Best Whole Duck Recipes

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.

WHOLE-DUCK CASSOULET

Steps:

• Bring 5 quarts of water to a boil in a large saucepan and add the beans. Remove from heat and let soak for 1 hour.
• Cut the bacon slab into 4 large chunks and cover in water in another saucepan; turn the heat to medium, and when the water boils, turn it down to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 30 minutes.
• Make a bouquet garni by combining the parsley stems, thyme, bay leaves and whole cloves in a piece of cheesecloth and tying it into a bundle. (I never use cheesecloth myself but turn to my old tea ball, which is around for only this purpose.) Add it, along with the bacon, to the beans; bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Cook, skimming occasionally, until the beans are just tender, 45 to 90 minutes. (Add water if necessary; ideally the beans will be moist but not swimming when they're done.) Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
• Sprinkle the lamb with salt and pepper. Put 3 tablespoons reserved duck fat in a large pot over medium-high heat. When it's hot, add the lamb and brown the pieces well. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 5 or 6 minutes; turn off heat.
• Remove the duck confit from the refrigerator and scrape off the fat; debone and shred the meat. Add the meat and garlic cloves to the pot with the lamb, along with 2 cups duck stock, tomatoes, chopped garlic and cayenne. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer; cover. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the lamb is very tender, 1 to 1.5 hours. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
• When you're ready to assemble the cassoulet, discard the bouquet garni. Cut the fat from the meat and cut the meat into small pieces.
• Heat 2 tablespoons reserved duck fat in a medium skillet over medium-high heat, add the sausage and cook, turning as necessary until well browned; transfer to a cutting board and slice into quarter-inch rounds; don't wash out the pan.
• Heat the oven to 375. Transfer a layer of beans to a large enameled cast-iron pot with a slotted spoon to leave behind most of the cooking liquid. Layer half of the sausage and bacon on top, then another layer of beans, then half the duck-and-lamb mixture; repeat the layers until you have used all the beans and meat.
• Put the pot over medium heat and bring to a simmer, uncovered, then turn off heat. Cover with bread crumbs and chopped parsley leaves and bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
• While the cassoulet is in the oven, put the skillet used for cooking the sausage over medium-high heat. When it's hot, cook the duck breasts, skin-side down, until they release easily from the pan, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn and cook to rare, just another minute or 2. Remove the duck from the pan with a slotted spoon and pour the drippings from the pan over the cassoulet; reduce oven heat to 350.
• Bake the cassoulet until it's hot, bubbling and crusted around the edges, 30 to 40 minutes; add a little duck stock if it starts to look too dry. Slice the duck breasts on the diagonal and transfer them to the pot, tucking them into the bread crumbs. Cook until the breasts are medium rare, another 5 minutes or so, then serve.

WHOLE DUCK WITH GREEN PEPPERCORN GLAZE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 500 degrees F and arrange the oven rack in the center of the oven.
• Remove the innards of the duck and reserve them for another use, or discard. Remove any loose pockets of fat surrounding the cavity. Season the inside of the duck with salt.
• In a pot large enough to hold the duck, combine the water, 3/4 cup of the soy sauce and 1/3 cup of honey. Bring the mixture to a simmer over low heat. Add in the brine from the green peppercorns, lower the heat and submerge the duck, breast side down, into the pot. Let it simmer 30 seconds, basting the top side with the liquid. Remove the duck and arrange it, breast side down, in a roasting pan fitted with a rack that elevates it off the bottom of the pan. The rack will allow hot air to circulate around it as it cooks. (Cook's note: Ideally, the duck should sit overnight to allow the flavors to meld with the meat and for the skin to dry out. This will mean a crispier skin, once the duck is cooked.)
• Put the roasting pan into the oven and turn the temperature down to 400 degrees F. Allow about 15 minutes roasting time for each pound of duck. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, remove the pan from the oven, then flip the duck. Using a turkey baster, remove the excess fat from the bottom of the roasting pan and transfer it to a heatproof liquid measuring cup. Return the duck to the oven and cook for another 45 minutes to1 hour, depending upon the size of your duck.
• Meanwhile, in a medium pot, combine the champagne vinegar with the remaining 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup honey, Marsala and the reserved green peppercorns. Bring the ingredients to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat and simmer gently, allowing the glaze to reduce and the flavors to blend. Taste for seasoning. Allow it to cook until all the flavors meld together.
• Remove the duck from the oven and baste it with the drippings in the bottom of the pan. The duck should register about 150 F when an instant-read thermometer is inserted into the thigh meat. Transfer it to a platter and pour half of the glaze over the breast and thigh meat. Reserve the remaining glaze for plating. Allow the bird to "rest" for about 15 minutes. Carve the duck and arrange on a serving platter. Season the flesh, with salt, if desired, and top with remaining glaze.

