- 2 duck legs
- 1 tsp China 5 spice
- 200g white basmati rice
- 125g blueberries
- 1cm slice of ginger
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 star anise
- 1 tbsp tamari
- 40g honey
- 50g watercress
- Sea salt
- 400ml boiling water
- Freshly ground pepper
- Kitchen paper
- Roasting tin
- Wire rack
- Small pan with a lid
- Large pan with a lid
- Colander
- 1.
Heat your oven to 190°C/Fan 170°C/Gas 5. Pat the duck legs dry with kitchen paper. Prick them all over with a skewer or fork (this will help make the skin crispy). Rub a little salt and pepper into the skin. Dust ½ tsp China 5 spice over each leg. Lay the duck legs, skin-side up, on a wire rack in a roasting tin. Roast for 1 hr till golden and crisp.
- 2.
When the duck is 20 mins from being ready, tip the rice into a bowl. Cover with cold water. Whisk for 1-2 mins till the water is cloudy (this is the starch). Drain and rinse. Tip into a small pan. Add 400ml boiling water and a pinch of salt. Cover.
- 3.
Bring the rice to the boil, then turn the heat right down and very gently cook for 8 mins till all the water is absorbed. Take off the heat and leave to keep warm in the pan.
- 4.
While the rice cooks, tip the blueberries into a small pan. Slice 1 cm off the thumb of ginger. Peel and grate it. Add it to the pan. Add 1 tbsp of the vinegar.
- 5.
Add 1 star anise to the pan. Pour in 1 tbsp tamari and the honey. Set the pan over a medium heat. Gently cook for 10 mins, stirring now and then, till the blueberries break down and form a sauce. Take off the heat. Taste and add more tamari or vinegar if you think it needs it. Put on the lid on to keep it warm.
- 6.
The duck legs should be golden and crisp. Arrange them on warm plates and serve them with the rice, handfuls of watercress and the warm blueberry sauce.
- 7.
- 8.