Hong Kong Style Braised Duck with Star Anise and Cinnamon
A deeply flavorful and aromatic braised duck dish, a staple in Hong Kong home cooking. Duck is slowly simmered in a rich sauce infused with classic Chinese spices like star anise, cinnamon, and dried tangerine peel, resulting in tender, succulent meat with a complex, savory-sweet profile.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1.5 kg Whole duck, cut into serving pieces
- 50 g Ginger, sliced
- 6 Garlic cloves, smashed
- 3 Scallions, cut into 2-inch sections
- 3 Star anise
- 2 Cinnamon sticks
- 1 piece Dried tangerine peel (chen pi), soaked and rinsed
- 2 Bay leaves
- 120 ml Soy sauce
- 30 ml Dark soy sauce
- 60 ml Shaoxing wine
- 30 g Rock sugar
- 750 ml Water or duck stock
- 1 tbsp Sesame oil
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch (optional, for thickening sauce)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Blanch the duck pieces: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the duck pieces and boil for 2-3 minutes. Drain and rinse the duck pieces under cold water to remove impurities. This step helps to remove excess fat and any gamey odor.
💡 Tip: Ensure all duck pieces are submerged during blanching. - 2
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil over medium-high heat. Sear the blanched duck pieces until lightly browned on all sides. Remove duck and set aside.
💡 Tip: Browning the duck adds depth of flavor and color to the final dish. - 3
In the same pot, add the sliced ginger, smashed garlic cloves, and scallion sections. Stir-fry for about 1 minute until fragrant.
💡 Tip: Don't burn the garlic; cook just until aromatic. - 4
Add the star anise, cinnamon sticks, dried tangerine peel, and bay leaves to the pot. Stir for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
💡 Tip: Toasting the spices briefly enhances their aroma. - 5
Return the seared duck pieces to the pot. Add soy sauce, dark soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and rock sugar. Stir to coat the duck evenly.
💡 Tip: Using a mix of soy sauces provides both color and flavor complexity. - 6
Pour in the water or duck stock, ensuring the duck pieces are mostly submerged. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for at least 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until the duck is tender.
💡 Tip: Simmering on low heat allows the duck to become tender and absorb the flavors of the braising liquid. - 7
Once the duck is tender, remove the duck pieces from the pot and set aside. If the sauce is too thin, increase the heat to medium-high and let it reduce slightly. Alternatively, mix cornstarch with a little water and stir it into the sauce to thicken.
💡 Tip: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed before thickening. - 8
Stir in the sesame oil. Pour the thickened sauce over the duck pieces. Serve hot, often with steamed rice.
💡 Tip: This dish is excellent served with plain steamed white rice to soak up the rich sauce.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a richer flavor, you can marinate the duck pieces in soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and a little five-spice powder for at least 30 minutes before searing.
- ✓If you can't find dried tangerine peel, you can omit it, but it adds a unique citrusy depth.
- ✓Leftover braised duck can be shredded and used in noodle soups or fried rice.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add a few dried shiitake mushrooms (soaked) to the braising liquid for an extra umami boost.
- Include a small piece of dried chili for a hint of spice.
- Some recipes include rock sugar for sweetness; adjust the amount to your preference.