To celebrate the release of Gwyneth Paltrows cookbook “My Father’s Daughter” on April 13, 2011, Gwyneth and a crew of chefs created a lovely dinner for 60 of her closest friends and family. One of the dishes served at the soiree was a delightful Duck Ragu recipe, one of many sumptuous fares in Paltrow Cookbook. “My Father’s Daughter” cookbook features a very personal story of recipes passed down to Paltrow by her father, Bruce Paltrow and her childhood experiences with food and family. Paltrows book celebrates the joys of preparing food for loved ones and explores the passion she learned from her endeared father.

Paltrows cookbook features 150 delicious ideas for breakfast, sandwiches and burgers, soups, salads, main dishes, sides, and desserts. The gorgeously illustrated bestseller highlights a glimpse into her life as a daughter, mother and wife, alongside friends and family.

Duck Ragu - Featured in “My Father’s Daughter”

• 1 organic large duck, washed and dried
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• Coarse salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 4 slices duck bacon, finely diced
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and finely diced
• 2 medium stalks celery, finely diced
• 5 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 2 5-inch sprigs fresh rosemary, stems discarded and leaves finely minced
• 3 14-ounce cans whole peeled tomatoes with their juice
• 1 cup Italian red wine
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 pound pappardelle (fresh or dried)
• Gremolata Bread Crumbs or freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Trim off excess skin from the opening to the ducks cavity and back end. Rub the entire duck with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper, inside and out. Roast it for a total of 2 hours, flipping it from its back to its breast (and vice versa) every 1/2 hour. Let it cool in the pan until you can handle it. Drain off the fat and either discard or reserve it for another use, such as roasting potatoes. While the duck is roasting, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add the duck bacon. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until starting to crisp. Add the onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and rosemary. Turn the heat down to low and cook, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes, or until softened. Add the tomatoes and their juice and put 1/2 cup water into one can, swish it around to get all the tomato stuck to the sides, pour into the next can, and repeat again with the third. Add the tomato water to the Dutch oven along with the wine, a good grind of pepper, and a healthy pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and then turn the heat down very low and let simmer for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
After the duck has cooled down a bit, remove and discard the skin and bones and shred the meat. Fold the duck meat into the ragu along with the tomato paste and cook on very low heat, uncovered, for at least 1 hour (and up to 4), adding splashes of water if necessary to keep it from drying out (continue to season with salt and pepper as you splash).
To serve, cook the pasta, divide it among bowls, and spoon a generous amount of duck ragu over the pasta. Top with the Gremolata Bread Crumbs or Parmesan.
Active preparation time: 50 minutes
Total preparation time: 4-5 hours

Gremolata Bread Crumbs
Yield: 1 cup
• 2/3 cup fresh bread crumbs, toasted and coarsely ground
• Zest of 2 lemons
• 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
• Small pinch of coarse salt
Toss everything together.
Total preparation time: less than 5 minutes

These recipes are fantastic for family, friends or special events, like your engagement party or wedding!