Roast duck with crispy duck hash and beer gravy

Preheat the oven to 160C/325F/Gas 3.

Remove the legs from the ducks. Roast in the oven for 1-1Ѕ hours until completely tender. Remove the meat from the leg bones, discarding any fat and keep to one side.

Chop away the central leg carcass from each bird, leaving the two breasts attached to the breast bone. Reserve the breasts.

To make the beer gravy, trim all the fat from the carcasses, then chop them and fry in some groundnut oil in a saucepan until well coloured. Add the sliced onions and continue to fry over a moderate heat to a rich golden brown. Stir in the sugar, then pour the beer on top. Bring to the boil and reduce by three quarters before adding the chicken stock and continuing to boil and reduce by half.

Add the veal or beef gravy. Bring back to a simmer, skimming off any excess fat, cooking for a further 30 minutes before straining. Should the sauce be too thin, simply boil to a sauce consistency, but do not allow the flavour to become too strong. Set aside. (The sauce can be made well in advance and refrigerated until needed.) Reheat for serving.

To cook the duck breasts, preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. In a non-stick frying pan, gently fry the duck breasts, skin-side down, on the hob. As they fry the fat will melt away, leaving a thinner and crisper finish. Continue to fry until all the breasts are a rich, golden brown colour - this may well take between 10-15 minutes. Turn skin-side up and place in the oven to finish cooking for 6-10 minutes; depending on the size of the ducks. Once roasted, allow to rest.

Meanwhile, make the hash. Sweat the chopped shallots in a little of the olive oil until tender. Scoop the potato flesh from the skins and mix it with the cooked shallots and duck leg meat. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Divide the duck hash mix into four and press into buttered rectangular or round moulds, or simply shape into cakes. Fry in butter until golden brown before turning each and roasting in the oven for 8-10 minutes.

To serve, remove the duck breasts from the bone and cut each into three or four slices. Place the hash towards the top of the plate with carrots and spring greens arranged on either side beneath. Present the duck on top of the greens offering the beer gravy on the side.