Perfect Pairings: 8 Tasty Side Dishes for Duck à l’Orange

Duck a l’orange is a duck with orange sauce on it.

The sauce is a rich, sweet, and sour sauce that goes well with the flavor of the duck.

The duck gives off a lot of flavors.

When prepared properly, the skin is crispy and delicious.

Since duck a l’orange has a specific flavor, it’s most common to serve it as an appetizer or starter food before going onto the main course.

However, if you have a large enough group of people, why not serve it as your main course?

To best enjoy duck a l’orange, the skin should be crispy and juicy while the meat is soft and tender.

Duck a l’orange may sound difficult to cook, but it’s easier than you think.

The trick is to roast the duck long enough to eliminate all the fat that might be in there before cooking it.

This way, your duck will taste amazing.

Duck a l’orange is best enjoyed with wine.

Some popular wines that pair well with this meal are white wines like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling and red wines like Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Malbec.

Also, to enjoy the flavors of duck a l’orange, you should choose sides that have strong flavors as well.

Some popular picks are asparagus, mashed potatoes, and green beans.

In this article, we will list eight different side dishes that will go well with duck a l’orange.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Duck a L’orange?

As mentioned, duck a L’orange is duck served with an orange sauce.

This dish has been around for centuries – originating in French cuisine; it has become increasingly popular worldwide due to its wonderful flavor and ease of preparation.

The dish was originally made with a wild duck, but it is often made with the more domesticated fowl.

The flavor of duck a L’orange is complex and sophisticated, with fruity hints from the orange sauce and richness from the butter used in sauteeing.

The meat of the fowl becomes tender and succulent after cooking for several minutes.

That being said, it is important to have a complementary side dish when serving this delectable dish.

Since the duck sauce, a L’orange is rich, it is important to have dishes without fatty components.

First off, any simple green salad would be appropriate with this dish.

A light vinaigrette dressing would work perfectly to cut through some of the fat of the orange sauce; having fresh lettuce and other vegetables on the side will help round out the meal.

Secondly, it is important to have a vegetable or starch side dish with duck a L’orange.

Since the sauce is so rich, it would be best to have something that compliments it well and contrasts in flavor.

Potatoes are perhaps the most obvious choice since they are quite filling and have an earthy flavor.

But, a lighter option would be to serve rice pilaf or whole grains of some sort.

In addition, roasted vegetables such as brussels sprouts or squash could add color and substance to the meal.

In conclusion, when serving duck a L’orange, it is important to have complementary side dishes that don’t add too much richness and compliment the dish’s flavor.

What to Serve with Duck a L’orange? 8 BEST Side Dishes

There are many options for serving a side dish with duck a l’orange when served with an orange sauce; probably any dish could work.

However, several side dishes would be perfect with this dish in particular – and that will help balance out the meal in terms of flavor and richness.

1 – Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are simple to make.

You can either steam or roast them, and it’s up to you whether you peel the outer leaves before cooking them.

Regardless of how you decide to prepare the brussels sprouts, they are sure to taste amazing served alongside duck a L’orange.

The rich fowl and orange sauce pleasantly contrasts with the Brussels sprouts, and it’s a simple dish that you can quickly prepare.

A side note on how to roast brussels sprouts – while roasting some of them is one option, an even better approach is adding minced garlic and olive oil before cooking them.

This will ensure that the Brussels sprouts are flavorful and tender, giving them a complemented taste.

2 – White Rice Pilaf

Rice pilaf is another simple dish to prepare – and it’s also one of those dishes that taste delicious no matter how you cook it.

The key point to remember when making rice pilaf is to avoid overcooking it.

You want the rice grains to have a bit of firmness still – and you also want the dish as a whole to be moist but not soggy.

When served with duck a L’orange, the rice pilaf will provide the needed heft and texture to balance out the dish.

But, it will also help to cool down the richness of the orange sauce – which goes together with duck a L’orange very well.

3 – A Light Green Salad

A simple green salad is just what you need when serving duck a L’orange.

Many types of salads would work perfectly with this dish, but the best, in my opinion, is a salad with lettuce and vegetables.

A simple balsamic vinaigrette dressing would be perfect for cutting through some of the fat in this delectable duck dish (and it would also bring out the flavor of the greens), while fresh produce like carrots or cucumbers rounds out the meal well.

It’s a simple dish that you don’t have to work hard on, and it tastes great alongside duck a L’orange – which is why I recommend serving a green salad with this meal.

4 – Potatoes au Gratin

Potatoes au Gratin is quite an indulgent dish to serve with duck a L’orange.

But, it’s also delicious and filling – which helps balance out the meal.

Here’s how you make potatoes au gratin: first, peel (or don’t) some potatoes; then slice them into thin pieces; bake them in cream and garlic and butter, and top the dish off with breadcrumbs and cheese.

The result is a mouthwatering side dish that’s filling, rich, and delicious – but also complements duck a L’orange very well.

5 – French Fries or Chips

If you want to take it easy when making your side dishes – especially if you’re making a lot of them – then serving French fries or chips could be the best option.

While it wouldn’t work as well with other dishes that require more effort, duck a L’orange is simple enough for this to work out nicely.

If you want to make your life even easier, bake the fries or chips rather than fry them.

This will ensure that you don’t have to deal with hot oil, and it will also make the fries or chips healthier (since fried food isn’t known for its health benefits).

6 – Gewürztraminer Wine

If you want to go with a simple but tasteful pairing with duck a L’orange, then serving wine is the way to go.

Gewürztraminer wine goes well with duck because it’s dry and pairs nicely with the orange sauce.

It also complements the dish while accentuating its flavor – which is why it’s the best pick for duck a L’orange.

It would also work well with other fowl dishes and some vegetable-based dishes rich in flavor.

7 – Red Beet Salad

While many of the salads mentioned here are simple, this one is particularly easy to make.

It’s also very versatile – you can serve it on its own (it will taste good), or you could top it off with some crushed walnuts and goat cheese for a more filling meal.

You just have to cook red beets and slice them; mix up your dressing (I recommend a balsamic vinaigrette again), and then toss it together.

When served with duck a L’orange, this light, and healthy salad will be the perfect side dish to complement the flavors – since it adds some vibrant color to your plate as well.

8 – Baked Sweet Potatoes or Yams

If you want to serve something warm and filling with duck a L’orange, then baked sweet potatoes or yams is the way to go.

This side dish will also perfectly complement the flavors of orange and fowl.

The only things you need to do before baking them are washing them, cutting them, brushing some oil on each piece, and adding some salt to the mix.

Then you have to pop them in the oven until they are tender – which usually takes about 35-40 minutes.

Serve this delicious vegetable alongside duck a L’orange – it’s sure to be a winner.

Conclusion

Duck a L’orange is a simple dish with subtle flavors, so it should be paired with equally easy and minimalistic side dishes.

It’s best to pair it with salads, bread, and baked veggies.

Greens like a green salad go well with the subtle flavors of duck a L’orange – it makes for a great meal that’s light but filling.

Potatoes au Gratin is an indulgent treat that balances out the entire meal by being rich and creamy.

French Fries or Chips and Baked Sweet Potatoes or Yams are great accompaniments because they’re easy to make and require little effort.

Finally, Gewürztraminer wine pairs very nicely with duck a L’orange – so it serves as the perfect beverage for this meal.

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