Simmered Deep Fried Duck Recipes

DEEP-FRIED STEAMED WEST LAKE DUCK

Steps:

• 1. Soak dried mushrooms. 2. Wipe duck inside and out with a damp cloth. Dry well with paper toweling or hang up to dry in a cool, airy place 1 to 2 hours. 3. Rub duck lightly with soy sauce. Then truss (see HOW-TO, _Poultry: To truss). 4. Heat oil to boiling. Using a wire basket or long-handled Chinese strainer, gently lower in duck and deep-fry, basting and turning, until golden. Drain quickly. Rinse in a pan of cold water and drain again. Untie duck. 5. Transfer bird to a large heatproof bowl. Dice giblets slice ginger root and add, along with star anise. Combine sherry, salt, honey and remaining soy sauce and pour over. Meanwhile boil water in another pan, and also pour over duck. 6. Steam by the bowl-in-a-pot method until duck is done, but stil1 firm (about 1 3/4 hours). See HOW-TO, _Steaming. 7. Remove duck and let cool. Bone then cut meat in bite-size squares, each with a piece of skin. Strain duck liquid, skimming off fat. 8. Return duck squares, skin-side up, to heatproof bowl. Add strained duck liquid and steam 15 minutes more. 9. Meanwhile shred bamboo shoots, celery and soaked mushrooms. In a saucepan, bring remaining duck liquid to a boil. Add shredded vegetables and simmer, covered, 10 minutes. 10. Cut smoked ham in strips. Chop Chinese parsley. Blend cornstarch and cold water to a paste and stir into duck liquid to thicken. Pour over duck squares and serve, garnished with ham strips and chopped parsley. NOTE: This recipe can be made with chicken as well as duck. VARIATIONS: * In step 5, omit the seasonings given and pour over duck and giblets the following mixture: 1 1/2 cups stock 1 slice fresh ginger root and 1 clove garlic, both minced and 1 cup canned button mushrooms. Also omit the water. * In step 10, arrange duck squares on a serving platter over 1 head lettuce, shredded or over 1 pound of any of the following: asparagus, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, mushrooms, mustard greens, onions or spinach. (These must be stir-fried first.) The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.

SIMMERED DEEP-FRIED DUCK

Steps:

• 1. Wipe duck inside and out with a damp cloth. Disjoint and place in a heavy pan with cold water to cover. Bring to a boil and simmer, covered, 40 minutes. 2. Meanwhile blanch, toast and sliver almonds. Drain canned mushrooms. Shred lettuce and arrange on a serving platter. 3. Drain duck, reserving liquid. Let bird cool slightly then bone and cut meat in 1/2-inch squares, each with some skin. Skim fat off duck liquid. 4. Beat eggs lightly. Mix to a smooth batter with cornstarch, water, salt and pepper. Dip duck squares in batter to coat. 5. Heat oil. Add coated duck squares, a few at a time, and deep-fry until golden. Drain on paper toweling. Arrange on lettuce bed. 6. Reheat duck broth. Add canned mushrooms and remaining salt and pepper. Meanwhile blend remaining cornstarch and cold water to a paste, then stir in to thicken. Pour sauce over duck squares and serve, garnished with almonds. VARIATION: * Leave the duck whole. In step 1, add to pan 1/2 tablespoon salt 3 tablespoons soy sauce 1 scallion 2 slices fresh ginger root 1 garlic clove, crushed and 2 cloves star anise. Simmer 1 1/2 hours. Drain and cool then chop bird, bones and all, in 2-inch sections. Dry and deep-fry without batter. Serve hot with a pepper-salt mix (see Seasonings and Sauces, Basic Pepper-Salt Mix). The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.