Deep Fried Steamed Eight Precious Duck Recipes

CHINATOWN STEAMED AND ROASTED DUCK

Steps:

• Duck is notoriously a fatty bird, to diminish the fat and produce a crispy skin, begin by trimming the excess fat from the neck and body. Rinse the duck, inside and out, and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Combine the Chinese five-spice, sugar, and salt in a small bowl. Rub the spice mixture all over the duck, inside and out. Salt and five-spice powder makes a fragrant dry marinade, which draws some of the moisture from the duck so that the spices penetrate. Stuff the duck cavity with the aromatics: the ginger, garlic, green onions, and tangerine peel. Fold the wing tips back under the duck and tie the legs together with kitchen string. Poke the duck breast a few times, piercing the skin.
• Place a roasting pan on the stovetop over 2 burners and fill with 2-inches of water, turn the heat to medium. Set a V-rack insert inside the pan and lay the duck on the rack, breast-side up. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Steam the duck for 45 minutes, checking the water level periodically. Steaming the duck first melts away some of the fat and shrinks the skin.
• In a small saucepan combine the vinegar, honey, and soy sauce over low heat. Cook and stir for 5 minutes until thick. The duck will be lacquered with the sweet glaze, which caramelizes during roasting, making the skin crisp and brown.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Take the foil off the duck, remove the rack with the duck, and pour out the water and all the fat that has rendered out (this is great to use in other dishes like fried rice.) Put the rack with the duck back inside the roasting pan. Baste the duck with the vinegar mixture, until all the skin is completely coated in the glaze. Stick the whole thing in the oven. Roast the duck for 1 hour, basting periodically with any remaining glaze to set in a deep mahogany color. Tent the breast with some foil if it gets too dark. The legs will wiggle easily when it's done. Carve and serve.

CRISPY DUCK

Steps:

• To make the marinade: Place the star anise, grated ginger, rice wine, peppercorns, salt, dark soy sauce, and light soy sauce, into a bowl, and stir to combine.
• Add the duck breasts to the marinade, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and leave to marinate for 20 minutes.
• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat a wok or pan over a high heat, and add the groundnut oil. Remove the duck from the marinade and place the duck into the hot wok or pan, skin-side down, and fry until the skin is brown and crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer the duck to a sheet pan, skin-side up, and roast in the oven for 3 to 4 minutes, depending on how well done you would like your duck to be. While the duck is in the oven, prepare the apricot and plum sauce
• To make the sauce: Pour the water into a small saucepan, and bring to a boil. Add the plums, apricots, sugar, honey, cinnamon, star anise, and cook until the mixture has reduced to a sticky sauce. Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the lime juice.
• To serve, place a duck breast onto a plate, pour over the sauce and serve with a salad.

DUCK TAREKO (CRISPY DEEP-FRIED DUCK MARINATED IN NEPALI SPICES)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine cumin, ginger, garlic, timur, nutmeg, half teaspoon of turmeric, salt and pepper; mix well.
• Clean duck; wipe dry.
• Rub duck inside and out with the spice mixture.
• Let rest to marinate for at least eight hours.
• Place marinated duck in a steamer and steam for at least one hour.
• Remove from steamer and let cool down.
• Combine a half teaspoon of turmeric, chili paste, molasses, honey and salt, and smother over the duck, inside and out.
• In a deep fryer heat oil to 360F.
• Dip the steamed duck in frying oil.
• Fry duck, turning periodically, until the duck skin is golden brown and crispy.
• Remove from oil and place on paper towel to absorb excess oil.
• To serve, cut crispy duck into bite-size pieces.
• Serve with rice pilaf, accompanied with mango chutney.

EIGHT PRECIOUS DUCK

Steps:

• 1. Separately soak glutinous rice and dried mushrooms. Blanch and shell chestnuts, ginkgo nuts and lotus seeds. 2. Bring water to a boil. Add soaked rice and simmer, covered, 5 minutes, then drain. Rinse under cold running water and drain again. 3. Dice pork, ham and bamboo shoots shell and dice shrimp dice chestnuts and mushrooms. Combine in a bowl with cooked rice. Add soy sauce, sherry, ginkgo nuts and lotus seeds. 4. Wipe duck inside and out with a damp cloth then stuff rice mixture into cavity, and sew up securely or skewer. Truss bird (see Seasonings and Sauces, _Poultry: To truss). Place duck in a heavy pan. 5. Cut scallion stalk in 1-inch sections slice ginger root. Add to pan along with stock, salt, remaining soy sauce and sherry. 6. Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, 1 hour, turning duck several times for even cooking and coloring. Add sugar and simmer 1 hour more. 7. Scoop out rice stuffing and arrange on a serving dish. Chop duck, bones and all, in 1- to 2-inch sections, or carve Western-style. Arrange over stuffing and serve. NOTE: This dish, sometimes called Eight Jewel Duck, can also be eaten cold. It will keep about a week in the refrigerator. VARIATION: * For the glutinous rice, substitute pearl barley. Bring to a boil in 2 cups cold water, then cook, covered, until soft (about 20 minutes). Drain, rinse in cold water and drain again. The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.

