Delicious Recipe for Sweet and Sour Duck

How to Make Delicious Braised Duck with Crystal Sugar

Braised duck with crystal sugar is a popular and traditional Chinese dish. The combination of succulent duck meat and the sweetness of crystal sugar creates a unique and delectable flavor. In this article, we will explore the steps and techniques to make this dish at home. Let's dive in!

1. Ingredients

Firstly, let's gather all the necessary ingredients for the dish:

- 1 whole duck (around 2 kg)

- 200g crystal sugar

- 50g ginger

- 30g garlic

- 2 tablespoons cooking oil

- 2 tablespoons soy sauce

- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce

- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce

- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing rice wine

- 1 teaspoon salt

- 1 teaspoon five-spice powder

- 1 teaspoon white pepper powder

- 2 cups water

2. Preparing the Duck

To prepare the duck, follow these steps:

1. Clean the duck thoroughly, removing any excess fat, giblets, and impurities. Rinse it with cold water and pat dry with a paper towel.

2. Prick the duck skin with a fork or skewer, creating small holes. This will allow the flavors to penetrate the meat better.

3. Rub the duck with salt, five-spice powder, and white pepper powder. Make sure to evenly coat the entire duck, including the cavity.

3. Cooking the Duck

Now, let's move on to the cooking process:

1. Heat a wok or a large pan over medium heat. Add cooking oil, ginger, and garlic. Sauté until fragrant.

2. Add the duck to the wok, breast-side down. Cook for 10 minutes, or until the skin turns golden brown.

3. Flip the duck over and cook for another 10 minutes to brown the other side.

4. In a separate pot, dissolve the crystal sugar in water over low heat. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.

5. Pour the sugar-water mixture into the wok, covering at least half of the duck. Add soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, and Shaoxing rice wine. Bring the liquid to a boil.

6. Reduce the heat to low, cover the wok, and let it simmer for about 1.5 to 2 hours. The duck should become tender and flavorful.

4. Glazing the Duck

To enhance the visual appeal of the dish, you can glaze the duck with the simmering liquid:

1. Carefully remove the duck from the wok and place it on a plate.

2. Increase the heat of the remaining liquid in the wok to high. Let it reduce and thicken into a syrup-like consistency.

3. Brush the thickened sauce over the duck, ensuring all sides are coated evenly.

5. Serving the Dish

Finally, it's time to serve the delicious braised duck with crystal sugar:

1. Cut the duck into desired serving pieces.

2. Arrange the duck pieces on a serving platter.

3. Garnish with chopped scallions or cilantro for added freshness and aroma.

4. Serve the dish hot and enjoy!

In conclusion, making braised duck with crystal sugar requires some time and effort, but the end result is definitely worth it. The tender and flavorful duck meat combined with the sweetness of the crystal sugar creates a delightful and satisfying dish. Give it a try and impress your family and friends with this traditional Chinese delicacy!