5 Easy Christmas Duck Recipes

Add exotic flair to the traditional Christmas meal with these 5 easy Christmas duck recipes.  Duck dishes are characterized by their juicy meat and crispy skin.  When the family comes over for Christmas, your duck main course will be sought after for years to come.

Peking duck.  A popular Chinese duck dish calls for:

• 1 tsp MSG
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp five spice powder
• 3 tbsp honey
• ½ cup red wine vinegar
• ½ cup white wine vinegar
• 1 cup water
• ¼ cup white rice wine
• leeks
• spring onion 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Rub MSG and five spice powder on the duck. 
3. Stuff the duck with leeks and spring onion. 
4. Marinate the duck overnight with honey, white and red wine vinegar, water, and white rice wine. 
5. Place in oven and cook until the skin and meat start to brown and a food thermometer reads 160 degrees F. 
6. Pull the duck and glaze with honey then cook until the skin has become crisp.

Roast Duck with Apple dressing.   The key to the flavor of this Christmas duck recipe is what’s on the inside:

• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tsp poultry seasoning
• 1/2 tbsp butter
• 3 tbsp onion
• 5 stalks celery
• 3 cups apple
• 3 cups cornbread crumbs
• 1 tbsp olive oil

1. Combine poultry seasoning, salt and pepper and rub on the duck. 
2. Sauté the onion and celery with butter in a skillet until both are tender. 
3. Combine the apples and cornbread crumbs into a bowl and fill the duck. 
4. Preheat the oven to 350F and rub the duck with olive oil.  
5. Place the duck inside roasting pan and bake for 60 to 80 minutes.

Vanderbilt Traditional Christmas Duck.  This delicious Christmas duck recipe requires:

• 1 orange
• 1 sprig thyme
• 1 sprig rosemary
• 2 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 3 Earl Grey tea bags
• 3 cups water
• 2 tbsp molasses

1. Squeeze orange over the duck and place the cut orange rinds inside. 
2. Sprinkle thyme, rosemary, and salt and pepper on the duck. 
3. Place the duck inside the refrigerator overnight. 
4. Place earl grey tea bags inside steamer. 
5. Place the duck inside the steamer and let steam for 30 minutes. 
6. Preheat the rotisserie to 275F. 
7. In a medium bowl, mix the salt and molasses. 
8. Remove the steamed duck and rub the mixture on. 
9. Place the duck in the rotisserie for 1 hour or until meat is cooked and skin is crispy.

Christmas Duck.  Begin by preheating the oven to 350F and gather these ingredients: 

• 2 cups couscous
• 1 onion
• 3 garlic
• 1 cup figs
• thyme
• sage
• parsley
• 1 cup red wine
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• salt and pepper

1. Prepare couscous using instructions on the box. 
2. Saute garlic and onion in a skillet until tender.  Add figs and herbs and saute for another minute. 
3. Add wine and vinegar to saute mix and bring to a boil.  Boil for 5 minutes, then remove the mixture from heat and add couscous.  
4. Season with salt and pepper, then let mixture cool.  Stuff the duck with the couscous mix. 
5. Pat the duck with oil and butter and roast for 1 to 2 hours. 
6. Turn the duck over every 20 minutes. 
7. Baste the duck with the pan juice.

Roast Duck with Honey Curry Sauce.  The ingredients for this recipe are:

• 1/2 cup onion
• 1/2 cup celery
• 2/3 cup soy sauce
• 3 tsp sugar
• 1/3 cup sherry
• orange
• lemon
• lime
• 1 tbsp salt
• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 1/3 cups honey
• 3 tbsp white wine
• 1 cup orange juice
• 3 tbsp curry powder
• parsley

1. Preheat oven to 475F. 
2. In medium pan, combine onion, celery, soy sauce, sugar and sherry. 
3. Bring to boil for 3 minutes or mixture thickens. 
4. Stuff the duck with the orange, lemon and lime and set aside. 
5. Pour the mixture inside the duck and close with wooden skewers. 
6. Rub the outside of the duck with salt.  Place the duck on a large roasting pan. 
7. Create a glaze using the soy sauce, honey, and vinegar to brush the duck. 
8. Place the duck back in the oven and brush mixture while cooking for 2 hours. 
9. To prepare the curry sauce, strain juices from roasting pan and add honey, orange juice, and curry powder. 
10. Simmer over medium heat until thickened.  Serve duck with warm sauce.