STEAMED DEEP-FRIED PRESSED DUCK

Steps:

• 1. Blanch, toast and sliver almonds. 2. Wipe duck inside and out with a damp cloth. Combine soy sauce, salt and sugar and rub over duck skin. Pour remainder into duck cavity, swishing it around to coat the interior. Drain off excess and discard. 3. Put duck in a deep heatproof bowl. Cut celery in 3 or 4 pieces trim off scallion roots and arrange over duck. Steam 2 hours by the bowl-in-a-pot method (see HOW-TO, _Steaming). 4. Drain duck, reserving liquid for stock. Let bird cool slightly then bone, leaving skin and original shape intact (see HOW-TO, _Duck: To bone). Transfer duck to a large flat plate or cutting board. 5. With both hands, press down on duck, flattening it to a 3/4-inch thickness. Then sprinkle generously on both sides with cornstarch. Return bird to heatproof bowl and steam 30 minutes more. Let cool, then cut in quarters. 6. Heat oil to boiling. Add duck, one quarter at a time, and deep-fry until golden. Drain on paper toweling. Let cool slightly then cut bird in 1 1/2-inch squares, each with some skin. Keep warm. 7. In a saucepan, combine sugar, vinegar, catsup, hot sauce and remaining soy sauce and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring. Meanwhile blend remaining cornstarch and cold water to a paste, then stir in to thicken. 8. Shred lettuce and arrange on a serving platter with duck squares on top. Pour sauce over and serve, garnished with toasted almonds. NOTE: This dish is also known as War Shu Opp.The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.

DEEP-FRIED STEAMED EIGHT PRECIOUS DUCK

Steps:

• 1. Separately soak glutinous rice, dried oysters, dried scallops and shrimp. 2. Wipe duck inside and out with a damp cloth. Dry well with paper toweling or hang up to dry in a cool, airy place 1 to 2 hours then rub with soy sauce. 3. Dice fresh mushrooms. Mince smoked ham, Chinese sausage, crabmeat and water chestnuts also soaked oysters, scallops and shrimp. Mix well with soaked glutinous rice, sherry, salt, sugar and garlic powder. 4. Heat oil to boiling. Using a wire basket or long-handled Chinese strainer, gently lower in duck and deep-fry, turning and basting, until golden. Drain. Rinse in a pan of cold water and drain again. 5. Stuff duck with glutinous rice mixture. Sew up securely or skewer. Transfer bird to a large heatproof bowl and pour stock over. Steam by the bowl-in-a-pot method until tender (about 1 1/2 hours). See HOW-TO, _Steaming. 6. Parboil green peas. Cut lettuce in strips and arrange on a serving platter. 7. Let duck cool slightly then chop, bones and all, in 2-inch sections or carve Western-style. Arrange on lettuce bed and garnish with green peas. VARIATIONS: * For the green peas, substitute Chinese parsley. * For the sugar, substitute honey. * For the stuffing, substitute the following mixture: 1/2 cup glutinous rice (soaked) 2 tablespoons barley (soaked) 6 dried apricots 12 chestnuts, blanched and shelled 12 ginkgo nuts, shelled 1/4 cup canned lotus seeds 1 tablespoon dried dragon's eye (soaked) 1/2 cup water chestnuts, diced 1 scallion stalk, minced 2 tablespoons sherry 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon salt. The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.

