A rich pan sauce of reduced red wine, Armagnac, and black truffle butter adorns seared duck breasts for an impressive holiday dish that's also surprisingly simple to make.
2Magret duck breastsskin scored in a cross-hatch pattern
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepperto taste
1shallotfinely chopped
1cupduck and veal demi-glace
1cupfull-bodied red wine
¼cuparmagnac
3tbsp.black truffle butter
Instructions
Season duck generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Place duck skin side down in a 12” skillet; heat over medium-high heat. Cook, without flipping, until fat is rendered and skin is crisp, 5–6 minutes. Flip duck; cook until browned and to desired doneness, about 3 minutes for medium rare or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the duck reads 130°. Transfer duck to a cutting board; let rest 10 minutes before thinly slicing on an angle.
While the duck is resting, make the sauce: Drain all but 1 tbsp. duck fat from pan; add shallot to skillet and cook, 2 minutes, until translucent. Add demi-glace and red wine and reduce by half, 20 minutes. Add Armagnac and cook until the alcohol is cooked off, about 3 minutes. Whisk in butter and season with salt and pepper.
Spoon the sauce over the duck slices and serve with green beans and scalloped potatoes.