Deep Fried Steamed Eight Precious Duck Recipes

DEEP-FRIED STEAMED EIGHT PRECIOUS DUCK

Steps:

• 1. Separately soak glutinous rice, dried oysters, dried scallops and shrimp. 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 then rub with soy sauce. 3. Dice fresh mushrooms. Mince smoked ham, Chinese sausage, crabmeat and water chestnuts also soaked oysters, scallops and shrimp. Mix well with soaked glutinous rice, sherry, salt, sugar and garlic powder. 4. Heat oil to boiling. Using a wire basket or long-handled Chinese strainer, gently lower in duck and deep-fry, turning and basting, until golden. Drain. Rinse in a pan of cold water and drain again. 5. Stuff duck with glutinous rice mixture. Sew up securely or skewer. Transfer bird to a large heatproof bowl and pour stock over. Steam by the bowl-in-a-pot method until tender (about 1 1/2 hours). See HOW-TO, _Steaming. 6. Parboil green peas. Cut lettuce in strips and arrange on a serving platter. 7. Let duck cool slightly then chop, bones and all, in 2-inch sections or carve Western-style. Arrange on lettuce bed and garnish with green peas. VARIATIONS: * For the green peas, substitute Chinese parsley. * For the sugar, substitute honey. * For the stuffing, substitute the following mixture: 1/2 cup glutinous rice (soaked) 2 tablespoons barley (soaked) 6 dried apricots 12 chestnuts, blanched and shelled 12 ginkgo nuts, shelled 1/4 cup canned lotus seeds 1 tablespoon dried dragon's eye (soaked) 1/2 cup water chestnuts, diced 1 scallion stalk, minced 2 tablespoons sherry 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon salt. The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.

EIGHT PRECIOUS DUCK

Steps:

• 1. Separately soak glutinous rice and dried mushrooms. Blanch and shell chestnuts, ginkgo nuts and lotus seeds. 2. Bring water to a boil. Add soaked rice and simmer, covered, 5 minutes, then drain. Rinse under cold running water and drain again. 3. Dice pork, ham and bamboo shoots shell and dice shrimp dice chestnuts and mushrooms. Combine in a bowl with cooked rice. Add soy sauce, sherry, ginkgo nuts and lotus seeds. 4. Wipe duck inside and out with a damp cloth then stuff rice mixture into cavity, and sew up securely or skewer. Truss bird (see Seasonings and Sauces, _Poultry: To truss). Place duck in a heavy pan. 5. Cut scallion stalk in 1-inch sections slice ginger root. Add to pan along with stock, salt, remaining soy sauce and sherry. 6. Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, 1 hour, turning duck several times for even cooking and coloring. Add sugar and simmer 1 hour more. 7. Scoop out rice stuffing and arrange on a serving dish. Chop duck, bones and all, in 1- to 2-inch sections, or carve Western-style. Arrange over stuffing and serve. NOTE: This dish, sometimes called Eight Jewel Duck, can also be eaten cold. It will keep about a week in the refrigerator. VARIATION: * For the glutinous rice, substitute pearl barley. Bring to a boil in 2 cups cold water, then cook, covered, until soft (about 20 minutes). Drain, rinse in cold water and drain again. The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.

BASIC STEAMED DEEP-FRIED DUCK

Steps:

• 1. Wipe duck inside and out with a damp cloth. Rub liberally with salt and pepper. Let stand 1 hour. 2. Place bird in a deep, heatproof bowl and steam 1 1/2 to 2 hours by the bowl-in-a-pot method (see HOW-TO, _Steaming). 3. Drain duck and let cool. Wipe dry, 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 on paper toweling. 5. Let duck cool slightly, then chop, bones and all, in bite-size pieces. Serve with scallion brushes (see HOW-TO, _Onion Brushes: To make), a plum or hoisin sauce dip, or any other dip for deep-fried duck (see Seasonings and Sauces, Deep-Fried Duck Dip). NOTE: The technique of double-frying can be used here. In step 4, deep-fry the duck 5 minutes, lift out reheat the oil. Then return the bird and deep-fry again until crisp and golden. VARIATIONS: * In step 1, rub duck with any of the following mixtures: 2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon anise pepper and 1/8 teaspoon Five Spices 2 tablespoons sherry, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon brown bean sauce, mashed and 1/2 teaspoon Five Spices 1 to 2 scallion stalks and 3 or 4 slices fresh ginger root, both minced 1 tablespoon Szechwan peppercorns, crushed and 2 teaspoons salt * In step 2, before steaming, add to bowl with duck 2 scallion stalks and 2 or 3 slices fresh ginger root. * In step 3, before trussing duck, coat with a mixture of 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 1 tablespoon soy sauce or 3 tablespoons flour and 1 egg, lightly beaten. The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.

