What is beer duck
Chinese Beer Duck (啤酒鸭, Pi Jiu Ya) is a traditional dish that originated in Hunan and Sichuan, but has gotten popular all over China. It’s known for its rich flavor and aromatic spices. To make beer duck, a whole duck is cut into big bite-sized bone-in pieces. Then it’s braised in a broth that uses beer instead of water, along with soy sauce and various spices and aromatics. Once done, the duck is tender and juicy, covered in a fragrant brown sauce that’s slightly spicy and bursting with umami. Beer duck is a common dish for gatherings and is often enjoyed with family and friends. And it is sometimes prepared for special occasions and celebrations.
Benefit of eating duck
Duck is a popular ingredient in Chinese cooking due to its delicious taste and various health benefits. Duck is a high-quality protein that is rich in vitamins A and B, iron, zinc and antioxidants. Eating duck in the summer is a tradition due to its TCM characteristics. Duck meat itself has cooling properties, which help regulate the body’s heat and provide relief during the hot summer months. Consuming duck can help restore balance and prevent issues like dehydration and heatstroke. Duck meat is rich in nutrients that help maintain energy levels and overall health, which can be especially beneficial in summer when people might feel more fatigued due to the heat.
Ingredients for beer duck
Which cut of duck to use
Traditionally, beer duck is made with bone-in pieces of a whole duck. But to make the process easier on a lower budget, and without compromising on flavor, this recipe uses bone-in duck legs. To make the braised duck more flavorful and shorten the cooking time, I highly recommend chopping the duck leg into large bite-size pieces. To chop the duck, separate the thigh and drumstick at the joint, so it’s easier to cut. Then you can use either a cleaver or a pair of poultry shears to cut the bone-in pieces. I usually cut the thigh along the bone first. Then hack the drumstick and the thigh across the middle into four pieces in total. If you don’t have proper cooking tools to cut the bone-in pieces, you should at least separate the thigh and the drumstick using a regular kitchen knife.
Mise en place
When you’re ready to cook beer duck, your table should have:
Cut up duck pieces Beer Aromatics and spices (green onion, garlic, ginger, dried chili pepper, star anise, cinnamon sticks) Sugar (rock sugar or regular sugar) Soy sauce (light and dark)
This recipe uses dark soy sauce to add color and a light caramelized flavor. But you can also use regular soy sauce instead.
How to cook beer duck
One word on the cookware
I used a large wok in this recipe. A wok is the best pan for cooking Chinese braised dishes because: That being said, you can make this dish with a high-sided skillet, a heavy duty pot, or a dutch oven. When you use a pot or a dutch oven, you might need to add more liquid to cover the duck, to ensure even cooking. And it will take longer to reduce the sauce. You might also consider removing the duck pieces before reducing, so you don’t have to worry about the duck sticking to the pan.
Cooking process
Cooking beer duck is quite easy.
How to serve beer duck
Beer duck is a satisfying main dish that can be served by itself along with other sides, or served over steamed rice. You can also top the duck over noodle soup to make a delicious one-bowl meal. It also tastes great after it’s cooled off. You can serve a small plate of cold duck as an appetizer. Beer duck refrigerates and freezes well too, making it a great dish for cooking ahead or meal prep. To reheat, you can simply microwave the leftover if refrigerated. For frozen duck, it’s best to heat it up in a steamer for even heating and to retain moisture (if without thawing in advance). Here are some side dishes that are great with beer duck:
Chinese Pickled Cabbage (A Quick Pickle Recipe) Chinese Garlic Green Beans Easy Egg Fried Rice (蛋炒饭) Real Deal Sesame Noodles Bok Choy Soup
Other delicious braised dishes
Braised Chicken Feet (凤爪) Chinese Red Braised Lamb (红烧羊肉) Chinese Braised Pork Trotters (红烧猪蹄) Coca-Cola Chicken Wings (可乐鸡翅) Hong Shao Rou (Red Braised Pork, 红烧肉)
