duck. For this recipe, we recommend using smaller (about 1/2-pound) breasts—we prefer their milder flavor. Look for them near other poultry in the fresh or frozen specialty-meat section of large supermarkets or online at mapleleaffarms.com or dartagnan.com.

MAKE AHEAD TIP: Cover and refrigerate the sauce (Steps 1-2) for up to 2 days.

From: http://eatingwell.com/recipes/duck_strawberry_sauce.html