CRISPY SHREDDED DUCK AND NOODLE SALAD

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Crispy Shredded Duck and Noodle Salad image

It's important to use large lettuce leaves (about 6 inches) for this salad, so you may need to buy 2 heads of lettuce in order to get 6 good leaves. Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 45 min

Yield Makes 6 first-course servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 ounces dried rice-stick noodles (rice vermicelli)
1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar (not seasoned)
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 (6- to 7-ounce) confit duck legs, meat (with skin attached) removed from bone in large pieces
1 large shallot, thinly sliced crosswise and separated into rings (1/3 cup)
1 (6-inch) piece seedless cucumber (usually plastic-wrapped), peeled
1 firm-ripe medium peach or nectarine, halved lengthwise and pitted
6 large Boston lettuce leaves
24 fresh mint leaves
24 fresh cilantro leaves
18 Thai basil leaves or small Italian basil leaves
Accompaniment: sweet chile dipping sauce and/or nuoc cham
a Japanese Benriner or other adjustable-blade slicer

Steps:

  • Cook noodles in a 4-quart pot of boiling salted water until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain in a colander, then rinse under cold water and drain well. Stir together vinegar, sugar, and salt in a bowl until sugar is dissolved, then add noodles and toss well.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 10- to 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté duck pieces, starting with skin sides down and turning occasionally, until skin and meat are crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer with tongs to a cutting board. (Do not clean skillet.)
  • When duck is cool enough to handle, remove crisp skin from meat and thinly slice skin. Remove and discard any excess fat from meat, then shred meat into 1/4-inch-wide pieces.
  • Heat remaining 1/4 cup oil in skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then fry shallot, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 2 minutes (watch closely, as shallot can burn easily). Quickly transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
  • Working around core of cucumber, cut thin lengthwise slices (about 1/8 inch thick) with slicer, then stack slices. Halve stack crosswise, then cut slices lengthwise into 1/4-inch-wide matchsticks.
  • Cut each peach half lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick wedges with slicer or a sharp knife.
  • Put 1 lettuce leaf on each of 6 plates, then divide noodles among leaves and top with duck (meat and skin), cucumber, peach, shallot, and herbs. To eat, roll lettuce leaf into a cylinder to enclose filling.

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