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peking duck recipe

Restaurant-Quality Crispy Peking Duck Recipe

Master the art of crispy Peking duck with this authentic recipe, featuring air-dried skin and traditional pancakes for a restaurant-worthy meal at home.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 duck 3-4 pounds
  • 1 teaspoon malt sugar similar to honey
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup plum sauce
  • 1/2 cup sweet red bean paste or hoisin sauce
  • 10 scallions trimmed and cut into 2-inch strips lengthwise
  • 1 cucumber peeled and cut into thin 2-inch strips
  • 2 cups flour for pancakes
  • 1 cup boiling water for pancakes
  • vegetable oil or sesame oil for cooking pancakes

Method
 

  1. Thoroughly clean the duck, pour boiling water over it, then pat completely dry inside and out. Hang by the neck in a well-ventilated area overnight to air-dry.
  2. The next day, mix malt sugar and soy sauce to create a glaze, rub all over the duck, and let it dry. Place the duck on a wire rack in a roasting pan and roast at 375°F for 1 hour.
  3. While the duck roasts, prepare the pancakes by combining flour and boiling water. Let the dough rest for 20 minutes, then roll into a log, cut into pieces, and roll each piece paper-thin. Cook in a lightly oiled skillet for about 1¼ minutes per side until bubbly.
  4. To serve, separate the crispy skin from the meat and arrange on separate platters. Serve with plum sauce, hoisin or sweet bean paste, julienned scallions, and cucumber strips. Spread sauce on a pancake, add vegetables and duck, then roll up to eat.
  5. Optional: Simmer the duck carcass with cabbage to make a light soup to serve at the end of the meal.

Notes

The overnight air-drying step is essential for achieving perfectly crispy skin and should not be skipped.