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Hazelnut Crusted Grilled Duck with Chinon red wine
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5 from 4 votes

Grilled Duck Legs Recipe With Hazelnut Crust and Red Wine Sauce

Grilled Duck Legs is decadent with a hazelnut crust, and then topped with an elegant and light red wine sauce. It’s the perfect pairing for a Chinon (Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley of France) and a cozy fall evening. 
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Resting Time15 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Entree
Cuisine: American, grilling
Keyword: Grilled duck, grilled duck legs, hazelnut crust, Loire wine pairings, red wine sauce
Servings: 2 servings
Cost: $25.00

Ingredients

  • 2 Duck legs or breasts
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

For the Hazelnut Crust

  • ½ cup Crushed hazelnuts
  • ¼ cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon Coarse ground pepper

For the Red Wine Sauce

  • ½ cup Red wine
  • 1 tablespoon Shallots
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 teaspoon balsamic
  • Kosher salt to taste

Instructions

  • Prep Grill: Preheat grill for direct/indirect cooking. Target 450 - 500 degrees Fahrenheit in the cooking chamber.
  • Combine: Mix hazelnuts, panko, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and then pour into a plate.
  • Season: Apply olive oil to duck and liberally apply your hazelnut mix to the duck. Because it is on the plate you can simply lay the duck out, and then cover the other side using your hands. Press hard to coat the entire duck leg.
  • Grill: Place the duck over direct heat, avoid flame ups by keeping lid covered while searing. Or if you need to, move the duck when seared to indirect heat and cover, flip after 6 – 8 minutes and repeat on the other side. Move the duck back and forth from direct to indirect if the flames get too big.
  • Rest: Remove duck when it reaches internal temperature of 135 degrees and let it rest for 15 minutes.
  • Make Sauce: For the sauce, over medium high heat, add the shallots and the red wine. Bring to a simmer. Add the butter and the balsamic and let reduce by half. This will take about 8 – 10 minutes (or longer if your flame is lower). Remove from heat and salt to taste. This is good to do just after duck comes off the flame and is resting.
  • Serve: Serve with your favorite side. We love parsnip puree!

Nutrition

Calories: 592kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Cholesterol: 197mg | Sodium: 837mg | Potassium: 125mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 17IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 4mg