Roasted Duck with Apples

Ingredients

• 5 apples
• 2 pears
• 1 duck (about 2 kg)
• Salt
• Pepper (freshly ground)
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 5 rosemary sprigs
• 2 lavender sprigs (for garnish)

Instructions

1. 1.

   Preheat the oven to 200°C with upper and lower heat.

2. 2.

   Wash the apples and pears; halve the apples and quarter the pears.

3. 3.

   Clean the duck inside and out, pat dry. Rub the duck inside and out with salt, pepper, and cumin seeds. Wash the rosemary sprigs and place them in the duck’s cavity, tying them with kitchen twine. Prick the duck skin all over with a toothpick and lay it breast-side down on a roasting pan with the apples and pears. Pour about 400 ml of water into the pan and roast in the oven for approximately 60 minutes. Flip the duck and roast for an additional ~50 minutes, basting frequently with the liquid. Remove the duck from the pan and place it on a rack (with a fat pan underneath) under the preheated grill for another ~10 minutes to brown the skin. When the duck is done, skim off the fat from the sauce, strain it through a sieve, and season with salt and pepper. Carve the duck and serve it hot on a platter with the apples and sauce. Garnish with lavender sprigs.