BASIC STEAMED DEEP-FRIED DUCK

Steps:

• 1. Wipe duck inside and out with a damp cloth. Rub liberally with salt and pepper. Let stand 1 hour. 2. Place bird in a deep, heatproof bowl and steam 1 1/2 to 2 hours by the bowl-in-a-pot method (see HOW-TO, _Steaming). 3. Drain duck and let cool. Wipe dry, then truss (see HOW-TO, _Poultry: To truss). 4. Heat oil to boiling. Using a wire basket or long-handled Chinese strainer, gently lower in duck and deep-fry, basting and turning, until golden. Drain on paper toweling. 5. Let duck cool slightly, then chop, bones and all, in bite-size pieces. Serve with scallion brushes (see HOW-TO, _Onion Brushes: To make), a plum or hoisin sauce dip, or any other dip for deep-fried duck (see Seasonings and Sauces, Deep-Fried Duck Dip). NOTE: The technique of double-frying can be used here. In step 4, deep-fry the duck 5 minutes, lift out reheat the oil. Then return the bird and deep-fry again until crisp and golden. VARIATIONS: * In step 1, rub duck with any of the following mixtures: 2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon anise pepper and 1/8 teaspoon Five Spices 2 tablespoons sherry, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon brown bean sauce, mashed and 1/2 teaspoon Five Spices 1 to 2 scallion stalks and 3 or 4 slices fresh ginger root, both minced 1 tablespoon Szechwan peppercorns, crushed and 2 teaspoons salt * In step 2, before steaming, add to bowl with duck 2 scallion stalks and 2 or 3 slices fresh ginger root. * In step 3, before trussing duck, coat with a mixture of 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 1 tablespoon soy sauce or 3 tablespoons flour and 1 egg, lightly beaten. The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.

FRAGRANT CRISPY DUCK

Steps:

• Prepare duck:
• Cut off wing tips with poultry shears or a sharp knife. Remove and discard excess fat from body cavity and neck, then rinse inside and out. Pat dry inside and out and press on breastbone to break it and flatten duck.
• Marinate duck:
• Heat peppercorn salt and five-spice powder in a dry skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until hot. Measure out 3 tablespoons and rub 1 tablespoon in body cavity and 2 tablespoons over outside of duck, including under wings and legs. Reserve remaining spiced salt for serving with duck.
• Put duck in a bowl and marinate, covered and chilled, 8 to 24 hours.
• Steam duck:
• Drain any liquid from cavity and put duck in glass pie plate. Rub rice wine over duck. Smash ginger and scallions with flat side of a large heavy knife, then put one third in duck cavity and scatter remainder over duck.
• Fill wok with enough water for rack to sit 1/2 inch above water and bring to a rolling boil. Wearing oven mitts, put pie plate with duck on rack over boiling water and cover wok with lid.
• Reduce heat to moderate and steam duck 2 hours, checking every half hour to siphon off fat and juices from around duck and in cavity with bulb baster and replenishing boiling water as necessary.
• Wearing oven mitts, remove pie plate from steamer. Discard ginger and scallions. Drain duck and cool in pie plate 15 minutes.
• Air-dry duck:
• Slide duck onto a rack set over a baking sheet (to catch juices) and pat dry with paper towels. Position duck in front of a fan and air-dry 2 hours, making sure air blows directly onto duck.
• Fry duck:
• Heat 2‚ inches oil in large wok or large pot until a deep-fat thermometer registers 375°F. Meanwhile, brush outside of duck with soy sauce, then dust with flour, gently knocking off excess.
• Dip mesh spoons in hot oil (to keep duck from sticking) before using them to gently lower duck into hot oil. Fry duck, spooning hot oil over top, 2 minutes. Carefully turn duck over and fry 1 minute more. With extreme care, remove duck from oil with mesh spoons, draining cavity, and transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Heat oil to 400°F and fry duck a second time, in same manner, until dark brown and crisp, 30 seconds to 1 minute on each side. Again with extreme care, remove duck from oil with mesh spoons, draining cavity, and transfer to paper towels to drain briefly.
• Presentation:
• Serve duck with small dishes of reserved spiced salt for dipping.

STEAMED AND CRISPED DUCK

Steps:

• In small bowl, mix all ingredients except duck. Rub mixture on duck, inside and out. Put duck in dish, breast side down. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate overnight.
• The next day, take duck out of refrigerator, and let it warm to room temperature. Place duck on steamer tray or rack small enough to fit into a wok. Fill wok with water up to bottom edge of tray; bring to boil. Place tray over boiling water, cover with lid or foil and steam duck over high heat until extremely tender, for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Replenish boiling water when necessary.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Transfer duck to cutting board, and let cool. Quarter the duck. Heat large nonstick saute pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add duck pieces, skin side down; saute until skin begins to sizzle and brown, for about 1 minute. Reduce heat to low, and crisp skin for 5 to 7 minutes. Turn and brown other side. Turn again, cover and cook in oven until heated through, for about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer pieces to platter; serve.

