Live: This Peking duck recipe will leave you speechless

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.

Visit an ancient roast duck restaurant in Beijing.

Meet the master chef, Master Wall, who is in charge of all roast duck.

Observe ducks hung in the kitchen, already dressed and prepared at a separate location.

Learn that the ducks are plucked, boiled, and cleaned of entrails before being prepared for roasting.

Understand that ducks are fed a variety of feeds including carbs and proteins for about 42 days to reach a weight of approximately 12 pounds.

Note that an incision is made to remove entrails and offals, and the ducks are cleaned thoroughly.

Discover the use of a metal ring at the bottom of the duck to allow excess fat to leak out during cooking, making it a healthier dish.

Learn that the duck is washed in maltose syrup to marinate and enhance flavor, and to achieve a golden brown, crispy skin.

Understand that the ducks are hung to dry for hours to remove excess water, contributing to the crispy texture of the skin.

Use a wood-burning oven fueled by non-smoky wood from the Chinese date tree, peach tree, pear tree, or persimmon tree to roast the duck.

Observe the careful process of hanging the duck inside the oven without touching any surfaces beforehand.

Learn about the oven's design, which allows for the hanging of up to 20 ducks and requires skill to place the duck correctly inside.

Control the fire in the oven by adjusting bricks to manage oxygen intake and heat levels.

Recognize that experience plays a key role in determining when the duck is ready, indicated by the skin turning a crimson shade.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens