One of the festive common dishes is roast duck. Even if you take any everyday recipe and replace the usual chicken with this bird, you will have a more delicious and solemn version of the classic dinner. Duck is very different in taste from chicken, because its meat is more juicy and tender. If you bake it correctly, it will be covered with brown skin, which will be pleasantly crispy. The most interesting thing is that this bird looks very beautiful, while it is prepared quite simply. How to cook a duck in the oven and how to choose it?
Commercially available young ducklings are an ideal choice for baking whole. Such carcasses are always small in size, they have a delicate aroma, and at the same time they cook quite quickly. It is such a duck that can be baked whole so that a crisp is present on top, and tender meat melts in the mouth.
To ensure a pleasant taste, you must be sure to completely remove excess fat from the carcass. Even though cooked duck fat can be very tasty, too much of it will make the bird very wet. In addition, the duck should be baked slowly, over low heat, adding to it any seasonings of your choice. If you place in a baking sheet finely chopped potatoes under the carcass, it will be saturated with fat and meat juices. So you get both the main dish and a delicate side dish. That is why we cook a duck in the oven with potatoes when there is no time for a long preparation of treats. But this version is far from the only one.
Roasted duck with vegetables is a wonderful dinner. In addition to the usual potatoes, you can diversify recipes and add the most unusual ingredients to the bird. In addition, the marinade can also be very different - it all depends on your preferences. It also matters what kind of bird you want to cook - domestic or wild. In the latter case, the marinade should be more piquant and aromatic in order to interrupt the specific smell of game. Below are some original recipes on how to cook duck in the oven.
Option with chestnuts and chorizo
Duck with vegetables is a well-known and classic combination in cooking. For this recipe you will need more chestnuts and chorizo, as well as some red wine. Below it is suggested to use savoy cabbage, carrots and celery as a side dish, but you can take any vegetables. All this will allow you to get an original fragrant dish. This cooking method is perfect for game, as it involves the use of a large number of spices.
Also remember that you need a really hot oven, around 230 ° C, so warm it thoroughly before you start cooking. How to cook duck in the oven using this method?
There is no strict list of ingredients in this recipe. First of all, put a tablespoon of spiced oil and onion cut into halves inside the bird carcass. How to make spiced butter? One option is to mix it with sage and thyme, several crushed juniper berries, salt and pepper. In addition to stuffing the duck with this mixture, rub it well over its entire surface. Put the carcass in a baking dish with high edges.
Combine chestnuts, chorizo and savoy cabbage with chopped onions, fry over low heat with a pinch of salt for about 10 minutes. Then add the diced carrots and celery, 2 bay leaves and a few twigs of thyme and continue to fry for another ten minutes. After about 5 minutes, place the finely chopped clove of garlic. The mixture should be soft and aromatic.
At this point, you can put the duck in the oven. You should bake it for 20 minutes. Once the bird is covered with a crust, pour it with the juice of half an orange and add as much red wine. At what temperature do you cook the duck in the oven further? Reduce the oven setting to 150 degrees. Continue to bake the bird, pouring it with melted juice, counting on 20 minutes for every 0.5 kg of weight. 5 minutes before cooking, lay the fried cabbage, chorizo and chestnut mixture around the duck. When the bird is ready, take it out and cover with foil for 5 minutes. Finally, slice and serve with vegetables or boiled potatoes.
Baked duck under the press
Many people love roast duck. Crispy peel and juicy meat are the perfect cooking result. However, this is not always possible to achieve. If the bird gets crisp, inside it may be too dry and stiff. If it turns out to make a juicy duck, it is not always possible to perfectly fry it on top. How to do it right? How to cook duck in the oven? A simple recipe is as follows.
There is an original method, which involves cutting the carcass in half and baking it under pressure. For spiciness and aroma, this recipe uses an Asian Teriyaki-based spice mix with a touch of citrus. This allows you to achieve a spicy and at the same time sweet taste of meat. As a press, you can use clean bricks or cobblestones wrapped in cling film.
The easiest way to cut a duck is to lay it down on a cutting board and cut it along the spine. Marinate the bird for at least four hours, ideally during the night. You will need the following:
- 250 ml teriyaki sauce;
- 150 ml of soy sauce;
- zest from one orange;
- juice of half an orange;
- one clove of garlic, minced;
- 1 teaspoon of honey;
- 2-3 small duck carcasses cut in half;
- two tablespoons of fat or duck fat.
How to cook duck in teriyaki sauce?
As mentioned above, prepare the marinade and place the bird in it for at least 4 hours. Then start by preheating the oven to 160 degrees. Put foil-wrapped bricks or clean cobblestones in it to heat them.
On a stove, heat a cast iron skillet or roasting pan over medium heat. Add two tablespoons of lard or duck fat and let them warm. Season the duck halves with salt and pepper, then put the skin up in hot fat and let fry for two to three minutes. Remove the skin and continue to fry for another three to four minutes, and then place the pre-heated bricks directly on the halves of the carcasses. Such a press increases the area of contact with the hot pan, accelerating the cooking process. Now cook the duck in the oven. The recipe looks like this: put the frying pan with the press in the oven. Bake for about 30-40 minutes.
Duck in oranges and apples in foil
Using foil helps to avoid overdrying the meat. For the same purpose, you can use the culinary sleeve, its principle of operation is similar. Traditional oranges and apples are used in this recipe to add flavor and aroma. In total, this option will require:
- duck - 1 medium carcass;
- olive oil - 3 1/3 tablespoons (50 ml);
- apple - 1 large;
- onion - 2 tablespoons of chopped finely chopped;
- garlic - 2 tablespoons chopped;
- black pepper;
- paprika;
- rosemary;
- orange juice - from 1 fruit;
- white wine - 1 glass;
- mustard - 1 teaspoon;
- honey - 2 tablespoons of tablespoons.
