Looking for a quick and easy dinner on a summer weeknight? With no time to cook – and no desire to heat up the kitchen – it’s easy to succumb to not-so-good-for-you convenience foods. But there’s no need! Charcuterie comes to the rescue. On busy weeknights, turn to duck rillettes (ree-yet). Check our 6 simple no-cook meal ideas below, and feel no after-dinner shame.
Rillettes are a wonderful type of charcuterie: slow-cooked duck legs that have been shredded and creamed with fat and cooking juices. Tender, tasty, ready-to-eat and so versatile, duck rillettes are best served at room temperature.
Buy duck rillettes at dartagnan.com – and keep a tub or two in the fridge – for the easiest summer supper imaginable. Uncork a bottle of rosé and relax for the evening.
1. Spread the Love
The most obvious way to enjoy duck rillettes is simply spread on toast, slices of fresh baguette or crackers. Be sure to bring rillettes to room temperature first. Serve with crunchy, tart cornichons to complement the rich flavor. Some prefer a sweet chutney alongside, so experiment and find your favorite.
2. Duck Rillettes on a Salad
Toss together a green salad and top with a scoop of room-temperature duck rillettes. The juices will mingle with the dressing, so choose a simple oil and vinegar mixture, perhaps accented with mustard.
3. Stuffed Avocado
For those eating a keto diet, this will become a new favorite. Stuff the hollow of a ripe avocado with duck rillettes. Chop some Persian cucumbers very finely and sprinkle on top, then accent with a squeeze of lime juice and chopped cilantro. Eat
4. Simple Sandwich
Of course, a sandwich will make a lovely cold supper. Take a shortcut and make our Vietnamese banh mi with duck rillettes for something crunchy and satisfying. Or use what is at hand. Include some vegetables, greens, pickles, and mustard.
5. A Very Ducky 3 Bean Salad
The potluck classic gets a makeover with the addition of duck rillettes, which work well with the oil and vinegar dressing. Canned beans make this a good last-minute recipe, but the dressing should have time to marinate the beans, so mix it together the night before, or at least an hour before eating. Simply serve the bean salad with a dollop of rillettes on top.
6. Duck Rillettes Quesadillas
Ok, this one requires a tiny bit of cooking. Corn tortillas, hard grated cheese, and a cast iron pan conspire to make the fastest quesadillas ever. Lay a tortilla in the heated pan, spread a bit of duck rillettes on top, layer on the cheese and some chopped jalapeno and cilantro, if you like. Top it with a second tortilla, or simply fold the single shell in half when heated and cheese is melted. This recipe is also very doable in a toaster oven.
What is your summer evening go-to for an easy dinner?
Since 1985, D’Artagnan has been at the forefront of the farm-to-table movement, producing superior tasting products by partnering with small ranches and farms. We are committed to free-range, natural production, sustainable and humane farming practices and no use of antibiotics or hormones. That’s why D’Artagnan products have been revered by America’s most renowned chefs for over 30 years. We offer the same high-quality products to home cooks at dartagnan.com, along with recipes and guides to help you live the tasty life.
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