Seasoning for duck, preparation of marinades, ready-made mixtures for poultry

The selection of seasonings and spices for duck must be approached very carefully; the taste of the cooked meat will depend on this. An ill-chosen marinade and sauce can radically ruin the dish and make it impossible to eat. But the right spice will give the duck juiciness and softness.

The most popular spices and seasonings for duck

Duck meat is fatty and quite difficult to cook, so it is so important to pay attention to flavorful additives. Some spices promote good absorption and digestion of the product.

Pepper mixture

Duck goes well with any type of pepper. To add a slight spiciness and subtle aroma, the meat is seasoned with white pepper. With the help of paprika, the dish can boast of characteristic organoleptic qualities; in this case, the spice should not be spared.

Adding Sichuan pepper (Chinese coriander) to the bird will allow the meat to acquire an unforgettable taste with notes of cloves and coriander. Those who like spicy meat should use chili pepper, but you need to be careful with it and add it in small quantities.

Bay leaf

Fans of the resinous-sweet aroma and bitter taste of poultry should use bay leaf as a seasoning. The component is placed directly into the carcass or it is crushed and combined with other spices, which are subsequently coated with the duck. For 5 kg take 3-4 laurel leaves.

Basil

This spice gives a pleasant and expressive aroma; its bitter-sweet taste is ideal for duck. The ideal dish is obtained when baking in the oven with apples and oranges. For a medium-sized bird, add about 15 g of dried basil; if this is fresh herb, then you will need a little more - 25-30 g.

Cinnamon

This seasoning can add warmth to duck, a bitter-spicy aftertaste and a noble aroma that awakens the appetite. The spice is used as a main additive or as one of the components of the marinade. One pinch of spice is enough for a medium-sized carcass.

Garlic

The spice is popular due to its unique taste and aroma and is used dry and fresh. Duck meat seasoned with garlic acquires piquancy, pungency, and a recognizable aroma.

Ginger

This spice is widely used in the East, especially when cooking duck. Poultry meat acquires a piquant, fresh aroma. You can additionally combine ginger with honey, citrus zest, and then coat the carcass with the mixture. This option will be an excellent solution for the holiday table.

Almost all spices go perfectly with duck meat. The only exception is cumin; this seasoning is not suitable for poultry at all.

How to prepare ready-made spice mixtures for duck yourself

Most housewives prefer to use mixtures for duck from various spices, which are easy to prepare with your own hands.

Spicy sauce

Duck marinated in a spicy sauce acquires a special taste. It is prepared from the following products:

• 3 tbsp. spoons of dark soy sauce;
• 1 tbsp. spoon of sesame oil;
• 1 tbsp. spoon of honey;
• ½ teaspoon each of white and black pepper;
• ½ teaspoon of dry garlic;
• ½ teaspoon of cinnamon.

Preparing the marinade mixture is simple. All components must be mixed until smooth. Afterwards, you need to grease the carcass with the prepared sauce. Bake after 2-3 hours; during this period of time the bird will marinate well.

Universal mixture

Excellent taste and unforgettable aroma, stimulating the appetite of a universal mixture. It is prepared from the following set of ingredients:

• 2 g each of black and white pepper;
• 1 g each of coriander, cumin, cinnamon and thyme;
• 5 g each of dried ginger, basil, parsley, garlic;
• 4 g paprika.

You will also need salt, but it is added according to taste. Preparing a spicy mixture for poultry is not difficult; you need to combine all the components and grind them in any convenient way. This is done in a coffee grinder or mortar, the result should be a powder. Everything is thoroughly mixed, and then the carcass is rubbed with spice. For convenience, the mixture can be prepared for future use.

Hoisin sauce

Duck tastes amazing if you first marinate it in Hoisin sauce.

It is prepared based on the following ingredients:

• cloves – 10 buds;
• star anise - 2 stars;
• fennel – 1 tbsp. spoon;
• anise - 1 tbsp. spoon;
• cinnamon – 1 stick;
• garlic – 2 cloves;
• chili pepper – 1 pc.;
• soy sauce – 3 tbsp. spoons;
• rice vinegar – 2 tbsp. spoons;
• sesame oil – 1 tbsp. spoons;
• honey - 1 tbsp. spoon;
• red beans – 3 tbsp. spoons.

Further process:

1. First, cloves, star anise with fennel, anise and cinnamon are mixed and fried in a frying pan without adding oil. Afterwards they are ground.
2. The chili pepper is cleaned, all seeds are removed, and then crushed. Combined with garlic and processed in a blender.
3. All components are mixed, poured over liquid ingredients, and the mixture is stirred.

The prepared sauce is considered one of the best for duck. The collected bouquet of seasonings gives the meat a unique taste.

Bouquet of spices

The Chinese mixture is very popular; it will give duck meat a pleasant spiciness and tenderness. To prepare it you will need:

• black, red and white pepper – 2 g each;
• dried garlic – 3 g;
• bay leaf – 2 leaves;
• juniper berries – 3 pcs.

The components are combined and ground. Afterwards the carcass is rubbed on all sides, not forgetting the inside. You can fry it immediately, or you can leave the bird to soak in the aromas, then it will become even tastier.

Duck recipes with spices

There are different options for preparing poultry with the addition of various spices. Each seasoning provides its own taste and imparts aroma to the duck.

Braised duck

Even before cooking, it is necessary to cut the carcass; in its entirety, it will take a long time to cook. For cooking you will need the following spices:

• paprika – 1 teaspoon;
• garlic – 3 cloves;
• onion – 1 head;
• nutmeg – 2 teaspoon;
• bay leaf – 3 leaves;
• dried herbs – 1 teaspoon;
• black pepper – 3 pcs.;
• salt - to taste.

Further actions:

1. A little oil is poured into a saucepan, heated and the duck cut into pieces is added.
2. After half an hour, chopped onions and chopped garlic are added, everything is fried for another quarter of an hour.
3. Water is added, the meat pieces should be completely covered.Bay leaf, pepper, nutmeg, and paprika are added. The dish is salted and stewed for 1.5 hours. The lid must be closed, and dried herbs are sprinkled in 15 minutes before readiness.

The duck meat turns out tender and appetizing, and the spices impart an incredible aroma.

With apples

Many housewives serve baked duck with apples as a signature dish for the holiday table. To create the perfect sauce you will need:

• vegetable oil 2.5 tbsp. spoons;
• bay leaf – 3 leaves;
• cinnamon ½ teaspoon;
• ground black pepper – 1 pinch;
• nutmeg – 1 teaspoon;
• lemon juice – 2 teaspoons.

You also need to prepare salt; it is taken taking into account the size of the carcass. Next you need to do the following:

1. Clean and rinse the duck, leave it for a while to dry.
2. Slice the apples, removing the core and seeds. The peel must be left on so that the fruit does not fall apart during baking.
3. Prepare the marinade by mixing the prepared spices, pouring oil and lemon juice over them.
4. Coat the carcass and its inside thoroughly with the prepared mixture. Refrigerate for 3-5 hours; you can use the refrigerator shelf for this.
5. Before baking, fill with apples and wrap the tips of the wings in foil to prevent them from burning.
6. Place the marinated duck on a baking sheet and bake for about an hour at 200 degrees. It is important to water the carcass during the process with the fat that has flowed out of it.
7. After an hour, reduce the temperature to 180 and continue cooking for about another hour.

Spices will give the meat an amazing taste and aroma.

Properly selected spices for duck will help improve the taste, make the meat soft, tender with a subtle noble aroma. Seasonings can be used in pure form or as one of the marinade ingredients.In any case, spicy additives help to significantly improve the taste of the finished dish and add zest to it.