Peking Duck Frugal Gourmet Recipes

PEKING DUCK

Steps:

• Rinse the duck inside and out, and pat dry. Cut off tail and discard. In a small bowl, mix together the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, white pepper and cloves. Sprinkle one teaspoon of the mixture into the cavity of the duck. Stir one tablespoon of the soy sauce into the remaining spice mixture and rub evenly over the entire outside of the bird. Cut one of the green onions in half and tuck inside the cavity. Cover and refrigerate the bird for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
• Place duck breast side up on a rack in a big enough wok or pot and steam for an hour adding a little more water, if necessary, as it evaporates. Lift duck with two large spoons, and drain juices and green onion.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place duck breast side up in a roasting pan and prick skin all over using a fork.
• Roast for 30 minutes in the preheated oven. While the duck is roasting, mix together the remaining 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and honey. After 30 minutes, brush the honey mixture onto the duck and return it to the oven. Turn the heat up to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Roast for 5 minutes, or until the skin is richly browned. Do not allow the skin to char.
• Prepare the duck sauce by mixing the plum jam with the sugar, vinegar and chutney in a small serving bowl. Chop remaining green onions and place them into a separate bowl. Place whole duck onto a serving platter and garnish with orange slices and fresh parsley. Use plum sauce and onions for dipping.

PEKING DUCK

Steps:

• Place all the honey syrup ingredients in a large pan with 1.2 litres water and bring to the boil. Turn the heat to low and simmer for about 20 mins.
• Meanwhile, rinse the duck well, blot it completely dry with kitchen paper, then put it on a rack in a roasting tin. Using a ladle, pour the syrup over the duck several times until the skin is completely coated on all sides. Leave the duck to dry out, uncovered, in the fridge overnight. When the duck has dried, the skin should feel like parchment paper.
• Heat oven to 240C/220C fan/gas 9. Sit the duck breast-side up on the rack in the roasting tin. Add 150ml water to the tin to prevent the fat from spattering, then roast in the oven for 15 mins. Reduce the heat to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and continue to roast for 1 hr 10 mins.
• Remove the duck from the oven and let it sit for at least 10 mins before you carve it. Using a cleaver or a sharp knife, cut the skin and meat into pieces and arrange them on a warm serving platter. Or, if you prefer, shred the meat using two forks.
• Serve at once with the pancakes, spring onions and a bowl of hoisin sauce.

PEKING DUCK (FRUGAL GOURMET)

Steps:

• Remove giblets from inside the duck. Remove the excess fat that hangs about the tail.
• Rub 1 T salt into tho skin and let the duck dry for 1 hour.
• Saute' the orange peel, the 2 chopped green onions, and garlic in the peanut oil for a moment.
• Add 1/2 teaspoon hoisin and the soy sauce. Simmer for a moment, and add the chicken broth. Allow mixture to cool.
• Wipe the duck dry with paper towels.
• Using poultry lacing needles, firmly lace up the neck and tie it closed with twine.
• Begin lacing up the rear end leaving enough space to fill the cavity with sauce.
• After pouring sauce into cavity, finish lacing up the bird, making sure the sauce does not leak out either end! This is very important, it needs to be airtight for the next fun step.
• Now, using the basketball needle and a tire pump, insert the needle into the neck of the bird, just under the skin and on the body side of the string used for the upper neck. Place a 2nd piece of string around the neck just above the point of the needle insertion so that you can tie the neck tightly after pumping the bird like a balloon. Now, slowly and carefully pump up the bird until the skin separates from the meat, remove the needle and quickly tie off the bird (two people for this step really helps).
• The success of the dish depends on the bird being air tight.
• In a large kettle bring 6 quarts water to boil. Add the honey. Make a sling out of one piece of fabric and use it to lower the duck onto the honey water. Roll it gently for a few moments. Don't lose the duck!
• Now remove the duck from the water, and bring the wings around to the back of the bird, and slip a long piece of fabric under the wings.
• Hang the duck so that it swings freely from the sling, in a cool place (we put it in the shower) and aim a fan at it for 3 - 4 hours.
• Play games (Chinese Checkers, Mah Jong, etc) with the family.
• Remove the bird from its roost, and place it gently in a greased roasting rack. Roast for 30 minutes at 425 degrees F.
• Turn the oven to 350 degrees F until you have roasted the duck for a TOTAL TIME of 18 minutes per pound. (Include the first 30 minutes in your time).
• Place a pan of water under the duck to catch the drippings (without smoke - hence the water).
• Remove from oven and allow to rest for a moment.
• Drain the juice and serve in separate bowl.
• The skin is the highlight of the recipe, but the entire duck is amazing!

