20 Delicious And Easy Side Dishes For A Duck Breast Dish

Many households traditionally serve duck breast as the main course on Christmas holidays or other festive occasions.

So, if you have decided to do the same but don’t know what side dishes go with a duck breast, here are 20 ideas and recipes for you to try out!

1. French Fries

Classic, easy to make, and another safe bet when serving a big crowd and especially when you have picky kids on the table, some potato fries won’t disappoint!

For healthy fries, head straight to the oven and bake them on high heat after salting them.

2. Sweet Potato Fries

A sweeter and, to many people, tastier alternative to potato fries is sweet potato fries.

However, forget about deep-frying sweet potatoes as they are way, way better when baked in the oven.

So, cut the sweet potatoes in wedges, toss them with oil, sprinkle them with spices, and enjoy them with your duck breast and some mustard-mayo dip.

3. Rosemary Parsnip Fries

Potato fries are a classic side for many dishes, but when you are serving duck breast you might want to go for something more special.

In that case, you need to try making parsnip fries in the oven, but before you put them in, mix them with some chopped rosemary, garlic, and oil.

With some extra cumin on top if you want, serve these delicious fries warm.

4. Creamy Mash

Duck breast is high in fat so making a lighter version of mashed potatoes to serve on the side is not a bad idea.

Using floury potatoes such as the Maris Piper variety and mashing them once they’re cooked with some semi-skimmed milk, only a tablespoon of butter, and a couple more tablespoons of crème Fraiche, you can make the most delicious creamy and fluffy mash!

5. Creamy Mashed Pumpkin

Mashed potatoes are a great alternative to fried potatoes, but again, it might be too obvious of a side to serve with something like duck breast.

So, instead of mashing potatoes, mash some pumpkin!

This recipe uses a small pumpkin which, once cooked – either in the oven or the microwave –, goes in and is blended with some heavy cream, parmesan, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.

6. Whipped Sweet Potato

Heavy or whipping cream, butter, and warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg are blended with some mashed sweet potatoes and become another great mouthwatering side for duck breast.

These mashed sweet potatoes have the same creaminess and sweetness the mashed pumpkin has, but this dish is of dark orange color and heavier in carbs.

7. Creamy Polenta

While you can find some ready-made creamy polenta in some supermarkets or Italian stores, you can always make your own at home since polenta is very easy to prepare.

Boil your polenta in some salted water and then simmer it while adding the butter and whisk until your polenta thickens.

Once it’s thick enough, cook for another 25 minutes and stir occasionally before adding the cream cheese. Serve it warm on the side of your duck breast and enjoy!

8. Grilled Asparagus

Grilled asparagus wrapped with bacon is an all-time favorite appetizer for many people, but if you skip the bacon, you get an easy-to-make and healthy side for your duck breast!

9. Roasted Beetroot, Red Onion, And Watercress Salad

To make this salad, you need to roast whole beetroots that you can then cut and add to the salad together with some roasted onion wedges.

With the beetroot stalks and leaves blanched and fried with garlic before being topped with wine, the last thing left to do is prepare the vinaigrette that will cover the salad.

With only 3 ingredients – balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and olive oil – you can have it ready in seconds.

10.Roasted Pepper Salad With Balsamic Vinaigrette

This delicious salad can add some color to your plates and make the pink-brown color of the duck breast look more appetizing.

To make it you will need vegetables like bell peppers of all colors, cherry tomatoes, and red onions. You will also need herbs and spices like oregano, basil, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to whisk them with olive oil and vinegar for a flavorful vinaigrette.

To seal the deal and make this salad a complete side dish, you should definitely add some fresh mozzarella pearls for some cheesy delight!

11. Simple Fennel Salad With Lemon

If you’d rather go light with the side dish, given that duck breast is high in calories, you can make this simple fennel salad with a lemon and olive oil sauce.

Use a mandoline to shred the fennel and toss it with olive oil and lemon. Let the salad rest for a few minutes for the fennel to soak the juices and soften, and serve it at room temperature or even cold next to the duck.

12. Orange Sauce

A classic side or garnish for duck breast, the orange sauce is an option you can never go wrong with. A safe bet and yet an intriguing one, it is certainly worth making if you have people with different tastes joining you for dinner.

