*The ripe but vibrant black fruit is really a delightful pairing with savory duck and scallion pancakes.
Serves 8
Ingredients
For the Scallion Pancakes
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 cups chopped scallions
- Vegetable oil, preferably grapeseed, for frying
For the Roasted Duck
- 2 Duck Breasts
- Kosher Salt
- 1 tablespoon five-spice powder
For Serving
- 2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and julienned
- ½ cup hoisin sauce
Prep
- Make the pancakes: Mix the flour and salt in a food processor. Boil 1 cup water. With the machine running, slowly pour the water in through the feed tube. Process briefly to form a smooth dough. Remove from the processor to a lightly floured work surface. Knead briefly. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 1 hour.
- Divide dough in 8 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a thin 10-inch round. Brush each round with sesame oil and scatter with scallions. Roll up each round into a tight cylinder, then coil each cylinder around like a bun. Slightly flatten each bun, then roll each into a round pancake about 6 inches in diameter. Set aside, covered with a towel.
- Score the skin of the duck breasts being careful not to cut through to the skin, creating a diamond hatch pattern. Pat dry and season the breasts on all sides with salt and five-spice powder. Place the duck breasts skin-side down in a large cast iron skillet and turn the heat to medium. Cook on the first side for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the skin is very dark golden-brown. Flip the breasts and cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until they reach 135°F for medium-rare.
- Remove the duck breasts to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes tented with foil. Meanwhile, finish the pancakes.
- Heat 2 teaspoons vegetable oil in a small skillet on medium. Fry the pancakes one at a time, turning, until lightly browned a minute or so per side, adding more oil as needed. Stack cooked pancakes and wrap them in foil.
- Slice the duck breasts on the diagonal and add to a platter. Stack the pancakes to one side of the platter. Pile cucumber slivers in a mound on the platter, and serve with hoisin sauce.