Smoked Duck Breast in an Apple Juice Brine

Enjoy smoked duck breast with this easy, and delicious recipe. A simple duck brine for smoking using apple juice, basil, a few simple herbs and spices.

I grew up eating duck. Not duck we raised or butchered ourselves, but nonetheless, delicious roasted duck from the Asian markets.

The ability to raise your own food ensures that a clean food source is being consumed. And for this very reason we’ve opted to own our food source. Farm to table has many reasons to many, and this is ours.

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The decision to incorporate ducks on the property was two folds, for meat and high egg production. With that in mind we set out to raise a heritage breed which would provide us with both, the Welsh Harlequin.

Delicious Duck Meat

Duck meat is very similar to steak, and when cooked properly, 70% of the fat is eliminated from the meat. Compared to other meats duck is much leaner and has less saturated fats. Skinless duck breasts contains fewer calories, and has less fat than a similar portion of chicken, beef, or pork.

In addition to this smoked duck breast recipe consider smoking duck jerky or try this recipe for roasted duck breasts with a ginger lime dressing.

Smoked Duck Breast – Ingredients

Cooking from the pantry creates a clean, sustainable meal. Preserving the harvest allows individuals to consume a clean food source.

• 4 boneless duck breasts
• Apple juice, 4 cups
• Course sea salt, 2 tbsp
• Light soy sauce, 2 tbsp
• Honey, 2 tbsp
• Freshly grated ginger, 1 tsp
• Paprika, 1 tsp
• Garlic powder, 1 tsp
• Dried basil, 1 tsp
• Freshly ground black pepper, 1 tsp

Homesteading allows family’s to preserve much of the ingredients found in this recipe. The apple juice, dried basil, garlic powder, and duck were grown, raised, and preserved on our homestead.

Equipment

An electric or propane smoker is used to make smoked duck breasts. Smoke cure a large batch at a time and store properly wrapped in the freezer for 4 to 6 months.

• Smoker, small electric
• Apple wood chips, or wood chips of choice
• measuring cup
• measuring spoons
• 9 x 13 cake pan
• hand grater
• hand whisk
• mixing bowl

Smoked Duck Recipe – Instructions

Keep in mind, duck meat is much like steak, smoke until the desired doneness has been achieved. By the way, today doneness is a word.

Marinating

1. In a mixing bowl add the juice with all other ingredients. Using the hand whisk, gently mix the items until the salt and sugar have dissolved.
2. Place the duck breasts into the cake pan, add the brine. Place the marinating duck meat into the refrigerator to marinate for 4 hours. During this time turn the duck breasts every so often.

Smoker

1. Place the duck breast onto a smoker rack.
2. Set the smoker to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, add dry apple wood chips.
3. Smoke duck breasts for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 135 to 140 degrees (medium rare) or 150 degrees (medium).

Printable Recipe Card – Smoked Duck Breast

Enjoy this duck brine for smoking. Aside from using this brine for duck, explore using this recipe to smoke pork as well.

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Yield: 4 people

Smoked Duck Breasts

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Enjoy smoked duck with this easy, and delicious recipe. A simple duck brine for smoking using apple juice, basil, and a few simple herbs.

Ingredients

• 4 boneless duck breasts
• 4 cups apple juice
• 2 tbsp coarse sea salt
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

Marinate

1. In a mixing bowl add the juice with all other ingredients. Using the hand whisk, gently mix the items until the salt and sugar have dissolved.
2. Place the duck breasts into the cake pan, add the brine. Place the marinating duck meat into the refrigerator to marinate for 4 hours. During this time turn the duck breasts every so often.

Smoke

1. Place the duck breast onto a smoker rack.
2. Set the smoker to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, add dry apple wood chips.
3. Smoke duck breasts for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 135 to 140 degrees (medium rare) or 150 degrees (medium).

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g

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Smoked duck breast is delicious served with a simple quinoa salad. But don’t limit its goodness tho this! Serve it over a fresh bed of garden greens or thinly slice it and add to a charcuterie board with other amazing cured meats and cheeses.

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