China: Peking Duck

By Cynthia Lam




           Peking duck is a very famous dish from Beijing. According to the Chinese culture, it is considered one of the most common and traditional elements served in most family meals since the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Nowadays, Peking duck represents a Chinese national dish that can be prepared in many ways. The most common way is by cutting the duck into small pieces (duck meat with the crispy skin) and dipping it into hoisin sauce. The other way of eating this well-known plate is by combining hoisin sauce, thin slices of Peking duck, and scallions in a steamed pancake.
           My family and I really enjoy eating Peking duck. It can be eaten at anytime during the year. When we go to the restaurant, we usually order this delicious dish. This is my favorite dish because it is easy, fast, and fun to prepare and eat. As a matter of fact, you can add anything you like. I usually put cucumbers instead of scallions and prefer the crispy duck skin instead of the meat. Also, with the steamed pancake, you have the choice of wrapping your Peking duck however you want it to be. You only have to follow a few short steps to make a dish that will satisfy your taste.


Recipe

Ingredients
    
– 1 duck
– 1 barbecue stick
– 2-3 tbsp honey
– 1 tbsp vinegar
– pancakes
– 1 cucumber
– 1 scallion
– hoisin sauce

Procedure
    
  Making the duck:
  1. Wash the duck. Pull out all feathers.
  2. Open the duck’s stomach. Empty the interior.
  3. Close the duck’s stomach with the barbecue stick.
  4. Boil duck in 3 cups of hot water for a few minutes or until the skin is hard.
  5. Put honey and vinegar in 2 cups of boiling water. Mix ingredients and pour evenly on the duck.
  6. Hang duck until it is completely dry.
  7. Put dried duck in oven until it is cooked at a temperature of 370ºC.
  8. Cook duck for at least 1 hour.
  9. Cut cooked duck into small pieces.
  Making the pancakes:
  1. Buy pancakes in any Chinese grocery store. The pancakes are supposed to be white and thin. Ask for “Peking duck pancakes” and they will know what you're talking about.
  2. Heat pancakes by steaming them in hot water.
  Making Peking duck:
  1. Spread steamed pancake on a flat surface or on a plate.
  2. Spread hoisin sauce evenly on the pancake.
  3. Put slices of cucumber or scallions on pancake.
  4. Put pieces of Peking duck on pancake.
  5. Wrap pancake.


Photo source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Peking_Duck_1.jpg