This recipe for tender, juicy duck with a honey glaze is staggered and takes out all the stress of doing it on the day
Prep:20 mins
Serves 6
For the duck1 strip pared orange zest6 duck legs6 garlic cloves, smashedthumb-sized piece ginger, sliced1 ½ tsp Chinese five-spice powder100ml dark soy sauce1 tbsp oyster sauce1 tbsp golden caster sugar50ml Shaohsing rice wine
STEP 1The day before eating, tip all the ingredients for the duck into a pan and just cover with water. Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat, cover and simmer gently for 1 hr 30 mins until the duck is really tender (or a slow cooker for 4 hrs would be ideal). Remove the duck from the liquid, leave to cool, then chill in the fridge, uncovered. Chill the liquid separately too. Can be done up to 3 days ahead and kept in the fridge, covered, or frozen for up to 3 months.STEP 2The next day, remove all the fat from the stock, pour 400ml into a pan and simmer down by a third, or until intensely flavoured. The remaining stock can be frozen and used another time to poach meat or poultry.STEP 3Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. For the glaze, mix 1 tbsp of the reduced stock with the honey and five-spice. Put the duck legs on a baking tray, skin-side up, and roast in the oven for 25-30 mins until they are hot and the skin is lacquered.STEP 4Arrange some cucumber on a serving platter with the duck on the side, then scatter over the coriander. Add some sliced chilli to the simmered stock and serve on the side for spooning over the rice. Serve with our steamed pak choi.
