2 lb moulard duck breast halves boneless with skin ( 2)
0.8 teaspoon salt
0.3 cup shallots finely chopped
3.5 tablespoons sherry vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
0.5 cup walnut halves chopped
0.3 cup walnut oil
Equipment
bowl
frying pan
oven
knife
whisk
roasting pan
kitchen thermometer
aluminum foil
broiler
cutting board
Directions
Put a 13- by 9-inch shallow flameproof roasting pan (not glass) in middle of oven and preheat oven to 375°F.
Pat duck dry and trim off any excess fat. Score duck skin in a crosshatch pattern at 1/2-inch intervals with a sharp knife, then sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Place duck, skin sides down, in roasting pan and roast until thermometer inserted diagonally into center registers 135°F, 25 to 30 minutes for medium-rare.
Preheat broiler. Turn duck over and broil (skin sides up) 6 inches from heat until fat is golden, 1 to 2 minutes.
Transfer to a cutting board and let stand, loosely covered with foil, 10 minutes. (Internal temperature will rise to at least 145°F.)
While duck stands, pour off all but 2 teaspoons fat from pan, then add shallots and sauté over moderately high heat, stirring, until golden brown, about 2 minutes.
Add sugar and cook, stirring, until sugar is dissolved.
Add vinegar, along with remaining 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, and cook, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 30 seconds.
Transfer to a bowl, then whisk in oil until combined. Stir in walnuts.
Thinly slice duck and serve with vinaigrette drizzled around plates.
