Nothing can beat this Cantonese-style oven roasted duck. With this recipe, you'll get a beautifully cooked whole duck juicier and even more tender than any store-bought one.

a whole Cantonese-style oven roasted duck put on wooden platter with bao, cucumber, green onion, sauce, and spicy sauce.

Roast duck is a popular Chinese dish that can be easily found in any Chinese restaurant. Together with crispy crackling pork belly, these two dishes are also most commonly ordered too.

This Cantonese-style oven roasted duck is a kind of meal you can amaze your whole family and friends with your cooking skill. The roast duck is so tasty, juicy, and undoubtedly delicious; and yet easier to make than you thought.

Moreover, this roasted duck recipe will become your new favorite duck dish because it can be used for any occasion. From a family gathering, a simple dinner idea, or a Thanksgiving masterpiece. Are you tired of cooking a big and heavy turkey? This duck is the best substitution for your Thanksgiving celebration.

a close up of a juicy whole roast duck put next to mantou and slices of cucumber

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Though it is uncommon, you can keep the left over bones to make such a deep flavor bone broth.

How to roast duck step by step

This fool-proof recipe for Cantonese-style roasted duck was used in the restaurant I worked at. I also developed it. So rest assured your homemade roast duck will have all the restaurant-style roast duck quality: juicy, tasty, and exceptionally tender.

Marinade the duck

rub the duck with a spice mixture then rinse it under cold water and prepare a hot pot of water

Pat the duck skin and its cavity as dry as possible with a paper towel. Tuck the wings and the legs behind the body.
Put half of the marinade mixture together with whole peppercorn, green onion stalks, star anise, and lemon peel inside the duck cavity.
Rub half of the mixture on the outside of the duck. Make sure to get the marinade into all parts and underside of the duck, especially the breast and thigh areas.
Carefully enclose the cavity with toothpicks.
Place the duck breast-side up on a clean cooking pan. Covered with plastic wrap, refrigerate, and marinade for at least 6 hours (maximum 12 hours).
After 6 hours, remove the duck from the fridge and rinse under cold water to wash away the marinade mixture. Make sure the cavity area is securely tightly before doing so.
Put it on a wire rack over a baking pan.
Gather all ingredients for boiling mixture, bring to boil on the stovetop.

Partially cook and dry the duck's skin

rinse the duck with boiling vinegar mixture then put it on a wire rack over a baking pan

Secure the duck with a butcher hook at the collar bone or carry it with your hand.
Carefully ladle hot boiling mixture over the duck skin. Please make sure all parts of it are covered completely. Take as long as you need to complete this step.
Hang the duck or place it breast-side up on a wire rack over a baking pan in a refrigerator (uncovered) for at least 24 hours to cure and dry (maximum 48 hours).
When you're ready to roast, remove the duck from the refrigerator and let it rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.

Roast the duck in the oven

baste the roasted duck three times with basting mixture

Preheat the oven to 380F/195C.
Place the duck on a wire rack over a foil-lined baking pan and roast for 15 minutes.
Remove the duck from the oven. Reduce the heat to 300F/150C.
Brush the duck evenly with balsamic vinegar. Return it to the oven and keep roasting for 15 minutes.
Remove it from the oven and brush with balsamic + honey mixture. Put it back in the oven and cook for another 15 minutes.
Once again, take the duck out and baste the last time with a balsamic and honey mixture. Please return it to the oven and cook for 10 minutes.
Let the duck rest, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes before carving and serving.

How to make the sauce for roasted duck

The sauce is just as important as tender meat. The best roast duck always comes with the most addictive and tasty sauce. Here are the steps to make this delicious duck sauce:

a bowl of duck sauce put next to a mantou

After the duck has rested, carefully remove the toothpicks and pour the marinade mixture inside the duck cavity into a clean bowl.
Strain the mixture, keep the juice and discard other ingredients.
In a medium size saucepan, combine roasted duck's juice, hoisin sauce, water, and Kosher salt. Bring to boil on medium-high heat, then simmer the mixture for 5-8 minutes or until the mixture is reduced by ⅓.
Let the sauce cool down to room temperature before serving.

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How to get the most tender duck meat?

Unlike chicken or turkey, duck is 100% red meat just like beef. Duck has a lot of connective tissues under the skin which sometimes results in chewy texture if not cooking properly.

So the resting/drying process, which takes 24 to 48 hours, helps to break down those tissues and makes the meat tender.

So to get the most tender Cantonese-style oven roasted duck, you need to let it rest (uncovered), in the fridge for at least 24 hours. Do not rush or skip this process, or you'll end up with chewy meat.

Useful cooking tips

Keep the wings tips and legs intact. Please don't remove them so you can tuck them neatly behind the duck.
If you decide to use a hook to hang the duck, don't remove its head.
Make sure to put the duck on a wire rack over a baking pan to have good airflow around it.
Air circulation is essential for this drying process, so ensure your fridge is not stuffed with too many things.
Rotate the duck every time you return it to the oven for evenly cooking.

slices of duck breast put on a green paper plate next to plates of cucumber, green onion, mantou, and sauce

How to serve and eat Chinese roast duck

Unlike turkey, which is carved directly on a dining table, Chinese roast duck is usually carved into pieces before serving. The breast part is cut into slices, while the legs and thighs are chopped into bite-size pieces.

The duck is served with thin slices of cucumber, green onion, chili crunch and mantou (bland bao/steamed bun). To assemble: tear open a steamed bun in half, put a slice of duck breast together with a few pieces of cucumber and green onion. Also, put a small amount of duck and spicy sauce on the meat. Then dip the whole bao into the sauce while eating.

a slice of duck breast put inside a steamed bun

As for the parts with bones inside, they can be eaten as they are and dipped into the sauce if desired.

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Did you make this recipe? If so please leave a rating and let me know how it went in the comment section. Also, don't forget to tag me #cookmorphosis @cookmorphosis on social media.