Slow Cooker

Tea Smoked Whole Duck with Plum Wine Sauce

by:
June 23, 2021
4
4 Ratings
Tea Smoked Whole Duck with Plum Wine Sauce
Photo by Adam Cohen
  • Serves 2-4
Author Notes

Making a duck was one of my New Year's food-making resolutions. I didn't grow up as a vegetarian, but I always come to cooking any meat with some trepidation. I conquered my duck fears by smoking it. I was tickled when the duck came out perfectly moist and tender. Bring it on, duck! —NakedBeet

Test Kitchen Notes

I am so happy that Naked Beet conquered her fear of the duck and shared this delicious recipe.  The marinade has a wonderful smell and yields a juicy, perfectly seasoned duck.  The plum wine sauce is a lovely, sweet-tart foil for the ducks’ deep richness.  Next time, I will increase the amount of tea leaves for a smokier flavor.  I modified my stovetop smoker to accommodate the duck, so don’t be deterred by equipment – if you have a pan, a rack, and foil you can make one too! —aargersi

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Day 1, 24-hour marinade
  • one 5-pound whole duck
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup low salt soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • one 3-inch piece ginger, peeled and chopped
  • 1 whole lemon, halved
  • 1 whole lime, halved
  • 2 tangerines, halved
  • Day 2, Smoking the Duck
  • 1/2 cup black tea (mango black, lapsang souchang, etc)
  • 1 cup white rice (use a cheap white rice as you'll be tossing it later)
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • Plum Wine Sauce:
  • 1 cup plum wine
  • 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • Juice of 2 tangerines
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • one 1-inch piece ginger, peeled and sliced into thin strips
  • 1 large garlic clove, chopped roughly
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions
  1. Day 1, 24 Hour Marinade: In a large bowl, mix the water, soy sauce, honey, maple syrup, garlic, ginger and the juice of the lemon, lime and tangerines (save the spent citrus). Remove the giblets, liver, and any other treats from inside the cavity and pierce the skin of the duck all over with a fork (especially satisfying after a long day at the office). Fill the duck’s cavity with the spent citrus. Place the marinade liquid and duck inside and extra large plastic bag and then seal the bag. I like to place the bag into a large bowl in case the bag breaks or moving things around in the fridge pierces the bag accidentally. Marinate the duck for at least 24 hours.
  2. Day 2, Smoking the Flavors: Line the bottom of your wok with aluminum foil and layer long sheets of aluminum (high enough to cover the duck completely) every few inches so there are no gaps in the foil. You’re basically creating a tent for the duck. Place the steamer insert inside the wok and turn the heat to high. Heat the rice until it starts to smoke. Before placing the duck, breast side up, on top of the steam insert, pat it dry and cover it completely so no steam can escape.
  3. On medium low heat, steam the duck for 20 minutes. Turn the stove off and, keeping it covered, let it rest under the aluminum tent for an additional 10 minutes. Preheat your oven to 375º. Place the duck (throw the rice and tea away) into a roasting pan and roast the duck for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the skin starts turning crispy. If you’re going to reserve the drained fat for use in other recipes, do this while the fat is still in its liquid state. Let the duck rest for for a few minutes before cutting into the meat.
  4. Plum Wine Sauce: For the last 30 minutes of roasting, put all of the sauce ingredients into a pan and cook for 20 minutes or until the sauce has reduced and becomes thick. Remove the peels and garlic and reserve the sauce as a glaze over the duck.
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9 Reviews

Julia_with_a_good_appetite
Julia_with_a_good_appetite January 1, 2018
Question about tea. I didn't seem to find it mentioned in the body of the recipe. Is it 1/2 brewed tea or tea leaves? At which point do you use it and how? Thank you
 
NakedBeet
NakedBeet January 1, 2018
Hi! Thanks for catching that, I'll update the instructions. Yes, it's supposed to be unbrewed tea leaves and raw rice. That is the smoking flavor that should sit on top of the aluminum and under the steam insert. Hope you like it!
 
Rhonda35
Rhonda35 July 3, 2014
I'm going to mix up the marinade right now and try smoking the duck in our outdoor smoker tomorrow. I'll report back!
 
QueenSashy
QueenSashy March 7, 2013
Loved this dish from day one. Congrats on CP!!!
 
NakedBeet
NakedBeet March 8, 2013
Thank you! ; )
 
aargersi
aargersi February 20, 2013
That is one fine looking duck!
 
NakedBeet
NakedBeet February 20, 2013
thank you! the duck was happy and I was happy ; )
 
QueenSashy
QueenSashy March 7, 2013
aargersi, NakedBeet -- did you guys get a lot of smoke during the smoking process? I am dying to try this out, but have no windows close by and smoke detector + sprinkler right above the stove...
 
NakedBeet
NakedBeet March 8, 2013
So sorry, I didn't see this earlier! I did get a lot of smoke and I sort of expected that, I think that's supposed to be part of the process, but most of it I think was contained in the aluminum foil (for me) which is the way it's supposed to work. I'm lucky to have windows in my kitchen and I opened my door to just let some of the smell out.