Obsolete Spice Roasted Duck

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-03 · Updated 2026-04-03

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A showstopping dish featuring rare spices once common in colonial kitchens, roasted to crispy perfection with a sweet-tart glaze. This American-inspired grilling recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs duck breasts, cinnamon sticks, cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 25 min Cook: 25 min Serves 2 American cuisine 480 cal/serving

Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

2 (6 oz each) duck breasts
1 cinnamon sticks
4 cloves
2 star anise
1/2 cup red wine
3 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

The instant-read thermometer we’d check this duck with → Best Instant-Read Thermometers for 2026: Fast, Accurate Picks Under $100

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

Step 1: Pat 2 duck breasts (6 oz each) dry with paper towels, then score the skin in a diamond pattern. Season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium heat, place duck skin-side down, and sear for 8 minutes until golden and crisp.
Step 2: Flip duck and add 1 cinnamon stick, 4 cloves, and 2 star anise to the skillet. Pour in 1/2 cup red wine, 3 tbsp maple syrup, and 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar. Bring to a simmer, then transfer skillet to a preheated 375°F (190°C) oven.
Step 3: Roast for 12-15 minutes until duck reaches 135°F (57°C) internally. Remove duck from skillet, let rest for 10 minutes, and discard spices. Reduce pan juices to a thick glaze (about 5 minutes), then spoon over sliced duck before serving.