The Perfect Holiday Dinner (Homemade Peking Duck)

duck

🥗Healthier: chicken

💰Cheaper: pork

Chicken is lower in fat, while pork can be more affordable.

hoisin sauce

🥗Healthier: plum sauce

💰Cheaper: soy sauce + sugar

Plum sauce offers a similar sweetness, while soy sauce + sugar is more accessible.

scallions

🥗Healthier: chives

💰Cheaper: green onions

Chives provide a similar mild onion flavor, while green onions are often less expensive.

pancakes

🥗Healthier: lettuce wraps

💰Cheaper: tortillas

Lettuce wraps reduce carbs, while tortillas can be more economical.

Inflate the duck skin using a bike pump to separate it from the meat.

Combine 4 tablespoons kosher salt, 2.5 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon chinese five spice, and 1.5 teaspoons ground sichuan peppercorns to create a seasoning mix.

Season the duck underneath the skin and in the cavity with the spice mix.

Boil 5 quarts of water and ladle it onto the duck skin to help render fat and tighten the skin.

Air dry the duck on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

In a saucepan, combine 2 cups water, 2 tablespoons chinese red vinegar, 1 tablespoon chinese black vinegar, 3 tablespoons shao xing wine, and 1/4 cup maltose; bring to a boil and reduce for 5 minutes.

Pour half the sauce over the duck and let it dry in the fridge overnight.

Preheat the oven to 250°F and prepare a tall boy can filled with water to use as a stand for the duck.

Roast the duck standing up in the oven for 1 hour and 10 minutes with the door slightly ajar for airflow.

To make pancakes, mix 1 cup hot water with 2 cups all-purpose flour, knead for 5 minutes, and let rest for 25 minutes.

Divide the dough into balls, roll into rectangles, and cut into circles using a 3-inch biscuit cutter.

Brush one dough circle with toasted sesame oil, stack another on top, and roll into a 6-inch disk; cook in a dry cast iron pan for 20 seconds on each side, then separate the pancakes while hot.

For the honey plum sauce, pit and chop 1 pound of fresh plums, add to a saucepan with 2 tablespoons fig boy honey, 1/4 cup rice vinegar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and 2 tablespoons shao xing wine; boil and cook for 7 minutes until syrupy.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens