Traditional Roast Duck Recipe – Oma's traditionelle gebratene Ente (2024)

FAQs

Why do you boil duck before roasting? ›

Pat duck dry. With a large sharp fork, prick the skin all over (approach at an angle) being careful not to pierce the meat (if meat is pierced, it will dry out). Carefully put the duck in the pot of boiling water; boil for 10 minutes. This will help render out some of the fat.

Pekin Duck (or Long Island Duck)

Pekin duck meat is known for its mild, satisfying flavor that easily adapts to a number of cuisines. It has lighter flesh and milder flavor than either Moulard or Muscovy duck, and is considered perfect for whole roasting.

If you have a meat thermometer, it should read 54C for rare, 61C for medium and 65C for medium/well done. Rest the duck breast for 10 mins before slicing to serve.

Cover and roast in oven for 2 hours. Remove the aluminium foil and continue cooking uncover for 30 to 40 minutes to make the skin crispy and brown. When the duck is fully cooked the internal temperature at the junction of the leg and thigh should be 82°C (180°F) and thighs should come apart easily.

The best I have found is butting the ducks back in the water. A simple salt brine makes almost any duck a delight to serve on the upcoming holiday table. In many cases, soaking or marinating your meat only masks the flavor. It does not change it.

Soaking ducks in various liquids is a common “cure” for the taste that seems offensive to many. Some soak duck breast in milk, wine, bourbon, salt water and probably a bunch of other stuff.

Prick the skin around the duck legs. Season the duck all over with salt and pepper. Place the duck on a rack in a roasting tin and roast in the middle of the oven for 40 minutes per KG plus 10 minutes extra. When the duck is cooked cover with foil and rest for 10-20 minutes before serving.

Foolproof method

Take the duck breast out of the refrigerator and leave at room temperature for approximately 15 minutes before cooking. Pat dry with a paper towel. Trim excess fat from around the duck breast. Make incisions in the skin in a crosswise pattern, without cutting into the meat.

Cook for 8-12 minutes until the skin is brown and crispy. Flip and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Once preheated, cook the duck in the oven at 350°F for 5-6 minutes for a medium-rare to medium duck breast. Let duck rest at least 5 minutes before slicing.

The Importance of Proper Prep

Vigorously simmering the leg and thigh meat on the stovetop before roasting the birds in the oven jumpstarts these tougher portions so that they finish cooking at the same time as the breast meat.

Should I sear a duck before roasting? ›

The journey towards perfectly roasted or baked duck breast entails commencing with a searing process. This initial step sets the foundation for achieving the ideal oven-roasted duck breast—a tantalizingly golden and crisp exterior juxtaposed with a succulent, flavorful interior.

You might need to adjust this recipe for your oven/duck size. If you finish the recipe and the duck is too rare, I recommend finishing it meat-side down with a bit of butter in a low-heat pan (rather than putting it back in the oven). Otherwise, you risk overcooking the meat closest to the skin.

Roasting the duck trimmings with aromatic vegetables and infusing that into the stock makes an even more flavorful and rich sauce. Blanching the duck and piercing its skin helps render the fat during roasting. An optional dry-brining stage seasons the meat, helps retain juices, and improves skin browning.

All that fat can make a mess of your oven. But the solution is simple: keep a thin layer of water in the roasting pan. The fat drips into it and stays there. (You'll need a rack to elevate the duck, but you should be using one for a crisp bird anyway.)

Remove giblets and neck from duck cavity and discard or reserve for another use. Cut off excess fat from duck cavity. Place duck, breast side down (wings up), on a rack in a roasting pan; add water to come just below the rack. Sprinkle duck with pepper and brush with a little soy sauce.

If you cook the duck as a separate dish, put it into boiling water, which ensures juiciness and higher nutritional value. The whole duck cook over low heat for 1.5 hours, the pieces - for 30-40 minutes. If needed, add the water to at all times cover the surface of the meat.