Serve Duck Breast alongside Duck Sauce/Orange Sauce/ Plum Sauce, Roasted Pepper Salad, Potato Wedges, Balsamic Roasted Vegetables, and Sweet Potato Fries.
You can use any sauce you like, including western options like mayonnaise and mustard.
For a lighter option, try Sweet Potato Fries. Sweet Potato Fries
If potato fries are your guilty pleasure, here's a healthier alternative; baked sweet potato fries.
Serving up duck breast feels fancy, like you've brought the restaurant home.
This rich, flavorful meat is a surefire way to impress at the dinner table. Yet, even the best main courses can shine brighter with the right companions.
Imagine side dishes that go with the duck's strong flavor while adding their unique textures and tastes to the mix.
That's what we're here for. In this part of our series, we're going to introduce you to seven side dishes that are perfect partners for your duck breast feast.
Say hello to meals that'll have everyone asking for seconds - and the recipes to make them happen.
7 Perfect Side Dishes for Duck Breast
Here are our picks for the best side dishes you can serve with duck breast.
1 - Duck Sauce/Orange Sauce/ Plum Sauce
Before we get into the actual dishes that you can serve alongside duck breast, we absolutely have to list some sauces.
You can use any sauce you like, including western options like mayonnaise and mustard.
Having a variety of sauce options will make your duck more appealing.
However, we want to highlight some options from Asia or are inspired by Asian cuisine.
Duck sauce is a Chinese sauce, typically served with Peking duck.
It is made from fruits like apricots or peaches, and you can easily find it in stores.
Orange Sauce is made from oranges, of course.
The tangy citrus flavor cuts through the fat-rich meat of the duck breast.
Plum sauce is another Asian sauce made from plums.
It is both sweet and savory; give this one a try.
2 - Roasted Pepper Salad
This salad is delicious, healthy and is quick to make.
If you're tired of eating raw greens, this is the perfect recipe to add variety to your meals.
The bright colors of the peppers will also look fantastic on the table next to your duck breast.
Bell peppers are not spicy, despite pepper being in the name.
Instead, this salad is savory and is a perfect addition to a gourmet meal.
Roasted pepper salad has a sweet n sour flavor and a soft, juicy texture.
This goes well with the taste of duck breast, especially if you eat it with sauces.
3 - Potato Wedges
For a side dish that's on the lighter side, try potato wedges.
This is a wonderful finger food to match your duck breast main course.
This is a particularly good option if you intend on eating duck breast slices with sauces.
A variety of condiments will serve both the meat and potatoes, and you can use the same condiments for both.
They are similar to fries, but instead of deep frying in oil, you're going to bake potato slices with the skins on.
This makes them ultra crispy and delicious while maintaining a soft inside.
Soak your wedges in hot water for ten minutes before baking; this gives it more crispiness.
4 - Balsamic Roasted Vegetables
If bell peppers aren't quite your thing, here's another roasted vegetable dish to try.
This dish is the perfect combination of healthy and tasty.
The essence of this dish is the balsamic vinegar marinade.
Mix equal parts balsamic vinegar and olive oil; add brown sugar, soy sauce, mustard and basil.
You can use any vegetables you want, but mushrooms, onions, carrots, and parsnips are the best choices.
Cut and peel the vegetables as necessary, then pour the marinade on top and toss.
You can add a garnish of parsley or coriander if you want.
5 - Sweet Potato Fries
If potato fries are your guilty pleasure, here's a healthier alternative; baked sweet potato fries.
The grease used for deep frying regular fries is not good for you, so you won't miss it.
Sweet potatoes, on the other hand, are extremely nutritious.
They have fewer calories and carbohydrates than regular potatoes and more nutrients.
Sweet potatoes also have lots of vitamins A, C, and B6.
You could only use salt and pepper for these 'fries,' but we like to add more spice.
Garlic powder and paprika mixed with olive oil give these potatoes a flavorful kick.
6 - Spinach and Mushroom Salad
You can make this salad as simple or complex as you want.
Spinach is an extremely healthy green, recommended for eye health and blood pressure.
Some people dislike plain spinach vehemently, so flavoring it up will always be better for guests.
If you want a raw salad, you can soak button mushrooms in lemon water; this takes away the raw mushroom taste.
A dressing of Dijon mustard, olive oil, salt, & pepper will complete the dish.
7 - Fried Rice
Here is a dish that needs no introduction.
If you come from an Asian family, you know that you can't have a proper meal without rice.
Duck breasts, duck sauce and fried rice, can be a complete meal with just those three dishes.
There are many different ways to prepare fried rice, but just about any will do.
We recommend a simpler fried rice dish with fewer ingredients, so it doesn't take the spotlight away from the duck breasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use any sauce you like, including western options like mayonnaise and mustard. Roasted Pepper Salad This salad is delicious, healthy and is quick to make.
Most home cooks pick this because it adds contrast and rounds out the meal.
A leafy green or fiber-rich vegetable balances the meal best. This side dish is a good pick for adding color and nutrients.
Pairing a protein-heavy main with a lighter vegetable side keeps the meal from feeling too heavy.
Not always. A vegetable-only pairing works when the main course already includes starch.
Add rice, bread, or potatoes only if the meal needs more substance.
Roasted frozen vegetables, pre-cooked grains, or a quick pan sauté all come together in under 15 minutes with minimal prep and no special equipment needed.