Cooking duck in the oven in foil
Wash the peeled duck and wipe. Peel and finely chop the apple. Then add wine, onion, garlic, orange juice and other marinade products to it. Cover the bird with this mixture inside and out. Leave for a while to absorb the aromas. Next, cook the duck in the oven in a sleeve or foil. This is done very simply: wrap the duck in foil or place it in a sleeve and bake at 180 ° C for about 2 hours. The calculation of the time how much to cook the duck in the oven in the sleeve depends on the size and weight of the carcass. On average, you will need about 50 minutes per kilogram of meat.
Finally, cut the foil or sleeve, cover the bird with a small amount of the marinade in which it was prepared, and bake until a delicious crust appears. Serve with fresh vegetable garnish.
Roasted duck in aromatic herbs
According to this recipe, a long preparation of the bird is expected, about five hours. During this time, it turns out to achieve a gentle juicy meat soaked in aromas of herbs. In total, this simple recipe on how to cook duck in the oven requires the following:
- 1 duck weighing 2.5-3 kg;
- coarse sea salt;
- ground pepper;
- 3 cloves of garlic, slightly chopped;
- 1 large bunch of fresh thyme, divided into three parts;
- 1 large onion, peeled and cut in half;
- 1 sprig of rosemary;
- 2 to 3 sage leaves.
How to make a spicy duck?
Pour enough cold water into a large container to cover the duck. Add about a quarter cup of salt and mix until dissolved. Remove the insides of the duck and place the carcass in salted solution for 20-30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 110 degrees. While the duck is being soaked, line the bottom and sides of the baking dish with foil. Further, a simple recipe on how to cook duck in the oven looks like this.
Remove the bird from the water, rinse and wipe. Trim the tips of the wings, tailbone and hanging excess skin. Remove excess fat from the cavity and neck. Rub the whole carcass with sea salt and pepper. Put 1 clove of garlic, a third of a bunch of thyme and half the onion inside. Then add a second garlic clove, rosemary, sage and a second third of thyme. On top of everything, place the second half of the onion, the remaining garlic and thyme. Place the duck breast-down in a foil-lined mold, place in the oven and bake for 1 hour.
Then remove the mold from the oven and drain all the fat into a separate container. Return the duck to the oven and bake for another hour. Drain the fat again, turn the bird upside down, return to the oven and cook for another hour. Then drain the fat again and set the duck to cook for 4 hours.
Raise the oven temperature to 180 degrees. Remove the duck from the mold and drain the fat for the last time. Remove the foil, put the bird back on the pan and fry for the last hour (5th hour).
Strain all drained fat at this time. You can save it in the refrigerator or immediately fry potatoes on it for a side dish.
Remove the duck from the oven. Cover with foil and let stand for 30 minutes. Cut into pieces and serve.
Classic stuffed duck
The whole roast duck looks very beautiful, so it is often cooked for a festive table. And if you add sour green apples and sweet honey icing to it, you will get a surprisingly delicate and fragrant dish. How to cook duck in the oven with these ingredients? For a classic bird with apples you will need:
- 1 medium duck carcass;
- one and a half tablespoons of tea salt;
- teaspoon of pepper;
- 1/2 teaspoon tea garlic powder;
- 1/2 teaspoon of paprika;
- 5 small sour apples;
- 1/4 cup honey;
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice;
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
Cooking a duck in the oven with apples: step by step instructions
In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika. Remove the inside of the duck, then wash and dry it. Rub the inside and outside of the carcass with a mixture of spices and salt.
Wash the apples and cut them in half, fill them with duck. Then sew the carcass with kitchen thread or secure with wooden skewers.
Place the bird in the roasting pan with the breast up. How long does it take to cook a duck in the oven? Mix honey, orange and lemon juice, thereby preparing the glaze. Pour the mixture with this mixture and set to bake 180 degrees for an hour.
Then turn the bird breast-down, glaze it and fry for another hour. Remove from the oven, pour the remaining icing on it and let it soak for about 20 minutes before serving.
Duck with rice and apples
Duck meat, unlike any other, is especially juicy and tender. That is why brown rice works great as a filling, as it easily absorbs fatty juices. And if you add sour apples, you get a pleasant, delicate taste. This recipe requires the following components:
- 1 medium duck;
- 1 cup mayonnaise;
- 6 large cloves of garlic, crushed;
- 1/2 large onion, grated;
- garlic salt;
- sea salt;
- 3 cups boiled brown rice;
- 1 large green apple;
- 2 large carrots.
How to cook a bird with rice and apple?
Combine mayonnaise with garlic, onions and seasonings. Rinse the duck, pat dry with a paper towel. Rub the carcass with the prepared sauce and cover with plastic wrap. Leave in the fridge overnight.
Peel and chop the carrots into large pieces. Cut the apple into 8 pieces. Stuff the duck with rice. Place the carrots and apple slices inside the carcass, close to the skin. Thus, their aroma is quickly absorbed into the meat.
Bake the duck at 150 degrees for about 90 minutes until the bird turns golden brown. Remove as many apple and carrot slices as possible before serving. Serve hot by placing slices of vegetables from the filling next to it.
The same recipe can be used with turkey. The cooking process is completely identical. However, you must marinate it for at least three days in the refrigerator. To make sure that the turkey is juicy, bake it in foil or sleeve.