Five-Spice Duck Breasts With Vegetable Sticks

Ingredients

• 2 ounces green beans, trimmed
• 3 1/2 ounces carrots, peeled
• 1/2 red pepper, seeded
• 1 small zucchini, trimmed
• 2 ounces snow peas

For the duck

• 2 duck breasts, with skin
• 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
• 1 tablespoon clear honey
• 2 tablespoons ketjap manis (sweet soy sauce)
• 1/2 red chile, seeded and finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil
• 1 small garlic clove, chopped
• 1/2 inch fresh gingerroot, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt & freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. 1

   Cut all the vegetables into to thin sticks, about the same size as the beans. Drop the beans into a pan of boiling water and bring back to the boil.

2. 2

   Add the carrots and the red pepper and cook for 1 minute. Drain, rinse under cold water, and then dry on kitchen paper.

3. 3

   Lightly score the skin of each duck breast into a diamond pattern with the tip of a sharp knife, taking care that you don't cut through the meat.

4. 4

   Heat a dry frying pan until it is quite hot. Add the duck breasts, skin-side down, reduce the heat to medium and cook them for about three to four minutes until the skin is crisp and golden brown.

5. 5

   Turn the breasts over and cook them for another five minutes, or a little longer if you don't like your duck too pink. Meanwhile, mix together the five-spice powder, honey, sweet soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and chili.

6. 6

   Pour away all of the excess fat from the pan. Add the honey mixture and leave it to bubble away, turning the duck breasts now and then, until they are nicely glazed.

7. 7

   Meanwhile, heat the oil in a wok or another frying pan, add the garlic, ginger and vegetables and stir-fry for one to two minutes until they are cooked but still crunchy. Season with some salt and pepper.

8. 8

   Pile the vegetable sticks into the centre of two warmed plates. Slice each duck breast on the diagonal and carefully sit it on top of the vegetables.

9. 9

   Spoon over any remaining glaze and serve immediately.