WHOLE DUCK

Steps:

• For the Filling: After soaking rice overnight, drain out excess water. Steam, covered, over light heat until soft. Boil skinless chestnut in water until soft. In a large pan, saute shallots, ginger, Chinese sausage, and prosciutto, until shallots are soft and translucent. Add all remaining ingredients and spices. Mix well, making sure not to break the chestnuts. Stuff the duck. Sew back up tightly, wrap with string in 3 or 4 places.
• For the Marinade for the Duck: Mix all ingredients very well together.
• For the Duck: Pour boiling water over the entire duck. Remove and dry the duck. Rub the marinade into the skin and marinate 45 minutes turning frequently.
• To deep fry the duck, remove it from the marinade. Deep-fry in vegetable oil at 350 degrees F until golden brown.
• For the Wine and herb mixture, for steaming: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
• When duck is golden brown remove it from hot oil submerge it in the wine and herb mixture. Place the whole vessel, duck and wine into steamer. Then steam for 2 hours in a covered pan. Serve with winter melon.

WOOD-ROASTED WHOLE SONOMA DUCK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• For the duck: Rub the duck with the olive oil, season it well with salt and pepper and place in a roasting pan breast-side up. Roast for 15 minutes, then shake the pan to release the duck and roast another 25 minutes. At this point, turn the duck onto the breast so it can baste in its own rendered fat. Roast another 25 minutes, then turn the duck again onto its back and cook for another 15 to 20 minutes. The duck skin should be golden brown and a thermometer placed in the thigh meat should register an internal temperature of 135 degrees F. Remove the duck from the pan, reserving the fat in the pan. Let the duck rest for 10 minutes, then slice into 8 pieces: 2 legs, 2 thighs, 2 wings and 2 breasts.
• For the Cabernet sauce: In a medium skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the duck neck and chicken thighs, skin-side down, and saute until golden brown and the fat has rendered, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, add the butter followed by the onions, garlic and shallots. Saute until translucent, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the cognac and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the Cabernet Sauvignon and bring to a simmer. Add the duck neck, chicken thighs, bay leaves, sage, thyme, parsley, chives and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
• For the mushroom ragu: In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add the mushrooms and cook gently for 7 to 8 minutes; season with sea salt and cracked black pepper. Then add the sherry, garlic, onion and half of the scallions and cook for 4 minutes. Add the ginger, 2 tablespoons butter and the remaining scallions and cook another 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.
• For the radishes: Put the radishes in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, add salt and cook until the radishes are just tender. Drain.
• In a separate saucepan over medium heat, add the poached radishes and 1 tablespoon of the rendered duck fat and saute until golden, 7 to 8 minutes. Check for seasoning.
• For serving: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Reheat the duck meat on a sheet tray until warmed through, about 4 minutes. Place the mushroom ragu and radishes on a platter. Cut each breast into four pieces and place on a platter with the thighs and legs. Top with the Cabernet sauce.

WHOLE ROASTED DUCK

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.
• Wash and dry duck, then "groom" it by removing any remaining feathers and quills with tweezers or needlenose pliers. Tie legs together using string, then tuck wings under body to secure.
• Combine all remaining ingredients except water and flour in a large sealable plastic bag and add duck. Marinate, chilled, 1 hour.
• Transfer duck to a 13- by 9- by 3-inch roasting pan and reserve marinade. Roast 15 minutes. Meanwhile, pour 3/4 cup marinade through a sieve into a 1-quart saucepan and discard remainder. Boil 1 minute and baste duck with marinade. Continue to roast duck until thermometer registers 155°F when inserted in meaty part of a thigh or 160°F in breast (do not touch bone), 15 to 20 minutes more.
• While duck continues to roast, add 1 cup water to marinade in saucepan and bring to a boil. Put flour in a heatproof bowl and whisk in 1/4 cup marinade until smooth. Whisk flour mixture into remaining marinade in saucepan until combined well. Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until thick enough to coat back of a spoon, about 3 minutes. Keep warm over low heat, stirring occasionally.
• Remove duck from oven and let stand 10 minutes before carving. (Duck will continue to cook, reaching 160°F at leg and 165°F at breast.)
• Serve duck with sauce.

WHOLE DUCK CASSOULET

Steps:

• the meat and cut the meat into small pieces. 7. Heat 2 tablespoons reserved duck fat in a medium skillet over medium-high heat, add the sausage and cook, turning as necessary until well browned; transfer to a cutting board and slice into quarter-inch rounds; don't wash out the pan. 8. Heat the oven to 375. Transfer a layer of beans to a large enameled cast-iron pot with a slotted spoon to leave behind most of the cooking liquid. Layer half of the sausage and bacon on top, then another layer of beans, then half the duck-and-lamb mixture; repeat the layers until you have used all the beans and meat. 9. Put the pot over medium heat and bring to a simmer, uncovered, then turn off heat. Cover with bread crumbs and chopped parsley leaves and bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes. 10. While the cassoulet is in the oven, put the skillet used for cooking the sausage over medium-high heat. When it's hot, cook the duck breasts, skin-side down, until they release easily from the pan, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn and cook to rare, just another minute or 2. Remove the duck from the pan with a slotted spoon and pour the drippings from the pan over the cassoulet; reduce oven heat to 350. 11. Bake the cassoulet until it's hot, bubbling and crusted around the edges, 30 to 40 minutes; add a little duck stock if it starts to look too dry. Slice the duck breasts on the diagonal and transfer them to the pot, tucking them into the bread crumbs. Cook until the breasts are medium rare, another 5 minutes or so, then serve.

