Recipe: Duck Piccata

by
posted on September 8, 2023
Duck Piccata On Plate

Wild duck is flavorful, and keeping the skin and fat intact is always beneficial. However, early-season birds can be loaded with pinfeathers and have not yet fattened up. Having a recipe to use lean duck breasts without skin provides the perfect reason and incentive to hunt, no matter the time of year.

Pulverized meat

Butter is a good way to replace natural fats in the bird. At the same time, briny capers and the rich and distinctive flavor of olives make every bite enjoyable. The duck should be tender and bursting with flavor.

Meat cooking

Piccata is an Italian dish typically made with beef or chicken but works extremely well with waterfowl.

Ingredients

  • 6 to 8 duck breasts, skinless and boneless
  • 1 teaspoon of Kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons of garlic powder
  • 1 cup of flour
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter (keep 2 additional tablespoons in reserve)

Plated duck piccata

Sauce

  • 1 cup of chicken stock
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 2 tablespoons of capers
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 12 Kalamata olives, sliced
Enjoying Piccata

Directions

  1. Spread the duck breasts on a cutting board and sprinkle with salt and garlic powder. Gently hammer the breasts with a meat mallet until ¼-inch thick. Do not overwork the meat.
  2. Pour the flour into a shallow bowl and dredge each duck cutlet until no moisture is showing through the flour. Shake off any excess flour.
  3. Add olive oil and butter to a large Camp Chef cast-iron frying pan over medium-high heat. In small batches, cook the cutlets for one minute on each side, turning once. The duck should be nicely browned. Set the duck aside.
  4. Add the chicken stock, lemon juice, capers, garlic and olives into the frying pan, and reduce heat to medium. Deglaze the pan by stirring the ingredients to dissolve the fond (brown bits). Add the remaining butter and stir it into the mixture. Add the duck cutlets back into the sauce and reduce the heat to low, allowing the duck to simmer for four minutes. Serve hot, adding capers and olives to each piece of duck.

Latest

33 Winchester Old Box
33 Winchester Old Box

Behind the Bullet: .33 Winchester

Phil Massaro dives into the history and performance of the .33 Winchester.

New for 2025: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker

Springfield Armory has announced the Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker, a compact chassis-based rifle crafted for shooters who demand bolt-action precision and AR-style modularity in one uncompromising, suppressor-ready platform.

Selway Wilderness Outfitters: Your Gateway to the Backcountry

Looking for a new place to chase elk, deer, bear, mountain lion or wolvers, or even do some fishing in the offseason? Want to do it in the heart of Idaho's backcountry, far from towns or even road access? Check out Selway Wilderness Outfitters.

Hardware Review: Taurus Expedition

After a year of testing the Expedition and using it afield, contributor Jeff Johnston believes it’s one of the best compact, hunting/target shooting/utility rifles available for less than $700.

Tested: G9 Defense's Woodsman and EHP Ammunition

These monolithic metal handgun bullets provide an alternative to hollow points for fans of the great outdoors.

NRA Takes Fight to Defend Constitutional Rights of Young Adults to U.S. Supreme Court

SCOTUS petitioned to hear challenge to Florida’s ban on firearm purchases by adults under 21.



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.