DUCK GUMBO

Serves a crowd

• 1 - 5pounds duck
• 1whole bulb garlic
• Kosher salt and sweet smoked paprika
• 1pound pork andouille sausage (3 links)
• 1cup chopped onion - fairly small chop
• 1cup chopped celery - same size as the onion
• 1cup chopped green bell pepper - same size as the onion and celery
• 1/4cup minced garlic (I know this sounds like a lot but trust me)
• 4cups low salt chicken broth
• 1brown beer (I use Abita Amber)
• 1/2cup vegetable oil
• 1/2cup all purpose flour
• 1teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 - 1teaspoons cayenne pepper (a full teaspoon makes it pretty spicy)
• 3whole bay leaf
• 1teaspoon dried thyme
• 1teaspoon smoked sweet paprika
• 1tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1tablespoon gumbo file
• Green onions, for garnish
• EQUIPMENT - roasting pan preferably with a rack, and a heavy gumbo pot - I use my Le Cruset dutch oven

1. Start in the morning! Put the oven on 250, and arrange the racks so there is room for the duck on top and a baking dish below. Remove the neck and giblets from the duck, rinse him and pat him dry. Cut the top off the bulb of garlic. Salt the duck inside then put the garlic inside. Prick him all over with a sharp fork - pierce the skin but not the meat. Sprinkle him all over with salt and paprika, tuck his wings behind his back (I got a one armed duck so he only had one tucked). Spray the rack of your roasting pan or wipe it with oil, and put the duck on breast side down. Throw the neck in the pan too. Put him in the oven.
2. Put the flour in a baking dish - I just use a 9x13 black metal one. I also do 4 cups at a time, you will use 1/2 cup for the gumbo and the rest can go in a jar in the pantry for future rouxs and gravies. Put the flour in the oven too. For 3 30 minute intervals pull out the flour and stir it, and re-poke the duck skin with a fork. After the third time (you are an hour and a half in now) flip the duck over and repeat - 3 more 30 minute intervals with flour stirring and skin poking at the end of each one.
3. NOW - turn the oven up to 350. The duck is going to roast for another 30 minutes until it is nice and brown. Then pull him out and set him aside to cool. Put the andouille links on a cookie sheet (I spritz with no stick) and into the oven. After about 10 or 15 minutes flip them - they should be browning and spattering. Give them a little poke with the fork too to let out some of the fat. Stir the flour and cook 10 or 15 more minutes, Pull the andouille out, and stir the flour. Put the duck and andouille on a big cutting board where you can process them and let them cool all the way. Chop the veggies while you wait and stir that flour every 10 or 15 minutes until it is a nice toasty brown. You won't think it's dark enough but when you add it to the oil in awhile it will be. I am attaching a photo of what you are looking for.
4. Chop the veggies. Time for music - suggested listening - The Subdudes (of course), Mingo Fishtrap, The Gourds, The Neville Brothers, Rockin' Doopsie
5. Open the beer and let it sit for a bit. Cut the sausage up into bite size discs. Break down the duck - this is what I do - first, pull off the breast skin which will still be a little soft - SAVE IT. Then I get a stock pot and literally pull the meat off with my hands and rip it up and throw the bones in the stock pot (duck and grilled steak bone stock is awesome). I pick what I can off the neck and add that to the duck pile and throw the neck bones in the stock pot. It's all completey barbarian. But it's fun.
6. Wash your hands. Put vegetable oil and 1/2 c toasted flour in the gumbo pot on medium heat. Stir until it's hot - see how dark it got? Once it's hot add the onions and stir for a 2-3 minutes. Add the celery, peppers and garlic and cook for a few more minutes. Add the broth and the beer. It's going to look odd and lumpy - never fear it will smooth out as it simmers and you stir. Bring it to a simmer, then add the spices EXCEPT the gumbo file - that goes in last. Also, start with 1/2 tsp of cayenne and then taste it in about 15 minutes for heat. You can always add more.
7. Add the duck and the sausage and the vinegar. Let the pot simmer away - now is a good time to clean the kitchen a bit. You could probably use a beer or a glass of wine or a giant iced tea. Cook the rice, too. Chop up the green onion. The gumbo is best if you can give it an hour to simmer on low, so do other stuff. Taste it now and then to see if it needs salt or cayenne.
8. You are almost done! Now for a little lagniappe - get the duck skin and cut it up into small pieces. Fry it in a heavy skillet on medium heat until it is very brown and crispy. Drain it on to paper towels ... try not to eat it all right then. Now, right before serving, turn the heat up a bit and stir in the gumbo file.
9. Time to EAT - rice goes in the bowl first, then gumbo. Top it off with green onion and duck cracklins, and enjoy. It has been a long day, right?