Roast Magret Duck Breasts with Shaved Black Truffles
Peer reviewed by UK recipe editorsAuthored by UK recipe editorsOriginally published 17 Jan 2026
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This sophisticated roast magret duck breast recipe is the ultimate centrepiece for a special occasion. By carefully tucking shaved black truffles beneath the skin of the duck, the meat is infused with a deep, earthy aroma as it roasts. The process of rendering the fat slowly in a frying pan ensures a perfectly crisp finish, while the meat remains tender and succulent. Paired with a rich, glossy reduction sauce made from Pinot Noir and homemade fortified stock, this dish offers a truly restaurant-quality experience at home.
As a refined dairy-free main course, this recipe relies on the natural richness of the duck and the intense flavour of the truffles to provide luxury. Magret duck, sourced from the same breeds used for foie gras, has a deeper, more steak-like quality than standard duck breasts, making it ideal for pairing with a bold red wine. Serve these elegant slices alongside some wilted greens or a silk-smooth celeriac purée for a balanced and impressive meal.
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Ingredients for Roast Magret Duck Breasts with Shaved Black Truffles
1 tablespoon olive oil
675g chicken wings
130g diced peeled carrots
240ml diced celery
550ml beef broth
475ml low-salt chicken broth
60g fresh black truffles or frozen, unthawed
3 boneless magret duck breast halves or Muscovy duck breast halves (about 1.4kg total)
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, divided
60g finely chopped shallots
120g Pinot Noir
How to make Roast Magret Duck Breasts with Shaved Black Truffles
Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken wings and sauté until deep brown, about 15 minutes. Add carrots and celery to skillet; sauté 5 minutes. Add both broths; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 1 hour. Strain, reserving broth and discarding wings and vegetables. If necessary, return broth to skillet and boil until reduced to 240ml ; reserve for sauce.
Using small brush, scrub fresh or frozen truffles under cold running water. Using sharp thin knife, remove peel from truffles and reserve for sauce. Thinly shave truffles using V-slicer or truffle shaver; cover and set aside.
Pat duck breasts dry with paper towels. Cut off any sinew from breast meat. Place breasts on work surface. Using fingers or small sharp knife, pull or cut skin with fat away from meat from both long sides of duck breast almost to centre, leaving 1-inch-wide strip of fat attached to meat in centre (do not cut through centre strip). Lift up flaps of duck skin and fat and arrange sliced truffles over breast meat under fat on each, dividing equally. Press skin flaps down over truffles to cover completely. Using sharp knife, score top of duck skin in 1/2-inch diamond pattern, being careful not to cut through fat. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover broth, duck, and truffle peel separately and chill.)
Preheat oven to 204°C. Heat heavy large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle duck breasts with salt and pepper. Place duck, skin side down, in skillet. Cook until skin is deep golden and crisp and fat renders, occasionally pouring off accumulated drippings from pan, about 10 minutes. Turn duck breasts over; place pan in oven and roast just until duck is cooked to desired doneness, about 8 minutes for medium. Transfer duck to platter; cover and let rest 10 minutes. Reserve skillet. Finely chop reserved truffle peel.
Drain remaining fat from skillet. Add 1 tablespoon butter to skillet and melt over medium-high heat. Add shallots; sauté until golden, about 2 minutes. Add wine and boil until almost evaporated, about 4 minutes. Add reserved broth and any accumulated juices from duck; simmer until mixture is reduced to 1 generous cup. Strain mixture into small saucepan; add reserved chopped truffle peel. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter.
Thinly slice duck breasts crosswise. Arrange duck slices on plates; drizzle with sauce and serve.
Disclaimer
While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.
Article history
The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.
17 Jan 2026 | Originally published
Authored by:
UK recipe editors
Peer reviewed by
UK recipe editors

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