Slow-cooked duck legs make for an indulgent ragu, and Matthew Tomkinson's recipe ensures you'll end up with a rich pasta sauce, perfect with a punchy red wine, such as Merlot. Leftover shredded roast duck would work equally as well as the duck legs.
Season the duck legs and lightly rub with olive oil. Place on a baking tray and cook at 180˚C/gas mark 4 for 40 minutes. The idea is to have moist slow cooked duck and if the meat is not quite yet tender return to the oven for a further 10 minutes. Remove the legs from the oven and leave to rest for a few minutes
Pick and cut the meat from the bone using two forks. Set the meat to one side and lightly season - reserve the fat and skin
3
Place a wide pan over a low heat. Add a little of the reserved duck fat and then sweat the onion, garlic and celery. Then, add the tomato purée and cook for 2 minutes
Add the oregano, thyme and wine and turn up the heat. Reduce the sauce by half and then add the tomatoes and duck meat. Turn down the heat and leave to simmer for 15 minutes
Matthew Tomkinson was always destined for great things. Starting his career in 1998 at a vegetarian restaurant in Cheshire, Tomkinson went on to win the prestigious Roux Scholarship in 2005 (at 29).