Sweet and spicy, and thick, the orange sauce is made with orange juice and zest, pineapple juice, chili, sugar, corn flour, and is served with some extra orange wedges and, optionally, parsley.

13. Roasted Brussels Sprouts

If you are looking for a last-minute side dish to serve with your duck breast and have a package of Brussels sprouts in your fridge, then you have the ideal solution in front of you!

Line the Brussels sprouts on a baking tray, cut them in half, and toss them together with some olive oil and salt.

Bake them for about 25 minutes or until they are soft and golden and do that right before you are about to serve your duck as they are best enjoyed warm.

14. Red Cabbage

Duck breast goes great with sweet and spicy flavors, and this recipe yields a big bowl of red cabbage that tastes exactly like that.

To make it you need to sauté some onion together with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg before adding the finely chopped cabbage to the pan.

Once the cabbage has softened a bit, stir in the sugar, apples, and red wine vinegar, and cook for half an hour.

To finish this dish, stir in some sweet sauce like cranberry sauce and cook for another 10 minutes. Serve the cabbage as a centerpiece salad or add it on the side or under the pieces of duck breast on each plate.

15. Dauphinoise Potatoes

A dish that might seem intimidating to make if you are an amateur cook, dauphinoise potatoes can be made the easy way with recipes like the one we have here.

To make these baked potatoes, the first step you need to complete is that of simmering milk and double cream mixture with some whole garlic cloves in it, and then add your finely sliced potatoes to the cream for a couple of minutes to cook.

Transferring the potatoes to a baking tray and covering them with the creamy mixture (cloves removed), you can then top it with gruyere cheese or some Grana or Parmesan and bake for half an hour.

These creamy potato layers can then be served with your duck breast for a homemade French-style meal like no other!

16. Glazed Carrots

Peel and slice lots of carrots, and toss them with some olive oil, melted butter, brown sugar, garlic, and salt and pepper.

Roast the carrots for 20 minutes tossing them halfway through the roasting time and garnish them with some fresh parsley when serving them if you want.

The naturally sweet taste of the carrots together with the sweetness of the sugar and the caramelized texture of this side makes it ideal for poultry dishes and fattier cuts like duck breast.

17. Wild Rice Pilaf

Wild rice takes a bit longer to cook than white rice and it is chewier in texture than other types of rice. Therefore, when you combine it with soft duck breast, they create the perfect balance in your mouth.

You can cook it either in a chicken or vegetable broth. Once cooked, you can mix it with some sauteed onions and carrots and even add more Brussels sprouts to the mix.

With Italian seasoning, black pepper, and garlic added to the mixture, this side dish needs to be served warm to best enjoy its wholesome flavor.

18. Cherry And Red Wine Sauce

A thick cherry and red wine sauce is so easy to make that once you taste it with your duck breast dish, you will most probably make it again for your turkey or chicken dishes.

To make this sauce, you need to simmer red wine vinegar and sugar in a pan until caramel has formed, and then pour in red wine and chicken stock and cook until it is thick enough to add the pitted cherries.

You can always make it runnier if you prefer, while you can also add some cherry jam if you want it to taste sweeter.

19. Honey-Soy Glaze

10 minutes before your duck breast is ready, pour on top of it a honey-soy mixture and return it to the oven.

This glaze will cover the duck breast and make every bite sweeter, saltier, and juicier.

20. Balsamic Spinach And Mushrooms

Another great last-minute side dish to make is this one made with baby spinach and mushrooms, sauteed in some olive oil with garlic, onion, powder, salt, and pepper.

The last ingredient added is the balsamic vinegar which you can drizzle the vegetables with and toss them all together before serving.

Can I Use Any of These Side Dishes for a Sandwich?

Looking to elevate your sandwich game? Look no further, as sensational sandwich side dish recipes are here to save the day! Whether it’s a classic coleslaw, crispy pickles, or tangy potato salad, these mouthwatering options will perfectly complement your favorite sandwich. Get ready to indulge in the ultimate flavor combination that will leave you craving for more.

The Bottom Line

These 20 recipes can help you make the best side dishes for your duck breast dishes, so save them all for your future cooking adventures!

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