Whole Duck with Green Peppercorn Glaze
- 1 (5 1/2-pound) whole Long Island duck
- Salt
- 6 cups water
- 1 cup light soy sauce, divided
- 1/3 cup honey, plus 1/4 cup
- 1 (3/4-ounce) can green peppercorns in brine, about 2 tablespoons
- 1/4 cup champagne vinegar
- 2 tablespoons dry Marsala
- Preheat an oven to 500 degrees F and arrange the oven rack in the center of the oven.
- Remove the innards of the duck and reserve them for another use, or discard.
- Remove any loose pockets of fat surrounding the cavity.
- Season the inside of the duck with salt.
- In a pot large enough to hold the duck, combine the water, 3/4 cup of the soy sauce and 1/3 cup of honey.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over low heat.
- Add in the brine from the green peppercorns, lower the heat and submerge the duck, breast side down, into the pot.
- Let it simmer 30 seconds, basting the top side with the liquid.
- Remove the duck and arrange it, breast side down, in a roasting pan fitted with a rack that elevates it off the bottom of the pan.
- The rack will allow hot air to circulate around it as it cooks.
- (Cook's note: Ideally, the duck should sit overnight to allow the flavors to meld with the meat and for the skin to dry out.
- This will mean a crispier skin, once the duck is cooked.)
- Put the roasting pan into the oven and turn the temperature down to 400 degrees F. Allow about 15 minutes roasting time for each pound of duck.
- Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, remove the pan from the oven, then flip the duck.
- Using a turkey baster, remove the excess fat from the bottom of the roasting pan and transfer it to a heatproof liquid measuring cup.
- Return the duck to the oven and cook for another 45 minutes to1 hour, depending upon the size of your duck.
- Meanwhile, in a medium pot, combine the champagne vinegar with the remaining 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup honey, Marsala and the reserved green peppercorns.
- Bring the ingredients to a boil over high heat.
- Lower the heat and simmer gently, allowing the glaze to reduce and the flavors to blend.
- Taste for seasoning.
- Allow it to cook until all the flavors meld together.
- Remove the duck from the oven and baste it with the drippings in the bottom of the pan.
- The duck should register about 150 F when an instant-read thermometer is inserted into the thigh meat.
- Transfer it to a platter and pour half of the glaze over the breast and thigh meat.
- Reserve the remaining glaze for plating.
- Allow the bird to "rest" for about 15 minutes.
- Carve the duck and arrange on a serving platter.
- Season the flesh, with salt, if desired, and top with remaining glaze.
- (Chef's Note: Reserve any fat that accumulated at the bottom of the pan.
- I use that duck fat like oil or butter for cooking.
- It's delicious!)
salt, water, soy sauce, honey, green, champagne vinegar, marsala
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alexandra-guarnaschelli/whole-duck-with-green-peppercorn-glaze-recipe.html (may not work)