Clementines take the place of oranges in this variation on the French classic duck à l’orange. Borrowing the “twice cooked” approach from Chinese cuisine, we braise the ducks first for tender, unctuous meat, then roast them in a hot oven to crisp the skin. Part of the secret in getting duck skin crisp lies in successfully separating the skin and fat from the meat, which helps to drain off some of the fat.
January 2005