Monthly Archives: April 2012

Duck Neck Sausage and Ale Chutney matched with my IPA

Kris: It’s been a bit hectic lately, so it has been a while since posting on the blog.
We’re back!
It’s Autumn (Fall for Caroline) and eating Duck matched with some hearty ales is my favourite way to enjoy the crisp Tasmanian evenings this time of year. I am also starting to enjoy the fruits of my labour after busily homebrewing the last couple of months. I thought my Tasmanian IPA would be a great match for some homemade Duck Neck Sausage with Ale chutney.

Duck Neck Sausage and Ale Chutney

1 duck neck

1 duck breast

20g almond meal

20ml thickened cream

fresh sage

fresh oregano

2 garlic cloves

1 rasher bacon

3-4 walnuts

olive oil

salt and pepper

1 large potato

4 brussel sprouts

40g butter

2 ripe tomatoes 

1 small brown onion

1 red chilli

100ml IPA

40g raw sugar

fresh parsley

Method

Thinly slice the brown onion

Fry on a medium heat in some olive oil until translucent

Add finely chopped chili and sugar

 Cook for a few minutes

Add the beer and tomatoes

Season with salt and pepper

Simmer the chutney until thick (about 25 minutes)

Stir through some finely chopped parsley

Chill the chutney in the fridge

Chop the duck breast and blitz it in a food processor until minced

In a bowl combine the duck mince, almond meal, cream and a few chopped walnuts

Add some finely chopped sage, garlic and oregano 

Add some finely diced bacon

Combine all the ingredients

Season well with salt and pepper

Cover and set aside

Remove the fat from inside the duck neck

Stuff the duck mince mixture into the duck neck

Make sure it is packed really tight with the mixture

Using toothpicks, seal up each end of the duck neck

(I left the sausage uncovered in the fridge overnight. It dried it out and makes the sausage more crispy)

Thinly slice a large potato

Preheat an oven to 200 C

Fry ther sausage on a medium heat until the duck skin is brown and crispy

Place the sausage in the oven and cook for 15 minutes

Fry the potatoes in the left over duck fat in the fry pan

Steam the brussel sprouts for 10 minutes

Refresh in ice water

Remove potatoes and fry the brussel sprouts in the butter and a clove of crushed garlic

Season the potatoes and brussel sprouts with salt and pepper

Let the sausage rest for a few minutes and slice thickly

Plate it up with the fried potatoes and chutney

Serve with a side of the brussel sprouts

Kris: I bought a whole duck and seeming it was such a nice day outside, I thought I would drink some of my IPA and carve up the duck.I removed the neck, the legs and breast. Make sure you have a sharp knife.I used one breast and the duck neck for this recipe. I am going to do Duck confit with the legs and the other breast. The rest of the duck I am going to roast and use in a Vietnamese style soup.

 Kris: I am pretty happy with my home brew IPA. Its 6.5% and I used all Tasmanian grown hops. It has a good balance of biscuity malt and hop bitterness. I think I will dry hop it more next time to get a bigger, fruity hop aroma . It was a great match with the Duck Neck Sausage and Ale Chutney too.

 

Speedway Stout Review

Kris: It was a real treat recently to try for the first time a bottle of Speedway Stout from the AleSmith Brewery in San Diego, USA. Thanks again to Mike C for bringing it back safe and sound in his luggage. It was a perfect end to a meal of Buffalo Wings and a selection of new and exciting import beers from the USA.

Kris: This is a serious stout! It is a limited release Imperial Coffee Stout and is one of the best stouts I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. It has massive aroma’s of coffee and roasted malt. The flavours range from rich, sweet chocolate and caramel to roasty, coffee and cocoa, all in balance with a massive 12% alcohol. It is available in 750ml champagne bottles and if you get the chance, grab one, it is really worth tracking down. Another beer in this style to try is Dieu du Ciel’s Peche Mortel from Quebec, Canada.

Kris: This style of beer is a great dessert on it’s own. It is, of course, also a great beer to match with rich, chocolate desserts and strong, creamy cheese. We had some Dark Chocolate coated walnuts from Nutpatch in Kettering, Tasmania. If you are ever driving past it’s worth dropping in. It is a hidden gem if hand made chocolate is your thing.A rich self saucing chocolate pudding or chocolate mousse would be an ideal match with the beer. A ripe, creamy blue goat’s cheese or Italian talleggio would be ideal if you are in the mood for cheese.