Best Duck Prosciutto Breadsticks With Ricotta And Dried Figs Recipes

DUCK PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Weigh breasts individually so you can check their progress toward curing. With a sharp knife, score skin of each breast in a crisscross pattern. Put about 1 cup salt (a half-inch layer) in a nonreactive baking dish that will just hold the breasts without touching. Nestle breasts on top of salt, skin side up. Pour more salt over breasts so that they are completely covered. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 24 hours.
• Remove duck from salt, rinse thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels. The flesh should feel dense and its color will have deepened. Dust breasts with pepper on both sides.
• Wrap each breast in cheesecloth and tie with string. Hang for about 7 days in a cool (50 to 60 degrees is optimal), humid place, like a garage, a basement or in an unlit fireplace. After curing, the flesh should be stiff but not hard throughout; the color will be a deep rich red. If they still feel raw in the center, hang for a day or two longer. Generally, dry-cured products are ready when they have lost 30 percent of their original weight.
• Remove cheesecloth, wrap duck in plastic and refrigerate until ready to use. It will keep several weeks or more.

PROSCIUTTO-WRAPPED BREADSTICKS WITH FIG

Steps:

• Make the fig spread:
• In a small saucepan simmer the figs in the Port and the water with the sugar, covered, for 20 minutes and simmer the mixture, uncovered, until the liquid is reduced to about 1 tablespoon. In a food processor (preferably small) purée the fig mixture with the mustard and the lemon juice and transfer the spread to a small bowl. The fig spread may be made 1 week in advance, kept covered and chilled, and allowed to return to room temperature.
• Working with 1 prosciutto slice at a time, spread one side of each slice with 1/2 teaspoon of the fig spread, fold the slice lengthwise into a thin strip, and wrap it in a spiral around 1 of the breadsticks. The breadsticks should be wrapped no more than 30 minutes in advance.

WINEY FIGS, PROSCIUTTO AND RICOTTA CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Using a small knife, trim the stems off the figs and cut the figs in half lengthwise.
• Place the figs and the wine in a small saucepan, bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, and simmer about 20 minutes until figs have absorbed most of the wine and they are tender and fat. Remove figs with a slotted spoon to a bowl and reserve for later. Some reduced wine should remain for sauce; return wine to medium heat and simmer again until reduced by half and a syrupy liquid remains. Let cool slightly.
• Slice demi-baguette into 1/2-inch slices. Lay the bread slices on a baking sheet and toast lightly in the oven, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
• Spread a tablespoon of ricotta on each crostini then lay a small piece of prosciutto on top of the cheese. Place fig halves on top of the meat and finish by drizzling the remaining reduced wine on top of the figs. Serve immediately.

DUCK PROSCIUTTO BREADSTICKS WITH RICOTTA AND DRIED FIGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Toast breadsticks on a baking sheet in middle of oven until golden, about 15 minutes.
• Wrap each breadstick with a slice of prosciutto, leaving ends of bread exposed, and keep, covered, at room temperature.
• Stir together ricotta, tarragon, figs, garlic (to taste), oil, 2 tablespoons milk, salt, and pepper. If too thick for dipping, stir in 1 or 2 tablespoons of remaining milk.
• Just before serving, drizzle ricotta dip with additional oil and serve with breadsticks.