Ingredients

  • 2 cups farro
  • 1 carrot, peeled and cut into large pieces
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled and lightly crushed
  • 2 guindilla peppers
  • 1 bay leaf
  • kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup fontina cheese, cut into small pieces
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 head radicchio
  • salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 duck breasts, cut in half lengthwise
  • 2 1/2 cups olive oil
  • 1 orange peel for garnish
  • 2 guindilla peppers
  • 2 branches fresh thyme
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled and lightly crushed
  • salt

Method

  • For the farro, thoroughly rinse it in a large colander under running water.
  • Transfer to a large heavy-bottomed pot and add the carrots, onions, garlic, peppers, bay leaf, and 4 cups of water.
  • Add enough kosher salt so the water tastes like sea water.
  • Cover, place over high heat, and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat and simmer for 2025 minutes, until the grain is soft and cooked through.
  • Once the farro is fully cooked, drain, and discard the aromatics.
  • Fold the fontina cheese, butter, and radicchio into the cooked farro.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Set aside.
  • For the duck, in a skillet large enough to fit all four pieces of the duck breasts, combine the olive oil, orange peel, peppers, thyme, and garlic clove.
  • Place the skillet on the burner on the lowest heat you can manage and gently heat the oil until it registers 150 on a meat thermometer.
  • If you have trouble setting your stove low enough, use a cast iron trivet or heat diffuser.
  • I like to leave
  • the thermometer in the oil so I can regulate the heat as necessary and maintain 150.
  • When you add the duck, the temperature will drop a bit, so you may need to increase the heat slightly.
  • Score the skin of the duck breasts and season thoroughly with salt and pepper.
  • Heat up another skillet (roughly the same size) over medium-low heat and sear the duck breasts, skin-side down, without moving them at all, until they are crispy and golden brown, 57 minutes.
  • Once the skin is golden brown, remove from the pan and now place skin-side up in the 150 olive oil.
  • Poach the duck breasts in the olive oil for 710 minutes, until the breasts are firm, medium rare, and just cooked through.
  • Remove from the heat, slice, and serve with the farro.