Recipe: Roasted duck with kumquat sauce

Total time: 45 minutes plus 2 hours roasting time for the duck

Servings: 6

Note: Adapted from Craig Strong, chef de cuisine at the Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa.

1 (4 1/2 pound) duck, washed and dried

Salt

Pepper

2 stalks celery, diced

1 onion, diced

2 cinnamon sticks

2 star anise

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup sherry vinegar

2 cups orange juice

1 tablespoon butter

10 kumquats, each sliced crosswise into 1/8 -inch thick slices

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Prepare the duck: Poke the skin all over the duck with a fork. Season the duck all over with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and one-fourth teaspoon pepper, rubbing the seasoning over the skin.

3. In a small bowl, stir together the celery, onion, cinnamon sticks, star anise and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Stuff the mixture into the cavity of the duck and tie the legs together with the tail to prevent the stuffing from falling out.

4. Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the remaining tablespoon oil. Brown the duck, turning every few minutes to color each side evenly and well, about 20 minutes total.

5. Place the duck and any juices in a baking pan and roast, basting every 15 minutes, until the juices run clear when you prick the thigh, about 2 hours.

6. Remove the duck and set aside to rest 20 to 30 minutes before carving.

7. While the duck is resting, make the kumquat sauce. Place the honey in a 2-quart heavy-bottom saucepan over high heat. Bring the honey to a boil and cook just until it begins to darken and caramelize. Immediately remove the pan from heat and add the vinegar and orange juice, stirring to combine. Cook over medium heat until the liquid is reduced by three-fourths, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in the butter and kumquat slices and simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to allow the flavors to marry. Remove from heat and serve with the duck.

Each of 6 servings: 621 calories; 27 grams protein; 25 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams fiber; 46 grams fat; 15 grams saturated fat; 120 mg. cholesterol; 667 mg. sodium.