Duck Soup with Wild Rice and Barley

This is a simplified version of Duck Soup that I have posted previously and in my opinion it is a better and cleaner tasting version than soup using roasted carcass of a duck. I have also simplified the way I cook barley and wild rice. Since barley cooks in about 40 minutes and wild rice 10 minutes longer I started with wild rice and 10 minutes later in went the barley into same pot. You just can’t cook barley and/or wild rice in the stock meant as a final product, it would be way too muddy. Vegetables were added in sequence to a clear stock. But first, the meat was removed from the bones and stock was degreased. I do not think that I will be making duck soup from roasted bones anytime soon.

 

Ingredients for stock

Carcass from 1 duck including wings and neck

1 carrot cut in half

2 stalks of celery cut in half

1 onion quartered

1/4 tsp. each of whole cloves and allspice

1 tsp. crushed black pepper corns

2 cloves garlic

Place the bones in stock pot and pour in enough water to cover the bones by 2 inches. Bring water to simmer and start skimming accumulated scum from the surface until stock is clear, about 15 minutes. Add vegetables and then spices. I always use steel mesh tee egg for herbs and spices, it is so much easier to remove after, but you can use piece of muslin tied into a bag instead. Simmer for 2 hours but never let the water get to rolling boil or stock will be cloudy. Slow simmer that barely brakes the surface is ideal for making clear stock, any stock. When done, remove all the solids with slotted spoon and strain stock through fine mesh strainer or colander lined with few layers of muslin cloth into another pot. While still warm remove duck meat from bones and reserve. Remove the fat floating on surface with spoon and kitchen paper strips or let the stock cool overnight and remove the solid fat from surface. Your stock is ready to become a soup.

Prepare the soup

1/3 cup pearled barley

1/2 cup wild rice

1 carrot, peeled and diced

1/3 cup diced turnip

1/3 cup diced celeriac or parsnip 

While the stock is slowly simmering, prepare the barley and wild rice and get all the vegetables and meat ready. Start with washing barley and wild rice in a strainer under running water, separately, of course. Place the wild rice in a pot with about 3 inches of lightly salted water to cover. Bring to slow boil and about 10 minutes later add the washed barley, cover and simmer for another 40 minutes. When barley and wild rice are soft strain and rinse under hot running water. While the grains are cooking peel and dice your vegetables and cut the duck meat. Start reheating the clarified stock, add diced vegetables and simmer until carrots and turnips are al dente then add washed barley and wild rice. Check and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve in individual bowls and garnish with chopped parsley. Toasted and buttered baguette slices on a side make nice addition.