STEAMED DUCK

Steps:

• Place duck in a deep-sided heatproof dish to collect juices as the duck will release a large amount of fat and moisture during the steaming process.
• Place vegetables (onions - ginger root) inside the duck.
• Place a small plate that fits into steamer (with a 1-inch clearance) for steam to circulate. Spray plate with Pam and place duck on plate in steamer (you may need to cut duck into quarters to fit).
• Place a lot of water into bottom of steamer, bring it to a boil and steam duck for about 1 1/2 hours or until it reaches 180-degrees F using a meat therometer. (While duck is steaming check water in steamer as you may need to add more water during the cooking process).
• Preheat oven to 450-degrees F.
• Remove duck from steamer.
• Heat soy suce and honey together and then brush over duck.
• Roast duck for 20-30 minutes or until skin is brown and crisp.
• Cut into serving pieces to serve.

DEEP-FRIED STEAMED DUCK WITH TARO ROOT

Steps:

• 1. Wipe duck inside and out with a damp cloth. Dry well with paper toweling or hang up to dry in a cool, airy place 1 to 2 hours then rub with soy sauce. 2. Heat oil to boiling. Using a wire basket or long-handled Chinese strainer, gently lower in bird and deep-fry, basting and turning, until golden. Drain on paper toweling. Let cool then tie or securely sew up the neck opening. 3. Crush ginger root and mash red bean cheese mix well with stock, salt, sugar and star anise. 4. Trim off scallion roots and stem parsley, then put in duck cavity. Place bird tail-side up in a deep heatproof bowl, and pour ginger-bean cheese mixture into cavity. Sew up duck securely or skewer, then turn breast-side up. 5. Peel taro root, cut in 1-inch slices and arrange around duck. Steam by the bowl-in-a-pot method until done (about 1 1/2 hours). See HOW-TO, _Steaming. 6. Carefully transfer taro slices to a serving platter. Cut threads or un skewer duck cavity and let liquids drain into a saucepan. 7. Let duck cool slightly then chop, bones and all, in 2-inch sections or carve Western-style. Arrange over taro and keep warm. 8. Reheat duck liquids in saucepan. Meanwhile blend cornstarch and cold water to a paste, then stir in to thicken. Pour sauce over duck and serve. The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.

STEAMED AND ROASTED WHOLE DUCK

Steps:

• To reduce the fat and produce a crispy skin, begin by trimming the excess fat from the neck and body.
• Rinse the duck, inside and out, and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
• Combine the Chinese five-spice, sugar, and salt in a small bowl.
• Rub the spice mixture all over the duck, inside and out.
• Salt and five-spice powder makes a fragrant dry marinade, which draws some of the moisture from the duck so that the spices penetrate.
• Stuff the duck cavity with the aromatics: the ginger, garlic, green onions, and tangerine peel.
• Fold the wing tips back under the duck and tie the legs together with kitchen string.
• Poke the duck breast a few times, piercing the skin.
• Place a roasting pan on the stovetop over 2 burners and fill with 2-inches of water, turn the heat to medium.
• Set a V-rack insert inside the pan and lay the duck on the rack, breast-side up.
• Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
• Steam the duck for 45 minutes, checking the water level periodically.
• Steaming the duck first melts away some of the fat and shrinks the skin.
• In a small saucepan combine the vinegar, honey, and soy sauce over low heat.
• Bring to a boil and simmer and stir for 15 minutes until sauce thickens.
• The duck will be lacquered with the sweet glaze, which caramelizes during roasting, making the skin crisp and brown.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Take the foil off the duck, remove the rack with the duck, and pour out the water and all the fat that has rendered out.
• Put the rack with the duck back inside the roasting pan.
• Baste the duck with the vinegar mixture, until all the skin is completely coated in the glaze.
• Stick the whole thing in the oven.
• Roast the duck for 1 hour, basting periodically with any remaining glaze to set in a deep mahogany color.
• Tent the breast with some foil if it gets too dark.
• The legs will wiggle easily when it's done.
• Carve and serve.

SIMPLE ROAST DUCK

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. Wipe duck inside and out with a damp cloth. Place breast-side up on a rack over a drip pan containing several inches of water. Roast until tender, allowing about 30 minutes per pound. Add more water to drip pan as it evaporates. 3. Prop duck up in a bowl to permit fat to drain off. Let coo1. Bone and cut bird in 1- by 2-inch sections (each with some skin). NOTE: This can be used in recipes calling for roast or cooked duck. The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.