Peking Duck is a traditional Chinese dish that is well-known for its sweet and savory taste, crispy skin, and moist meat. The dish is served with thin pancakes, scallions, and hoisin sauce. This recipe requires the use of a whole duck, along with various ingredients such as honey, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic. The duck is marinated, roasted, and served in small pieces, accompanied with scallions, hoisin sauce, and pancakes. This mouthwatering and iconic dish is perfect for special occasions or family dinners, and this step-by-step guide will help you prepare your own Peking Duck recipe.
Peking Duck: The Iconic and Mouthwatering Chinese Delight
Peking Duck is a Chinese dish that dates back to the imperial era of China. It is known for its crispy skin, moist and tender meat, and its combination of sweet and savory flavors. Traditionally, it is served with thin pancakes, scallions, and hoisin sauce. Here is a step-by-step guide for making your own Peking Duck.
Ingredients:
- 1 whole duck (about 5-6 lbs)
- 4 cups water
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Step 2: Prepare the duck
- Remove the giblets from the duck.
- Rinse and pat dry the duck with paper towels.
- Using a fork or a bamboo skewer, prick the skin all over the duck. This will help the fat to render and the skin to crisp up.
Step 3: Make the marinade
- In a saucepan, combine the water, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly to dissolve the honey and hoisin sauce.
- Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool to room temperature.
Step 4: Marinate the duck
- Place the duck in a large roasting pan.
- Pour the marinade over the duck, coating it all over.
- Cover the pan with foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Step 5: Roast the duck
- Remove the duck from the marinade and discard the marinade.
- Place the duck on a wire rack in a roasting pan.
- Roast the duck for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and golden brown.
Step 6: Serve the duck
- Remove the duck from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Carve the duck into small pieces, separating the skin from the meat.
- Place some scallions and hoisin sauce on a thin pancake and add a piece of crispy skin and meat.
- Roll up the pancake and enjoy!
Tips:
- If you want an even crispier skin, you can hang the duck overnight in a cool, dry place to dry out the skin.
- Make sure to prick the skin all over the duck to help the fat render and the skin to crisp up.
- You can also serve the duck with plum sauce instead of hoisin sauce.
Conclusion:
Peking Duck is a delicious and iconic Chinese dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a family dinner. This step-by-step guide will help you make your own Peking Duck that is crispy, flavorful, and mouthwatering. Serve it with thin pancakes, scallions, and hoisin sauce for an authentic Chinese experience.