Duck Curry with Cherry Tomatoes & Pineapple (Thai Delicacies) 

Make Thai Crimson Curry Duck at Dwelling—Tastes Like Takeout (However Higher!)

After I spent a month in Thailand just a few years in the past (you possibly can learn all about my adventures right here), duck curry rapidly grew to become my absolute favourite dish. Ever since, it is the one factor I all the time should order every time I go to a Thai restaurant. It’s surprisingly simple to make at dwelling—particularly with my rigorously examined, foolproof recipe. Listed here are the important thing highlights that make my recipe stand out from the group:

• Crispy Duck Like a Professional: Many recipes skip the crispy-skin approach or depend on pre-cooked duck — however I’ll present you make the actual factor from scratch, begin to end. My pan-searing technique ensures ultra-crispy pores and skin, no restaurant wanted. Bonus: you need to use this system for any duck breast recipe, not simply purple curry duck.
• Genuine Thai Flavors: This recipe sticks near what I ate in Thailand — utilizing actual Thai purple curry paste, fish sauce, Thai basil, and optionally available kaffir lime leaves. I additionally present recommendations on substitute the whole lot with simply accessible options.
• Straightforward, Restaurant-Worthy: It’s surprisingly doable at dwelling in simply 40 minutes. (Good day, your new favourite weeknight meal!) And actually? It tastes higher than most duck curries I’ve had at eating places. If I wish to impress my household and visitors, I additionally love making my Thai coconut curry salmon and creamy Thai shrimp soup.
• Duck Fats = Liquid Gold: I reserve some duck fats from searing to sauté the garlic, ginger, and curry paste — it offers the sauce unbelievable richness and depth you gained’t get with oil alone.
• Creamy coconut broth: I make the purple coconut curry broth from scratch utilizing garlic, ginger, fish sauce, sugar, hen broth, and coconut milk, with store-bought purple curry paste—Thai Kitchen is my go-to for its gentle warmth and genuine taste. My favourite half? Including cherry tomatoes and pineapple on the finish for the right sweet-tangy end!
• Garnish Recreation Robust: I serve coconut curry duck over jasmine rice and high it with Thai basil, cilantro, contemporary chiles, lime wedges, and crispy fried shallots — it’s colourful, aromatic, and stuffed with texture.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

• Boneless Pores and skin-On Hen: For those who choose hen to duck, be at liberty to swap them out utilizing both boneless skin-on hen breast or thigh. Cook dinner in the identical method because the duck breast however decrease the period of time you prepare dinner both sides. 
• Different Proteins: This dish can also be scrumptious with a superbly seared steak so go forward and swap the duck breast if you happen to like. You may as well use salmon or shrimp. Oh wait, I’ve already made these recipes! Try my Thai-inspired coconut curry salmon and banana coconut curry shrimp.
• Crimson Curry Paste: My private favourite model is Thai Kitchen. The principle purpose I adore it is that it has a milder spice degree, so it does not overpower the dish with an excessive amount of warmth. It is made with components like lemongrass, garlic, and purple chilies, giving it an unbelievable taste. I take advantage of it in all my Thai-inspired recipes, like this purple curry hen noodle soup or this fan-favorite Thai shrimp coconut soup.
• Sugar: You should use coconut sugar, brown sugar, or rock sugar. I don’t suggest synthetic sweeteners, honey, or agave as it should fully inhibit the flavour of the curry paste and duck.
• Kefir Lime: This can be a troublesome ingredient to find, so if it’s not obtainable in your space you possibly can omit it.
• Tomatoes: If cherry tomatoes should not obtainable, you possibly can substitute them for any very agency, underripe tomato. Slice every tomato into the scale of a cherry tomato earlier than inserting it into the curry sauce.
• Contemporary Pineapple: You’re greater than welcome to make use of contemporary pineapple! If utilizing rather than canned, be certain that to trim the pores and skin, take away the core, and minimize into quartered slices. Use about ¼ of a contemporary pineapple to switch the canned pineapple/
• Rice and Noodles: This dish works nicely with different lengthy grain rice similar to basmati, wild, or brown! I additionally love serving duck curry over rice noodles!
• Basil: You should use Italian basil if Thai just isn’t obtainable.
• Fried Onions: Substitute the fried shallots with fried onions if you happen to choose!
• Coconut Milk: You possibly can completely make this with a low fats can of coconut milk as an alternative of the total fats. The consistency of your curry will likely be a bit extra watery however nonetheless very tasty! 
• Professional tip 🙂 : The picture beneath reveals each single ingredient you’ll want—go forward and screenshot it on your buying listing!

Learn how to Make Thai Crimson Curry Duck (Step-by-Step)

Heads up: Right here’s a fast step-by-step preview of the recipe with useful pictures! For the total directions and particulars, scroll right down to the recipe card beneath.

• Begin by scoring the pores and skin of the duck breasts and seasoning each side with salt and pepper.
• Cook dinner the duck breasts over medium warmth skin-side down in a chilly skillet, uncovered for about 8 minutes till the pores and skin is crisp and browned. Press gently with a spatula for even searing. Tip: Use a splatter display screen to scale back mess with out trapping steam. Take away most of duck fats to a heatproof container at this level.
• Flip and prepare dinner the opposite aspect for about 5-7 minutes till the interior temperature reaches your most popular doneness (135°F for medium-rare, 165°F for well-done). Switch the duck to a heat oven to relaxation.

• Make broth base: Reserve 2 tablespoons of duck fats within the pan. Sauté garlic and ginger briefly, then add Thai purple curry paste and prepare dinner till aromatic.
• Stir in fish sauce and sugar, and blend it in.

• Make purple curry coconut broth: Add hen broth, coconut milk and kefir lime leaves, and simmer for a couple of minutes on medium warmth.
• Add cherry tomatoes and pineapple, cooking simply till softened. Alter seasoning to style.

• To serve, spoon the curry over jasmine rice, high with sliced duck, and garnish with Thai basil, cilantro, chilies, lime wedges, and crispy shallots.

Variations

• Inexperienced Curry: I generally swap purple curry for inexperienced and love the outcomes. Crimson curry paste is made with purple chilies, whereas inexperienced curry makes use of inexperienced chilies together with herbs like cilantro, Thai basil, and kaffir lime leaves. I discover inexperienced curry to be brisker and spicier, with a vivid, natural taste, whereas purple curry feels cozier and a bit bolder.
• Vegetarian: You can also make laborious boiled eggs, use tofu, or add extra veggies to switch the duck breasts! Omit the fish sauce and change the hen broth with veggie broth as nicely.

Storage Suggestions

• Fridge: You possibly can retailer the cooled curry and duck in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days within the fridge. I like to recommend storing the rice individually so it doesn’t soak up all the curry.
• To freeze, place in an hermetic freezer protected container. It may well stay frozen for as much as 2 months.

Extra Thai-Impressed Recipes

• Crimson Curry Banana Coconut Shrimp
• Thai Crimson Curry Hen Noodle Soup
• Thai Basil Beef
• Thai Coconut Curry Salmon
• Thai Shrimp Coconut Soup