CITRUS-RUBBED WHOLE DUCK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Zest oranges and lemons and chop zest finely.
• Squeeze juice from oranges and lemons.
• In a small bowl combine zest, juice, pepper and salt.
• Rub duck, inside and out, with all of the citrus-pepper mixture.
• In a roasting pan set duck on a vertical roaster and cook about 2 1/2 hours, or until well-browned and crispy.
• Let rest, loosely covered with foil, 10 minutes before carving.

WHOLE-DUCK CASSOULET

Steps:

• Boil 5 quarts of water and add the beans. Remove from heat and soak for 1 hour. Make a bouquet garni with the parsley stems, thyme, bay leaves and cloves. Add it, along with the bacon, to the beans; bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Cook, skimming occasionally, until the beans are just tender, 45 to 90 minutes. Taste and adjust. Salt and pepper the lamb. Put 3 tbsp duck fat in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the lamb and brown well. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 5 or 6 minutes; turn off heat. Add the confit and garlic to the pot with the lamb, along with 2 cups stock, tomatoes, garlic and cayenne. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer; cover. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the lamb is very tender, 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Taste and adjust. Discard the bouquet garni. Cut fat from bacon and cut the meat into small pieces. Heat 2 tablespoons reserved duck fat in a medium skillet over medium-high heat, add the sausage and cook, turning, until well browned; transfer and slice into quarter-inch rounds; don't wash out the pan. Heat the oven to 375. Transfer a layer of beans to a large enameled cast-iron pot with a slotted spoon to leave behind most of the cooking liquid. Layer half of the sausage and bacon on top, then beans, then half the duck-and-lamb; repeat. Put the pot over medium heat and bring to a simmer, uncovered, then turn off heat. Cover with parsley and bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Put the skillet over medium-high heat. When it's hot, cook the duck breasts, skin-side down, until they release easily, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn and cook to rare, 1-2 min. Remove the duck, and pour the drippings over the cassoulet; reduce oven heat to 350. Bake the cassoulet until it's bubbling and crusted around the edges, 30 to 40 min; add a little stock if needed. Slice the duck breasts and transfer them to the pot. Cook until the breasts are medium rare, another 5 minutes or so, then serve.

WHOLE DUCK MARINATED IN SOY SAUCE-CILANTRO-GINGER-JALAPENO-GARLIC AND BROWN SUGAR

Steps:

• Mix together the soy sauce, ginger, sugar, garlic, jalapenos and cilantro in a large container. Submerge the ducks in the marinade and marinate in the refrigerator for 72 hours.
• Preheat charcoal embers in a gas grill, or prepare an electric grill for indirect/low heat. Remove the ducks from the marinade and spear with metal churrasco swords or large metal skewers. Cook over embers, turning frequently, for 4 hours.

CITRUS-RUBBED WHOLE DUCK

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 2. Zest oranges and lemons and chop zest finely.
• 3. Squeeze juice from oranges and lemons.
• 4. In a small bowl combine zest, juice, pepper and salt.
• 5. Rub duck, inside and out, with all of the citrus-pepper mixture.
• 6. In a roasting pan set duck on a vertical roaster and cook about 2 1/2 hours, or until well-browned and crispy.
• 7. Let rest, loosely covered with foil, 10 minutes before carving.

WHOLE WHEAT SPAGHETTI WITH DUCK SAUCE

Steps:

• Place dried porcini mushrooms in medium bowl. Add 2 cups hot water. Let porcini stand until softened, about 30 minutes. Drain porcini; reserve soaking liquid. Coarsely chop porcini.
• Heat oil in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add duck meat and bones. Sauté until golden, about 8 minutes. Drain off all but 1 tablespoon fat. Add onions and pancetta. Sauté until golden, about 5 minutes. Add chicken livers and porcini and sauté 2 minutes. Add bay leaves, rosemary and cloves; sauté 5 minutes. Add wine and simmer until almost all liquid evaporates, stirring often, about 4 minutes. Mix in tomato paste. Add broth and reserved mushroom soaking liquid, leaving any sediment in bowl. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until meat is tender, about 1 hour.
• Discard bones, bay leaves, rosemary and cloves from sauce. Skim any fat from surface. Simmer sauce until thickened to sauce consistency, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead; chill. Bring to simmer before using.)
• Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain well. Transfer pasta to large bowl.
• Spoon half of duck sauce over pasta. Toss pasta briefly to coat. Spoon remaining duck sauce over. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.