Tired of the same old chicken dinners? Elevate your weeknight meal with the luxurious flavor of duck, made incredibly simple in your Instant Pot. This Creamy Tuscan Duck recipe combines tender, perfectly cooked duck breast with a rich, velvety sauce of sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and Parmesan. It’s a restaurant-quality dish that comes together in under an hour, proving that gourmet can be both quick and effortless. Get ready to impress!
Ingredients
• Total Time: 40 minutes | Serves: 6
• 2 lbs / 900g duck breasts, skin-on and halved
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp / 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ tbsp Italian seasoning
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• ½ cup / 120ml chicken stock
• ¾ cup / 180ml heavy cream
• ½ cup / 75g oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
• 1 cup / 30g fresh spinach
• ½ cup / 50g grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
1. Directions
2. Pat the duck breasts dry with a paper towel. Using a sharp knife, score the skin in a diamond pattern, being careful not to cut into the meat. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Rub this mixture all over the duck breasts.
3. Set your Instant Pot (IP) to the SAUTE function on high. Place the duck breasts skin-side down in the pot. Sear for 4-5 minutes, or until the skin is golden brown and crispy and much of the fat has rendered out. Flip and sear the other side for 1 minute. Remove the duck and set aside. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of the rendered duck fat from the pot.
4. Pour the chicken stock into the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom (deglazing). Place the duck breasts back into the pot.
5. Secure the lid, set the steam valve to “Sealing,” and cook on HIGH PRESSURE for 4 minutes.
6. Once the timer finishes, perform a quick pressure release. Carefully open the lid and transfer the duck to a cutting board to rest.
7. Press CANCEL, then turn the SAUTE function back on. Stir the heavy cream, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese into the liquid in the pot. Bring to a gentle simmer, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
8. Stir in the fresh spinach and cook until it has just wilted, about 1-2 minutes. Season the sauce with additional salt and pepper if needed.
9. Slice the rested duck breast and serve immediately, generously spooning the creamy Tuscan sauce over the top.
Nutritional Information
• Nutrition Per Serving
• Calories: 455
• Total Fat: 26g
• Net Carbs: 1g
• Protein: 57g
• Fiber: 2g
Pro Tips
• for Perfect Tuscan Duck
• For extra crispy skin, ensure the duck breast is patted completely dry before seasoning and searing. A dry surface is key to a perfect, golden-brown crust.
• Don’t overcrowd the pot when searing. If your duck breasts don’t fit in a single layer, sear them in two batches to ensure each piece gets beautifully browned.
• To prevent the cream sauce from curdling, slowly whisk a few tablespoons of the hot stock from the pot into your heavy cream before adding the cream to the pot. This tempers the cream and ensures a smooth, velvety sauce.
• This rich dish pairs beautifully with creamy polenta, pappardelle pasta, or gnocchi to soak up every last drop of the delicious sauce. A side of roasted asparagus also works wonderfully.
FAQ
Q: How do I get the duck skin extra crispy
A: For the crispiest skin, it’s essential to pat the duck breasts completely dry with a paper towel before you season and sear them. A dry surface is the key to achieving a perfect, golden-brown crust in the Instant Pot.
Q: What should I serve with this Creamy Tuscan Duck
A: This dish pairs wonderfully with creamy polenta, pappardelle pasta, or gnocchi, which are all great for soaking up the rich Tuscan sauce. For a vegetable side, roasted asparagus is an excellent choice.
Q: How can I prevent the cream sauce from curdling
A: To ensure a smooth, velvety sauce, you should temper the heavy cream. Before adding it to the pot, slowly whisk a few tablespoons of the hot chicken stock from the Instant Pot into the cream. This prevents it from curdling when it hits the hot liquid.
Q: Is this Tuscan duck recipe low-carb or keto-friendly
A: Yes, based on the provided nutritional information, this recipe is very low in carbohydrates, with only 1g of net carbs per serving, making it a suitable option for a keto or low-carb diet.
