3 (450g) duck breasts
2 cup (500ml) chicken stock
1/2 cup (125ml) salt-reduced soy sauce
2 star anise
1/2 cup (125ml) vegetable oil
1/4 cup (65g) grated palm sugar
1/2 cup (75g) roasted unsalted cashews
150 gram dried rice vermicelli noodles
2 (260g) lebanese cucumbers
1 large carrot (180g), cut into matchsticks
2 purple shallots (50g), sliced thinly
1 fresh long red chilli, sliced thinly
1 cup (80g) bean sprouts
1/3 cup fresh mint leaves
1/3 cup fresh coriander (cilantro) leaves
1/3 cup fresh thai basil leaves
lime dressing:
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 1/2 tablespoon grated palm sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon fish sauce
1/3 cup (80ml) lime juice
1/4 cup (60ml) peanut oil
Remove skin from duck breasts. Place duck breast, stock, soy and star anise in a medium saucepan; bring to the boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Cool duck in poaching liquid.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a small frying pan; cook duck skin until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on absorbent paper. Drain fat from pan.
Heat cleaned frying pan over medium heat; cook sugar and nuts, stirring, about 5 minutes or until caramelised. Pour onto a baking-paper-lined tray; cool.
Make lime dressing. Combine garlic, sugar, fish sauce, lime juice and peanut oil in a small bowl until sugar dissolves.
Place noodles in a large heatproof bowl, cover with boiling water; stand until just tender. Drain; return noodles to bowl.
Halve cucumber lengthways; remove seeds. Cut cucumber into matchsticks. Add cucumber to noodles with carrot, shallots, chilli, sprouts and ½ cup of the dressing; toss gently to combine.
Thinly slice duck and duck skin. Coarsely chop nuts.
Add herbs to salad; toss gently to combine.
Serve salad topped with duck; sprinkle with skin and nuts, drizzle with remaining dressing.