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1
Remove giblets and neck from duckling.
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2
Remove and discard excess fat from inside body cavity.
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3
Cut off and discard excess neck skin.
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4
Rinse duckling, giblets, and neck in cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
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5
Cut off and reserve first 2 joints of the wings, leaving only the third.
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6
To cut duckling into quarters, using poultry shears, cut duckling lengthwise in half through the breastbone and continue cutting along one side of the backbone; cut duckling halves in half crosswise.
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7
Coat bottom of 5-quart kettle or Dutch oven.
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8
Add giblets, neck, and reserved wing tips to kettle and cook until well browned.
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9
Add duckling quarters, water, onion, carrot, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the bay leaf.
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10
Cover and heat to boiling over high heat.
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11
Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until duckling is fork-tender - about 1 hour.
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12
Just before roasting duckling, prepare pomegranate glaze.
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13
Stir in pomegranate juice and sugar and heat to boiling over high heat.
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14
Boil mixture 5 minutes; remove from heat and set aside.
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15
Heat oven to 450F (230C).
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16
Remove duckling from kettle and place, skin side up, on rack in roasting pan.
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17
Roast duckling 15 minutes.
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18
Meanwhile, pour duck stock through large strainer into bowl, Remove excess fat from stock.
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19
Reserve 1 cup stock for the sauce and 2 cups stock for Dried-Fruit Couscous; refrigerate remainder for another use.
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20
Brush duckling with some glaze and roast 5 minutes; roast more times with glaze.
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21
Prepare Dried-Fruit Couscous; keep warm.
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22
Set duckling quarters aside.
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23
Prepare sauce: In cup, combine wine and cornstarch until Stir reserved 1 cup stock and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt into glaze remaining in saucepan.
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24
Heat to boiling and stir in cornstarch mixture.
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25
Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened.
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26
Pour sauce into serving bowl.
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27
Spoon Dried-Fruit Couscous onto serving plate.
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28
Arrange duckling on couscous.
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29
Garnish with mint, if desired.
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30
Serve duckling and couscous with sauce.