Last Saturday night a very rare event occurred – one that had eluded us for more than a year. My husband and I went out for dinner. By ourselves.
While our two little kiddies were home entertaining our fabulous, brand shiny new babysitter, we treated ourselves to a nice dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants, Savory. Like most parents who are ecstatic to finally have time alone, we spent most of it talking about the kids. We reminisced about the darndest things our daughter has said and the milestones our infant son has recently conquered (he’s smiling quite a bit now, by the way!). Still, it was such a pleasure to finally take those few hours out of the house to enjoy a great meal and catch up like old times.
Valentine’s Day was the next day and I wanted to have another special dinner, this time at home. After coming across a guest post on Simply Recipes last week on how to make an Easy Duck Confit I decided to recreate a goat cheese salad with duck confit I once ate at The 3rd Corner Wine Shop & Bistro up the road in Encinitas. True to its name, the duck was incredibly easy – took just a few hours rather than a whole day – and resulted in fall-off-the-bone tender meat and wonderfully crispy skin. To make the salad extra special I panko-breaded and fried the goat cheese and added in some fresh strawberries. The combination is sweet and salty, crunchy and tangy – just amazing.
As we were devouring the salad we realized that the components would translate really well into panini. My husband practically insisted that I make this one! A boon to those of you without a panini grill – this one actually works best if you don’t grill it.
Duck Confit, Strawberries & Fried Goat Cheese Panini
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS:
4 duck legs confit, meat removed from the bone (see the incredibly easy recipe on Simply Recipes)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup flour
1 egg, beaten
5 oz. goat cheese log, sliced into 1/8″ medallions*
8 slices artisan white bread (I used sourdough)
Mixed baby greens
Raspberry vinaigrette (bottled or make your own)
Strawberries, sliced
DIRECTIONS:
Fry the goat cheese: In a small skillet heat olive oil over medium heat. Combine the panko and plain breadcrumbs in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Place the flour and beaten egg each in their own separate small bowls. Dredge each goat cheese medallion first in flour, then in egg and lastly in the breadcrumbs. Carefully place the cheese into the hot oil (be sure not to overcrowd the skillet – work in batches if necessary). Brown the cheese on each side and drain on a paper towel.
To assemble each sandwich: Toast the bread slices in a toaster, toaster oven or panini grill. Toss the baby greens with raspberry vinaigrette (as much or as little as you like) and place a good amount of greens on one slice of bread. Layer strawberry slices on top of the greens. Add the meat from one duck leg and two to three fried goat cheese medallions. Close the sandwich with a second slice of bread. Slice in half, serve immediately and enjoy!
* TIP: Use a piece of unflavored dental floss to make clean slices with the goat cheese.
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You always come up with something new. I love all of your creations!
What an interesting combo, the panini looks great!
What a combo!
Oh that looks amazing!
.-= Sook @ My Fabulous Recipes´s last blog ..Butternut Squash Cheese Fries =-.
Yay! We don’t own a panini grill so this is perfect for us (not to mention how much we love duck)! I also want to tell you how much I love the new look of Panini Happy (it’s gorgeous AND striking), but most of all—congratulations to you & your hubby on the birth of your newest bundle of joy! I can’t believe your baby is smiling already & I’m dying to see photos. Best wishes & much love to you all! (Hope the sibling rivalry is kept to a minimum.)
.-= Sandie {Inn Cuisine}´s last blog ..What Cravings May Come (Recipe: High Pointe Inn’s Banana Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake) =-.
Thanks, Sandie! You’re the first to notice the new look 🙂 We’re doing well over here with the new little one. Lots of hugs from his big sister, he’s really special to her. Hope it continues!
What a decadent panini. I add strawberries and goat cheese to my salads (mostly in the summer) … and they look amazing on your sandwich. Yum.
.-= Liz – Meal Makeover Mom´s last blog ..Podcast 94: Stress Busting, Health-Boosting Tips for Moms (and Dads) … and a Cookbook Giveaway =-.
I would’ve NEVER thought of using Duck Confit in a Panini but this sounds amazing! Thanks for the recipe!
.-= Cookie´s last blog ..Beautiful Orange Scones! =-.
What a beautiful looking panini-the strawberry and fried goat cheese combination sounds delicious!
Um, once I read the title of this post I was like, YES! This would be my favorite sandwich ever! I know it.
Oh my goodness! This is the most unbelievable sandwich ever!
.-= Kathleen´s last blog ..ChocolateTruffle Cookies =-.
I would never have thought to combine these ingredients! Your blog inspires me to go out and buy the panini grill I’ve been coveting, but it’s nice to know this is one sandwich that doesn’t need the grill.
.-= Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)´s last blog ..Instant espresso powder, a Pantry Special (Recipe: espresso-nut cookies) =-.
Duck confit – so decadent, yet you say it’s so easy to make? I’m intrigued!
.-= Nate´s last blog ..Belacan Fried Chicken =-.
Wow! This looks fabulous!
.-= Stuart Reb Donald´s last blog ..7 Questions with the Bikini Chef Susan Irby =-.