STEAMED AND CRISPED DUCK

Steps:

• In small bowl, mix all ingredients except duck. Rub mixture on duck, inside and out. Put duck in dish, breast side down. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate overnight.
• The next day, take duck out of refrigerator, and let it warm to room temperature. Place duck on steamer tray or rack small enough to fit into a wok. Fill wok with water up to bottom edge of tray; bring to boil. Place tray over boiling water, cover with lid or foil and steam duck over high heat until extremely tender, for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Replenish boiling water when necessary.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Transfer duck to cutting board, and let cool. Quarter the duck. Heat large nonstick saute pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add duck pieces, skin side down; saute until skin begins to sizzle and brown, for about 1 minute. Reduce heat to low, and crisp skin for 5 to 7 minutes. Turn and brown other side. Turn again, cover and cook in oven until heated through, for about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer pieces to platter; serve.

STEAMED DEEP-FRIED PRESSED DUCK

Steps:

• 1. Blanch, toast and sliver almonds. 2. Wipe duck inside and out with a damp cloth. Combine soy sauce, salt and sugar and rub over duck skin. Pour remainder into duck cavity, swishing it around to coat the interior. Drain off excess and discard. 3. Put duck in a deep heatproof bowl. Cut celery in 3 or 4 pieces trim off scallion roots and arrange over duck. Steam 2 hours by the bowl-in-a-pot method (see HOW-TO, _Steaming). 4. Drain duck, reserving liquid for stock. Let bird cool slightly then bone, leaving skin and original shape intact (see HOW-TO, _Duck: To bone). Transfer duck to a large flat plate or cutting board. 5. With both hands, press down on duck, flattening it to a 3/4-inch thickness. Then sprinkle generously on both sides with cornstarch. Return bird to heatproof bowl and steam 30 minutes more. Let cool, then cut in quarters. 6. Heat oil to boiling. Add duck, one quarter at a time, and deep-fry until golden. Drain on paper toweling. Let cool slightly then cut bird in 1 1/2-inch squares, each with some skin. Keep warm. 7. In a saucepan, combine sugar, vinegar, catsup, hot sauce and remaining soy sauce and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring. Meanwhile blend remaining cornstarch and cold water to a paste, then stir in to thicken. 8. Shred lettuce and arrange on a serving platter with duck squares on top. Pour sauce over and serve, garnished with toasted almonds. NOTE: This dish is also known as War Shu Opp.The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.

DEEP-FRIED STEAMED DUCK WITH TARO ROOT

Steps:

• 1. 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 then rub with soy sauce. 2. Heat oil to boiling. Using a wire basket or long-handled Chinese strainer, gently lower in bird and deep-fry, basting and turning, until golden. Drain on paper toweling. Let cool then tie or securely sew up the neck opening. 3. Crush ginger root and mash red bean cheese mix well with stock, salt, sugar and star anise. 4. Trim off scallion roots and stem parsley, then put in duck cavity. Place bird tail-side up in a deep heatproof bowl, and pour ginger-bean cheese mixture into cavity. Sew up duck securely or skewer, then turn breast-side up. 5. Peel taro root, cut in 1-inch slices and arrange around duck. Steam by the bowl-in-a-pot method until done (about 1 1/2 hours). See HOW-TO, _Steaming. 6. Carefully transfer taro slices to a serving platter. Cut threads or un skewer duck cavity and let liquids drain into a saucepan. 7. Let duck cool slightly then chop, bones and all, in 2-inch sections or carve Western-style. Arrange over taro and keep warm. 8. Reheat duck liquids in saucepan. Meanwhile blend cornstarch and cold water to a paste, then stir in to thicken. Pour sauce over duck and serve. The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.