Duck breasts with berries

Ingredients

• 2 boneless duck breasts
• 1teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
• 2 teaspoons demerara sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1teaspoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon cornflour or arrowroot
• 100ml red wine
• 100ml creme de cassis
• 75ml chicken stock
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 250g fresh or frozen mixed berries

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Preparation

• Score the duck by making three slashes through the skin, not the flesh. Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat, add the duck skin-side down and cook until light golden and most of the fat has been rendered.
• Transfer to a board, discard most of the fat and allow to cool.
• Combine the five spice, sugar and cinnamon, then press the mixture into the Skin of the duck with your hands. Season with the sea salt and pepper. Return the duck to the pan and cook flesh-side down over low-medium heat for 3-4 minutes, then set aside to rest.
• Place the cornflour and 2 tablespoons cold water in a jug, stirring to dissolve. Add wine, creme de cassis and stock.
• Drain all but 1 tablespoon of duck fat from the pan. Add the garlic and onion to the pan and cook for 1 minute. Add the red-wine mixture and cook over low heat for 1-2 minutes. Add half the berries and cook for 2-3 minutes. Press the mixture through a sieve and discard the solids.
• Reheat, adding remaining berries before serving. Season, then place the duck under a hot grill and grill skin-side up until just starting to crisp. Rest for a few minutes, then slice thinly.
• Serve with a potato galette and a little of the sauce drizzled over.