Duck can hold its own with gutsy flavours like this Southern American-inspired rub. Add a refreshing salsa to cut through the duck fat for a scrumptious meal that can be cooked on the barbecue or in the frying pan in minutes.

Ingredients

• BBQ spice blend
• 3½ tablespoons paprika
• 1½ tablespoons salt
• 1½ tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon caster sugar
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper
• 1½ teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Duck
• ¼ cup oil
• 4 duck breasts, trimmed
• Pawpaw and ginger salsa
• ½ pawpaw
• 3 cm-piece fresh

Method

1. Mix the spices and herbs together in a small bowl and keep in an airtight container.
2. Preheat the oven to 220ºC. Set the oven rack above the centre.
3. Use a heavy cook's knife to make 3-4 thick cuts through the duck skin to the meat; this allows the rub to penetrate beneath the fat.
4. Mix the oil and BBQ spice blend together and rub equal quantities into each duck breast. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes. Place the duck on a foil-lined tray.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the outside is crispy and golden. Rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly and serving with the Pawpaw and Ginger Salsa (see recipe on the website) and a drizzling of honey.

Cooks Tips

- Also delicious served with a chicken seasoned with a knob (peeled or unpeeled) of ginger in the cavity.