Duck with Chinese Mushrooms and Ginger

Ducks are often seen, comically herded in single file, along the water channels between the rice paddies throughout the country. the substantial Chinese population in Indonesia is particularly fond of duck and the delicious ingredients in this recipe give it an oriental flavor.

Ingredients

  • duck - 2.5kg/5½ lb
  • dried Chinese mushrooms - 8, soaked in warm water for 15 minutes
  • fresh root ginger - 5cm/2 in, sliced and cut in matchsticks
  • black pepper and salt
  • garlic - 2 cloves, crushed
  • onion - 1, sliced
  • spring onions - ½ bunch, white bulb left whole , green tops sliced
  • sugar - 5ml/1 tsp
  • baby sweetcorn - 200g/7 oz
  • cornflovour - 15-30ml/1-2 tbsp, mixed to a paste with 60ml/4 tbsp water
  • light soy sauce - 50ml/2fl oz/¼ cup
  • boiled rice - to serve

Method

  • Cut the duck along the breast, open it up and cut along each side of the backbone. Use the backbone, wings and giblets to make a stock, to use later in the recipe.
  • Any trimmings of the duck fat can be rendered in the frying pan, to use later in the recipe.
  • Cut each leg and each breast in half. Place in a bowl, rub it with sugar and pour over the soy sauce and garlic.
  • Drain the mushrooms, reserving the soaking liquid. trim and discard the stalks.
  • Fry the ginger and onion in the duck fat, in a frying pan until they give off a good aroma. Push to aside.
  • Lift the duck pieces out of the soy sauce and fry then until browned. Add the mushrooms and reserved liquid.
  • Add 600ml/1 pint/2½ cups duck stock or water to the browned duck pieces. Season, cover and cook over a gentle heat for 1 hour until the duck is tender.
  • Add the white part of the spring onions sweetcorn then cook for another 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the cornflour paste.
  • Return to the heat and bring to the boil, stirring. Cook for 1 minutes until glossy.
  • Serve, scattered with the spring onion tops, with boiled rice. Serves 4.

More Indonesian Recipes