Grilled Cheese + Balboa Syrah

This recipe comes to you from Episode 4 of The WA Wine + Food Show, hosted by Chef Andre Bopp. For this recipe, Chef Bopp dished up Duck Confit Grilled Cheese Sandwich with gruyère and Bacon Jam paired with Balboa 2016 Eidolon Estate Syrah. You can see the episode below the ingredients and instructions.

Smoked Duck Confit Grilled Cheese, Bacon Jam, Gruyere

Duck Confit

  • Duck leg/thigh pieces(raw, skin on, bone in)
  • Shallots, sliced thin
  • Garlic, rough chopped
  • Fresh Rosemary, whole sprigs
  • Fresh Thyme, whole sprigs
  • Kosher Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Duck Fat, melted

Score the skin only on the duck pieces, layer in a shallow baking dish and then sprinkle the kosher salt and black pepper over the duck. Liberally cover the duck with the shallots, garlic and herbs. Press down firmly. Cover tightly and place in refrigerator for 3-4 days. Remove the duck from the pan and brush off any excess marinade. Place in a shallow roasting pan and cover completely with the melted duck fat. Cover tightly and cook in a 325-degree oven for 3-4 hours or until the meat falls off the bone. Remove the duck and shred from the bone immediately. (Chef tip, strain the duck fat and save in the refrigerator, this can be used over and over)

Bacon Marmalade

  • 3 tbls Canola
  • 3 cups diced bacon
  • 1 1/2 cup onions, diced
  • 1/3 cup carrot, diced
  • 1/3 cup celery, diced
  • 2 1/4 cup Cider Vin
  • 1/3 cup Sherry Vin
  • 1 tbls Maple syrup
  • 1 1/2 tsp molasses
  • 5 tsp Dijon
  • 5 tsp pickled mustard seeds
  • 1 tbls thyme leaves

Heat oil, add the bacon and brown, lower the heat and add the onion, carrot and celery and sweat. Stir often. Add the vinegars and raise heat to high, reduce until it thickens. Add maple syrup and molasses and stir over medium heat until a glaze forms. Remove from heat and stir in mustard and mustard seeds. Fold in thyme. Let cool and use.

Makes 1 qt

Place the shredded duck on a hoagie roll, top with some sliced gruyere cheese, place under the broiler until it is bubbly, top with a generous spoonful of the bacon marmalade. Enjoy!