Duck Breasts with Pinot Noir and Cherry Sauce

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/2 cup dried tart cherries
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 4 (6-ounce) boneless duck breast halves, skinned
• 1/4 cup chopped shallots
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 1/2 cups pinot noir or other spicy dry red wine
• 1/2 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 cup whipping cream

Preparation

1. 1. Combine sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a small, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until sugar dissolves, stirring gently as needed to dissolve sugar evenly (about 1 minute). Continue cooking 5 minutes or until golden (do not stir). Remove from heat; carefully stir in cherries and vinegar (caramelized sugar will harden and stick to spoon). Place pan over low heat until caramelized sugar melts.
2. 2. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle 1/8 teaspoon salt and pepper over duck. Add duck to pan; cook 5 minutes. Turn duck over; cook 4 minutes or until desired degree of doneness. Remove from pan; let stand 5 minutes. Cut duck across the grain into thin slices.
3. 3. Return skillet to medium heat. Add remaining 1 teaspoon oil, shallots, and garlic to pan; cook 1 minute or until tender, stirring frequently. Add wine to pan; increase heat to medium-high. Bring mixture to a boil; cook until reduced to 3/4 cup (about 6 minutes). Add broth; bring to a boil. Cook until reduced to 1/2 cup (about 6 minutes). Pour wine mixture through a fine sieve into cherry mixture; discard solids. Bring cherry mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Stir in cream; simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt. Serve sauce over duck.