Pomegranate Duck with Caramelised Pears & General Gluttony…
Wow. I’ve really been enjoying my anti-detox. A bit too much methinks. I am a little embarrassed to reveal just how ‘well’ I’ve been eating over the past couple of weeks. There’s me banging on about how my internal diet regulation mechanism is on autopilot and then I come to write this post and find I’ve been talking absolute tosh. Well, whatever. It’s been great. I’ve eaten lots of delicious things, this fruity duck being one of them.
I was left with a bottle of pomegranate molasses after making Ottolenghi’s beautiful squash recipe. A quick flick through Moro East revealed Sam and Sam’s pomegranate marinade, which I used to flavour the duck. I combined it with caramelised endive, sweet pears and some green lentils, then topped everything with an orange-pomegranate dressing – just tangy enough to cut through all that sweet ‘n’ rich goodness.
Here’s what else I’ve been putting away over the last couple of weeks – hands up who’s been scoffing too much bread and meat then?
(Left to right from top)
1. Bresaola sandwich on olive bread.
2. Smoked trout with yoghurt and salsa.
3. LOADS of Copella apple juice.
4. A rubbish pizza from – shock horror – Tesco, onto which I chucked the contents of the fridge.
5. Steamed spring rolls (very badly rolled indeed), containing prawns, vermicelli, chilli, cucumber and Thai basil.
6. Some sticky chicken.
7. Chris’s amazing eggy bread, which I am going to post about – it is divine.
8. Salt beef sandwich from Roast to Go in Borough Market.
9. Celeriac soup.
10. Desperation lunch made from contents of fridge thrown into a wrap.
11. Egg!
12. Chorizo, spinach and sun dried tomato baguette.
13. Baba ganoush and pitta, way too garlicky, I was regretting it for the rest of the day. No,no, no Sun and Doves! Same problem with the salad dressing, by the way. Oh, and you know how I asked you not to put the hummus on there? That’s because it’s way too garlicky.
14. Mixed ‘bean feast’ from the health food shop. It’s actually really tasty, honest.
15. Clementines! You can do no wrong. Well, perhaps the pips could go?
16. Brie, pesto, cherry tomato and red onion on focaccia.
17. Clearly the biggest apple in the world – although you can’t tell from my really badly composed iphone photo.
But, there’s not just been too much food passing my lips. Oh no, there’s been drinking too….Brew Dog beer has got to be the beer of the moment – for me anyway and for the guys who introduced me to it. More of that – and the fantabulous Tipped Winter Barbecue (which happened in 2008, included large amounts of Brew Dog and is begging to be blogged), in an upcoming post. Here’s a picture of the little beauties in the meantime.
If you would also like to stick two fingers up to detox, here’s the pomegranate marinade from Moro East, it’s lovely on duck, all that crispy fat. Detox schmeetox. Seriously though, I think I may need to lighten things up..there’s only so much exercise can do, after all….
Pomegranate Molasses Marinade (from Moro East by Sam and Sam Clark)
1 garlic clove, crushed
Juice of 1 pomegranate
1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon finely grated onion
2 tablespoons olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
- Combine all ingredients except olive oil in a blender and whizz until smooth.
- Toss the meat in this mixture and add the olive oil.
- Marinade from 4 hours to 2 days.
Category: Books, Fruit, Main Dishes, Meat 20 comments »
January 19th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I haven’t been enjoying my anti-detox at all – I feel GUILTY! Still doesn’t stop me though.
This looks great – I made the duck in pomegranate from the same book and was stuck on what to serve it with, but your accompaniments look perfect.
January 19th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Hey we all are guilty of overinduging, but I dont think you went overboard. I am loving the pomegrante glas for the duck.And pears! So good.
January 19th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
I must say, That Pomegranate Duck with Caramelised Pears looks fantastic.
Dans last blog post..Cook Books and Stroganoff’s
January 20th, 2009 at 12:38 am
Well, you know I’ve been indulging too!
Sounds delicious. I could really see that pomegranate marinade and the duck being a wonderful pairing. Yum!
Niamhs last blog post..Roast Yorkshire Pork
January 20th, 2009 at 8:19 am
Lizzie – Ha! Well I do have the shame too. No just the food shame either, there’s another kind of shame. You know the kind
Courtney – You don’t? Well, Ok! Can I eat some more then?
Dan – Thanks!
Niamh – I do! Us foodies are all in it together. Mmmm, PORK!
January 20th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Yeah I’m having I think the worst month of eating/gym in a year +. I’m in a slump that seems to be getting worse and BrewDog ain’t f’ing helping. Oh well I guess I’m not alone.
Oh and by the way that duck sounds amazing!
Joel Brazils last blog post..Pork K.’s Review of Black & Blue – London (4/5)
January 20th, 2009 at 10:18 am
I can’t get enough of Copella apple juice at the moment either, have you tried the elerflower too? Lovely.
The duck looks really good, I love the idea of using pomegranate with it.
Gingers last blog post..Shepherd’s Pie
January 20th, 2009 at 10:59 am
I’ve been a good boy but we’re also human, no? The seared duck would sate me so…a couple of bottles of wine, potato galette, creme brulee?
Peters last blog post..If I Owned a Steakhouse in Greece
January 20th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Looks delicious. Think I’m going to give this a bash quite soon. Have you got any exciting sandwich stories on the way? I’m struggling to find one for Feb… any ideas?
January 20th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Well this food is very yummy for me….
Gret post
January 20th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
…and you did all that on a detox??? I have to find that book/manual. Around here, detox means lettuce, spinach and plenty of water. Wow!
ninas last blog post..Fruit Salad with Vanilla Bean Ice-cream…and no dishes to do!
January 20th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I am loving the sound of that – a real feast and treat for the tastebuds…
aforkfulofspaghettis last blog post..taking control of my temper… another Rococo workshop
January 21st, 2009 at 2:56 am
I’m food blog hopping in here
Beautiful pictures of food.
January 21st, 2009 at 11:30 am
Mmmm duck! It looks so pink and juicy. Nom Nom. xx
Christie @ fig&cherrys last blog post..Fig & Cherry presents…Potato Ho Down
January 21st, 2009 at 4:45 pm
You have been busy, all looks delicious!
I have voted for your fabulous blog in the Well Fed awards.
Nicismes last blog post..Keep Warm with Vegetable Soup
January 23rd, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Retox! Retox! Let’s hear it for retox! The duck sounds amazing – I think it’s high time I got myself some pomegranate molasses!
Jeannes last blog post..Cranberry, pistachio & choc chip cookies
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:47 pm
How amazing this looks! I just haven’t cooked with endives enough – I’ll have to bookmark this. Love the idea of the pommegranite molasses – must track it down. Someone else had a pan fried sprout recipe with the molasses – that has to be good too.
Interesting article on Brewdog in the Sunday Times business last week. Their business was struggling till they discovered the world of…… er….. blogs.
Not sure about the Copella – it still tastes mass produced. There’s a farmer with an orchard nearby who presses his own that I normally get, if not a fruit farm too which also does their own still cider – I’m sure you could track down something like that at a farmer’s/ Borough market. It’s worth it!
February 9th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Where did you take that pic of the Brewdog beer? I’m in Sth London and have never come accross in for sale, need a stockist.
Ta!
February 9th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Hi Alioco – It’s in Utobeer – at Borough Market. They are the same people that own the pub behind the market, The Rake where you can also buy Brew Dog. You can buy it in larger branches of Tescos now by the way. Or is it Sainsbury’s? Can’t remember. Might be both.
February 10th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Helen, thanks for the info. Love your blog