top of page
< Back

Day 5 Dinner: Seared Duck Breast + Crispy Skin & Roasted Zucchini

Prep Time:

10 minutes

Cook Time:

20 minutes

Serves:

1

Level:

Advanced

About the Recipe

Perfectly seared duck breast with golden, crispy skin, served alongside tender roasted zucchini drizzled with quality olive oil. A flavorful, restaurant-quality meal that's surprisingly easy to prepare.

Ingredients

Seared Duck Breast:

  • 1 Duck Breast (6-8 oz), skin-on

  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Roasted Zucchini:

  • 1 medium zucchini, sliced into rounds or half-moons

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Preparation

Roasted Zucchini (start first):

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

  2. Roast Zucchini: Toss zucchini slices with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on a baking sheet and roast for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway, until tender and slightly golden.

    Cooking Tip: Slice zucchini evenly to ensure uniform cooking.


Seared Duck Breast:

  1. Prepare Duck Breast: Pat duck breast dry with paper towels. Score the skin gently in a crosshatch pattern without cutting into the meat. Season generously with salt and pepper.

  2. Cook Duck Breast: Place duck breast skin-side down in a cold skillet. Cook gently over medium heat for 8-10 minutes until fat renders and skin becomes crispy. Flip and cook an additional 3-4 minutes for medium-rare to medium (internal temp 135°F-140°F).

    Cooking Tip: Starting in a cold pan helps render fat evenly for perfectly crispy skin.

  3. Rest & Slice: Remove duck breast from skillet and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly.


Plate & Serve: Arrange sliced duck breast alongside roasted zucchini and serve immediately.


Meat Lover’s Flavor Boost Options:

  • Rosemary & Garlic: Season duck breast with fresh rosemary and garlic for aromatic depth.

  • Duck Fat Roasting: Toss zucchini in rendered duck fat (instead of olive oil) for rich, savory flavor.

  • Balsamic Glaze (no sugar added): Sparingly drizzle a quality balsamic vinegar reduction over duck slices.

  • Smoked Sea Salt: Finish zucchini and duck lightly with smoked sea salt for added complexity.


Recipes Created by BloodSugarChef.com

Meal Plan by American Diabetes Society

bottom of page