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1
Preheat the oven to 500.
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2
In a large bowl, toss the onions with the melted butter.
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3
Season the ducks inside and out with salt and black pepper and rosemary sprigs in each cavity.
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4
Pack the onions into the cavity and set the ducks in a large roasting pan.
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5
Roast the ducks for 10 minutes.
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6
Lower the oven temperature to 300 and loosely cover the pan with the ducks for 4 1/2 hours, draining off the fat every hour.
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7
Meanwhile, roast the red peppers over a gas flame, turning, until charred all over.
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8
Transfer to a paper bat and let steam for 10 minutes.
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9
In a small saucepan of boiling water, blanch the carrots for 1 minute.
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10
Drain, transfer to a medium bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon of the butter.
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11
Peel the peppers and discard the stems, seeds and ribs.
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12
Cut into 1/8-inch strips and add them to the carrots.
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13
Discard the fat from the roasting pan.
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14
Add the orange juice, sherry and soy sauce and roast the ducks, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
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15
Transfer to a platter and let cool slightly.
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16
Pour the pan sauce into a nonreactive saucepan, discarding any pieces of duck skin.
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17
Skim the fat and bring to a boil over moderately high heat.
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18
Boil until reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 15 minutes.
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19
Strain and return it to the saucepan.
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20
(The recipe can be prepared to this point up to 4 hours ahead.
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21
Keep the ducks, sauce and vegetables covered separately at room temperature.)
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22
Halve the ducks, discarding the onion and rosemary stuffing.
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23
Discard all the bones except the drumsticks, keeping the breasts attached to the legs.
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24
Rewarm the ducks in a low oven.
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25
Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a small skillet.
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26
Add the oyster mushrooms and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 2 minutes.
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27
Season with salt and pepper.
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28
Add the red bell pepper and carrot strips to the sauce and warm through over moderate heat.
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29
Season with salt and pepper.
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30
Set the duck halves on 4 large warmed serving plates.
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31
Spoon the sauce over the duck, garnish with the mushrooms and chives and serve.