Authentic Chinese Roast Duck Food

AUTHENTIC CHINESE 5-SPICE PEKING DUCK

Steps:

• thaw duck overnight in refrigerator.
• remove giblets and trim excess fat from tail area or anywhere hanging.
• pierce chopstick or skewer under wing and bring through to other side to pierce through under the other wing on the other side in order to give you a way to dunk and hang duck. wings may be removed if desired.
• in large wok or pot bring water to a boil.
• add in ginger, vinegar, soy sauce, xiao xing, and honey and stir to dissolve honey completely.
• make a slurry with cornstarch (mix with water) then add to boiling mixture.
• dunk duck into boiling mixture and spoon liquid over duck for a couple of minutes making sure you completely moisten duck and render some fat.
• repeat process for another couple of minutes.
• immediately hang duck in cool room with a fan on high pointed directly on duck. make sure you put a pot or similar under duck to catch drippings.
• rotate duck to ensure even drying. should take about 5 hours. skin will become taunt and tight.
• after 4-6 hours, rub duck with 5-spice powder to taste.
• heat oven to 375 degrees.
• place duck onto roasting or cooling rack on middle or top rack of oven with a large pan filled with about 2 inches of water on bottom rack of a 375 degree oven. this will catch any drippings, keep your oven clean, and keep duck moist.
• roast uncovered for about 1-1 1/2 hours rotating it 2-3 times.
• check internal temperature for doneness. mine was perfect at 175 degrees in the breast. note that convection ovens will cook duck quite fast.
• remove duck and rest 10 minutes before serving whole or chopping Chinese style on the bone.

CHINESE NEW YEAR ROAST DUCK ROLLS

Steps:

• FOR THE PANCAKES: In large bowl and using fork, stir flour with 3/4 cup (175 mL) boiling water just until ragged dough forms. Turn out onto lightly floured surface; knead until no longer sticky, about 5 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap; let stand for 20 minutes. Knead until elastic, about 4 minutes.
• Shape dough into 16-inch (40 cm) log; with serrated knife, cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces.
• With rolling pin, roll each piece into (1/8)-inch (3 mm) thick round.
• Brush 1 side of 2 of the rounds with sesame oil; stack oiled sides together and roll out to 6-inch (15 cm) circle. Transfer to baking sheet; cover with damp towel. Repeat with remaining rounds.
• In large nonstick skillet, cook pancakes over medium heat until golden brown bubbles appear, about 2 minutes per side. Separate halves and place on tea towel; cover.
• (Make-ahead: Let cool, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2 weeks; thaw. Wrap in tea towel and reheat in steamer, about 5 minutes.).
• Marinade: In small bowl, cover tangerine rind with boiling water; let stand until softened, about 5 minutes. Drain and finely mince. In bowl, whisk together rind, rye, sugar, bean curd paste, soy sauce and five-spice powder; set aside.
• Duck: Rinse and pat duck dry inside and out. Spread marinade evenly in duck cavity. Place on rimmed baking sheet; cover and refrigerate for 12 hours. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate for up to 24 hours.).
• In stockpot, bring 20 cups (5 L) water to boil; add green onions, ginger and rice wine. Tie duck legs together in centre of 40-inch (101 cm) length of string. Holding duck by string ends, submerge in boiling water until skin is translucent, about 4 minutes. Reserving 2 tbsp (25 mL) cooking water, drain duck in colander. Remove string.
• Glaze: In bowl, whisk together honey, reserved cooking water and rice vinegar; set aside.
• Place duck, breast side up, on greased rack in roasting pan; refrigerate, uncovered, to dry for 1 hour. Brush duck evenly with some of the glaze; let dry in refrigerator for 2 hours. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate for up to 1 day.).
• Pour 1 cup (250 mL) water into roasting pan. Roast duck in pan in 400°F (200°C) oven for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°F (180°C); roast for 45 minutes, brushing with glaze 3 times.
• Gently loosen duck from rack and turn duck over; brush with remaining glaze. Roast until skin is crisp and browned, about 45 minutes; let cool enough to handle, about 30 minutes.
• With knife, slit skin along backbone. Using fingers, remove skin from duck starting at underside and finishing at breast. Cut meat into (1/8)-inch (3 mm) thick slices; cut skin into (1/8)-inch (3 mm) wide strips. Transfer to serving platter.
• Sauce: In small skillet, whisk together hoisin sauce, sugar and sesame oil; bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer until sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. (Make-ahead: Let cool; refrigerate in airtight container for up to 1 week.).
• Add pancakes, green onions and coriander to duck on platter. To eat, spread 1/2 tsp (2 mL) sauce over pancake; sprinkle evenly with coriander, green onions, duck skin and duck meat. Roll up. Serves 16.
• Canadian Living Magazine.

CANTONESE ROAST DUCK

Steps:

• Cut off duck's wing tips and 2nd joints.
• Combine bean sauce through anise and rub the inside of the duck with the mixture.
• Sew the neck and tail openings securely.
• Bring 6 cups water to a boil.
• Place duck on a rack in your sink and pour 3 cups boiling water over the breast; turn over and pour on the rest of the boiling water so that all parts of the duck have been exposed to boiling water.
• Pat the duck dry.
• Combine vinegar and honey with 1 cup water; heat, stirring to blend smoothly; brush duck all over with the mixture.
• Slip a loop of string around the duck's neck and hang in a dry place overnight.
• Pre-heat oven to 450°F.
• Put the duck back-side-down on a rack in a roasting pan and roast at 450°F 6-10 minutes until golden brown.
• Turn with a towel (NOT a fork).
• Roast 8-10 minutes longer, making sure the duck does not burn.
• Reduce heat to 350°F and turn the duck onto its back once more, tent with foil and roast 20 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 300°F; roast 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 250°F; roast until tender (if used, a meat thermometer stuck in thickest part of thigh should register almost 180°F).
• Now increase heat to 450°F, remove foil and roast 10 minutes.
• Remove from oven and serve hot.