Crispy Fragrant Duck Tacos with Asian Pear and Mango Salsa

Photo: Crispy Fragrant Duck Tacos with Asian Pear and Mango Salsa

TOTAL TIME: 1 hr 25 min
Prep: 30 min
Inactive Prep: 35 min
Cook: 20 min
 
YIELD: 4 servings
LEVEL: Intermediate

ingredients

DUCK MARINADE:
  • 4 tablespoons peeled and grated fresh ginger
  • 2 tablespoons ground Sichuan peppercorns
  • 2 tablespoons Shaohsing rice wine or dry sherry
  • 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
  • 2 pinches sea salt
  • 4 star anise
  • 2 boneless duck breasts (about 1 pound total), skin on and scored in a crisscross pattern
    ASIAN PEAR SALSA:
    • 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro stems and leaves
    • 1 tablespoon peeled and grated fresh ginger
    • 1 red Fresno chile, seeded and finely chopped
    • 1 pink grapefruit, segmented, each segment cut into 3 wedges
    • Juice and zest of 1 lime
    • 1/2 ripe Asian pear, cut into small dice
    • 1/2 large mango, cut into small dice
    • 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
    • 2 pinches crushed dried red chile flakes
    • Sea salt
      FOR SERVING:
      • Large flake sea salt
      • Crushed dried red chile flakes
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      Directions

      For the duck marinade: In a medium bowl, add the ginger, peppercorns, rice wine, dark and light soy sauce, sea salt and star anise and stir to combine. Add the duck, cover with plastic wrap and leave to marinate for 30 minutes or as long as overnight in the refrigerator.

      For the salsa: While the duck marinates, combine the cilantro, ginger, chile, grapefruit, lime juice and zest, pears, mangos, onions and chile flakes in a medium bowl. Toss to combine and season with sea salt. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

      Heat a wok or pan over high heat and add the vegetable oil. Place the duck into the wok, skin-side down, and fry until the skin is brown and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the breasts and reduce the heat to medium. Cover and cook for 4 minutes.

      Remove the duck and let rest for 5 minutes. Chop the duck into bite-size pieces, then dust the pieces in the cornstarch and coat well.

      Heat a wok or pan over high heat and fill to a quarter of its depth with peanut oil. Heat the oil to 350 degrees F, or until a cube of bread turns golden brown in 15 seconds and floats to the surface. Ensure that your wok is stable before deep-frying.

      Place the duck pieces in a spider/scoop, carefully lower into the oil and fry until crispy and golden brown. Remove from the pan and drain on paper towels.

      To serve, spoon some crispy duck onto a tortilla and top with some Asian pear salsa. Serve with small bowls of cilantro, flaked sea salt and dried chile flakes so guests can season their own and help themselves.

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