Skip to main content

Tandoori-Style Duck Breasts

These duck breasts are not cooked in a tandoor, and not even in an oven, but they do taste like tandoor-baked poultry, hence their name. I marinate them in the same manner that I would a tandoori chicken, then I quickly pan-fry them so they stay a little rare inside. They take just minutes to cook. As for the skin, which is flabby if not crisped to perfection—well, I just remove it entirely. I like to serve this duck with Sri Lankan Rice with Cilantro and Lemon Grass and Swiss Chard with Ginger and Garlic.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4

Ingredients

For the Marinade

1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
One 2-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon garam masala, preferably homemade (page 285)

You Also Need

The breasts of two ducks, about 2 pounds in all
1 tablespoon olive or canola oil

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Put the ingredients for the marinade in a blender in the listed order and blend until smooth.

    Step 2

    Pull off the duck skin. Pat the breasts with paper towels until dry. Rub the marinade on both sides of each piece and put in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.

    Step 3

    Pick up one breast. Most of the marinade will drop off, and some will still cling to the meat. That is all you want. Put the breast flat on a board and cut it crossways, holding the knife at a slight diagonal, into 1/3-inch-thick slices. Cut all the duck pieces this way.

    Step 4

    Just before eating, set a large, heavy (preferably cast-iron) frying pan over medium-high heat. Let it get very hot. Brush it with oil. Now lay down about 8 slices of duck on the hot pan. As soon as they are lightly browned, a matter of seconds, turn them over and quickly brown the second side. Remove to a warm plate and cover loosely. Do all the slices this way and serve hot.

Image may contain: Human, Person, Madhur Jaffrey, and Plant
Excerpted from At Home with Madhur Jaffrey: Simple, Delectable Dishes from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka by Madhur Jaffrey. Copyright © 2010 by Random House. Excerpted by permission of Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Buy the full book from Amazon.
Read More
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Put that half-full tub to use with recipes that go beyond the Italian American classics.
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
This easy, one-skillet chicken stroganoff features tender chicken breasts, savory mushrooms, and a creamy Dijon-crème fraîche sauce—perfect for weeknights.
Like Sri Lankan cashew curry and vegan stuffed shells.
Use this simple vinaigrette to dress a plate of greens, some steamed potatoes, or anything else that strikes your fancy.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.