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Subscribe to forums RSS#1 Sun 24 Feb 13 9:33pm
CatyL
- Member Occupation Free Lance Editor
- From San Francisco CA
- Member since Mon 26 Apr 10
Salad thoughts for a duck dinner
A friend is holding her annual duck dinner on Thursday, Feb. 28. My assignment is salad, and I'd like to do something different.
-- The only thing that I know about her method for cooking duck (aside from it being delicious), is that it's braised. It was her mother's recipe, and she promised to share it with those of us who clamor for it, on her death bed. She's in great health, so it may be a while.
-- When she has dinners, the various dishes are light, and uncomplicated ... nothing in heavy sauces/dressings. That MAY account for her good health.
-- Another guest's assignment is for a "side," which she told me will involve lentils/legumes. I don't want the salad to be redundant.
I'll welcome any thoughts.
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#2 Sun 24 Feb 13 10:20pm
Maree
- From Newcastle, Australia
- Member since Sat 10 Mar 07
Re: Salad thoughts for a duck dinner
I opt for incorporating citrus into salads accompanying duck (and pork) to counteract the richness of the meat. One I've used is avocado and segmented orange. Don't know if that would help.
Oh, OK, just re-read and the duck is to be braised. Leave out the avocado, keep the citrus and use with baby spinach and toasted pine nuts?
Hope it goes well 
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#3 Sun 24 Feb 13 10:51pm
mummza
Occupation avoiding housework
- From The land of song.
- Member since Tue 04 Oct 05
Re: Salad thoughts for a duck dinner
I was just going to suggest pink grapefruit added to sone fresh little leaves, but be sure to remve all the thin skin from the segments .
so I am with Maree about the cutrus in salads to g with the duck.
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#4 Sun 24 Feb 13 10:53pm
Maree
- From Newcastle, Australia
- Member since Sat 10 Mar 07
Re: Salad thoughts for a duck dinner
Great minds, Mummza 
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#5 Mon 25 Feb 13 6:32am
CatyL
- Member Occupation Free Lance Editor
- From San Francisco CA
- Member since Mon 26 Apr 10
Re: Salad thoughts for a duck dinner
Thank you, both. A citrus base is an excellent thought. Some lovely "tangelos," are available, now. I may go in that direction.
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#6 Mon 25 Feb 13 6:50am
Maree
- From Newcastle, Australia
- Member since Sat 10 Mar 07
Re: Salad thoughts for a duck dinner
You're welcome 
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#7 Mon 25 Feb 13 1:09pm
koukouvagia
- From New York
- Member since Fri 12 Dec 08
Re: Salad thoughts for a duck dinner
Something that might work really well is a fresh fennel salad with citrus dressing. Slice the fennel very finely. Add a little fresh chopped parsley, some thin slices of a tart apple, a few sprinkles of pomagranite seeds, and chopped pecans. The dressing is made from olive oil, the juice of a lemon, the juice of an orange, salt and pepper. Yum, the fennel is sweet, the pecans are a slightly bitter, the apple is tart and the citrus dressing brings it altogether. This is my go to salad for Thanksgiving dinners but it would work well with duck.
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#8 Mon 25 Feb 13 2:34pm
hippytea
- Member Occupation Chief cook and bottle-washer
- From Scotland
- Member since Mon 12 Sep 11
Re: Salad thoughts for a duck dinner
I'm not so sure about the citrus. If you don't know what other sides there are, I'd think there's a danger citrus might argue with the other flavours.
But I definitely think fruit is a good way to go for a salad to serve with duck. What about plums or apricots?
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#9 Mon 25 Feb 13 2:36pm
cohphanta
Occupation Book Seller
- From Jacksonville, FL
- Member since Sun 04 Apr 10
Re: Salad thoughts for a duck dinner
spinach and strawberries make a great salad
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#10 Mon 25 Feb 13 4:04pm
koukouvagia
- From New York
- Member since Fri 12 Dec 08
Re: Salad thoughts for a duck dinner
hippytea wrote:
I'm not so sure about the citrus. If you don't know what other sides there are, I'd think there's a danger citrus might argue with the other flavours.
But I definitely think fruit is a good way to go for a salad to serve with duck. What about plums or apricots?
What do you mean? Orange and duck are traditionally paired together.
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