Easy Crispy Peking Duck

Have you ever enjoyed Crispy Peking duck in a Chinese Restaurant and wanted to duplicate something similar at home? Well, this Peking Duck recipe is really easy to make, although the cooking time is around 3 hours so you need to think ahead.

I don’t know about anyone else but here in the USA, at least where we live in Southern California its very difficult to buy a whole duck for this recipe in a regular grocery store. However, there are now so many providers of meat and poultry this challenge is no more. My particular favorite is Wildforkfoods.com, their meat and seafood is top notch and delivered in a couple of days to you.

Ingredients for Crispy Peking Duck.

• 1 Whole Duck
• 1/2 an Orange
• 2 Star Anise
• 3 – 4 teaspoons of Chinese Five Spice
• 4 bruised Garlic Cloves
• 1/2 Cucumber cut into slim fingers
• 8 Spring (Green) Onions cut into slim fingers
• Hoisin Sauce
• Chinese Pancakes (we used Jicama Wraps)

How to cook you Crispy Peking Duck

Firstly set your oven to 415 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven come to temperature you should prepare the duck. Stuff the cavity with the

Garlic, Star Anise and the half orange. Prick the duck all over, especially the fatty bits and then rub the Chinese Five Spice all over it. Place on a baking rack (you must do this, otherwise the duck will sit in its own fat and won’t crisp up). Place in the oven and cook for 50 mins. Then reduce the temperature down to 320 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue to bake for another 1 hour and 45 minutes. Remove and let the duck rest for about 20 minutes. Then shred all of the meat using two forks. (If it doesn’t come out crispy enough for your liking then add to air fryer for a few minutes).

To serve, slice the cumber thinly into fingers and the same the the green or spring onion while gently warming the pancakes (no need to warm Jicama Wraps).

Add a small amount of duck, cucumber and onions and drizzle a small amount of Hoisin sauce and devour. I can promise you, you will not be disappointed .

Note: If you are in the USA, Jicama Wraps are becoming a very low carb alternative to the regular corn or flour wraps. They can be found in various places, but Trader Joes typically stock them. Don’t forget to keep them in the fridge.