Crispy Shredded Duck and Noodle Salad

ingredients

• 1/4 cup dried rice-stick noodles (rice vermicelli)
• 4 1/2 teaspoons rice vinegar (not seasoned)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 (6- to 7/8 cup) confit duck legs, meat (with skin attached) removed from bone in large pieces
• 1 large shallot, thinly sliced crosswise and separated into rings (1/3 cup)
• 1 (6 inch) piece seedless cucumber (usually plastic-wrapped), peeled
• 1 firm-ripe medium peach or nectarine, halved lengthwise and pitted
• 6 large Boston lettuce leaves
• 24 fresh mint leaves
• 24 fresh cilantro leaves
• 18 Thai basil leaves or small sweet basil leaves
• Special equipment: a Japanese Benriner or other adjustable-blade slicer
• Accompaniment: sweet chile dipping sauce and/or nuoc cham

directions

Cook noodles in a 1 gallon pot of boiling salted water until just tender, 3 minutes. Drain in a colander, then rinse under cold water and drain well. Stir together vinegar, sugar, and salt in a bowl until sugar is dissolved, then add noodles and toss well.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 10- to 12 inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté, duck pieces, starting with skin sides down and turning occasionally, until skin and meat are crisp, 4 minutes. Transfer with tongs to a cutting board. (Do not clean skillet.)

When duck is cool enough to handle, remove crisp skin from meat and thinly slice skin. Remove and discard any excess fat from meat, then shred meat into 0.25 inch-wide pieces.

Heat remaining 1/4 cup oil in skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then fry shallot, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 2 minutes (watch closely, as shallot can burn easily). Quickly transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.

Working around core of cucumber, cut thin lengthwise slices (about 0.125 inch thick) with slicer, then stack slices. Halve stack crosswise, then cut slices lengthwise into 0.25 inch-wide matchsticks.

Cut each peach half lengthwise into 0.125 inch-thick wedges with slicer or a sharp knife.

Put 1 lettuce leaf on each of 6 plates, then divide noodles among leaves and top with duck (meat and skin), cucumber, peach, shallot, and herbs. To eat, roll lettuce leaf into a cylinder to enclose filling.