ROASTED PEKING DUCK WITH POMEGRANATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the apple, chopped ginger, and peppercorns in a bowl. Stuff the mixture into the duck and close the skin using a wooden skewer (to hold in the stuffing). Hang the duck for 2 hours at room temperature (place a pan underneath it to catch the drippings). Place the duck on a pan fitted with a rack (breast side up), and roast in a preheated 375 degree convection oven for 40 minutes. If you don't have a convection oven, roast the duck in a conventional oven at 400 degrees for 55 minutes, or until the duck is a deep golden brown color. To serve, allow duck to rest 5 minutes before cutting. Carefully remove breast and leg from the duck.
• POSTRIO POMEGRANATE SAUCE: In a medium sized saucepot, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Add shallots, and sweat, do not cook until the shallots color. Add wines and bring to a boil. Add cinnamon stick, star anise, and rosemary. Reduce wine by 2/3, add chicken stock, demi-glace, and 3/4 cup of the pomegranate seeds, and reduce by half, until sauce reaches a syrupy consistency. Remove sauce from heat, season with salt and pepper, and whisk in the tablespoon of butter. Strain sauce through a fine chinois and serve or keep hot in a hot water bath. When serving sauce, garnish with the leftover 1/4 cup of pomegranate seeds.

PEKING DUCK OVER YANGZHOU FRIED RICE

Steps:

• BROWN RICE INSTRUCTIONS:.
• Put all ingredients in a large pot; Bring to a boil, stir one time and cover with a tightly fitting cover, including aluminum foil; Reduce heat and cook approximately 60 minutes; Check to make sure the water has not evaporated enough to cause the rice to burn on the bottom; Remove from heat and check to see the rice is firm and not mushy; Separate grains with a fork;Put in a large bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator to cool; (Makes about 4 cups of rice).
• SABRA SAUCE INSTRUCTIONS:.
• Combine all the ingredients less the 1 orange (for garnish) and mix well; Place in a frying pan, heat and then add tapioca powder to thicken; Place in a bowl, cover and refrigerate; Cut up the 1 orange into thin slices and then in half; Set aside for garnish.
• YANGZHOU VEGETABLE FRIED RICE INSTRUCTIONS:.
• Add a little oil in a frying pan and scramble eggs until done; shred into thin pieces; Set aside; In a wok add 3 or more tablespoons vegetable oil; Add garlic and when it starts to sizzle add the cold rice.
• Stir fry constantly to coat the rice with the oil about 3-5 minutes; Then add the stock and soy sauce; continue to stir fry about 3-5 minutes.
• Next add zucchini & squash, pea pods and stir fry a 3 minutes; Next add scallions, shredded eggs, a little more soy sauce to taste, sesame oil and stir fry a few minutes more;Place in a large microwave dish, cover and set aside.
• PUT IT ALL TOGETHER:.
• Step A- Make the Brown Rice.
• Step B- Make the Sabra Sauce.
• Step C- Make the Yangzhou Fried Rice.
• Step D- In the microwave oven heat up the Duck (or other poultry of your choice) and keep warm.
• Step E- In the microwave oven heat up the Sabra Sauce and keep warm.
• Step F- Using a large platter or individual plates, place the Fried Rice in the center of the plate; Over the rice add the Duck (or poultry) and drizzle with the Sabra Sauce.
• Step G- Garnish with Orange Slices.
• Step H- Have a side dish (or individual dishes) of Sabra Sauce for guests to use.
• Note: All components of this recipe can be made in advance and then simply re-heated when ready to serve; Further, you can also add some green & red peppers to the fried rice if you prefer. Also, a side dish of mixed Mediterranean vegetables and Moong Bean Dahl, would make this a more complete International meal.
• Enjoy!