Stuffed Roast Duck Recipe
This is my favorite way for a whole roast duck for a special occasion. Tender and juicy meat with crisp skin and delicious flavors. A simple recipe that is perfect for any dinner party and your whole family will love.
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time2 hrs 30 mins
Total Time2 hrs 50 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Diet: Gluten Free, Halal
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 1175kcal
- 2 onion (450g) roughly chopped.
- 2 teaspoons salt or to taste.
- ½ - 1 Tablespoon black pepper.
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin.
- ½ a lime.
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil.
- 5-6 pounds whole duck cleaned.
Preheat oven to 350F.
Pat dry the duck with paper towels.
In a bowl combine the first 5 ingredients and squeeze the half a lime over, keep the squeezed lime aside. Mix everything well.
Stuff duck cavity with the onion mixture leaving about two to three tablespoons aside.
Close the duck with toothpicks. You will probably need 3 -4 toothpicks.
Take the squeezed lemon and rub the outer duck skin front and back.
Now take the remaining onion mixture and rub the whole duck with it.
Place duck into a prepared oven bag, tie duck legs together and close the bag. Place in the oven for 2 ½ to three hours or until an instant-read thermometer inserted at the thickest part reads a minimum of 165F.
Take the duck out of the oven and wait for it to cool down so you can handle.
Transfer the duck to a baking pan and brown under the broiler or you can heat some olive oil in a pan and brown on stove top until you get a beautiful roasted look.
Let the duck rest for 5-10 minutes before carving and serving.
- If the duck’s skin has a yellow-ish thin layer over the skin, rub the skin with some bran to easily get it off. I am guessing that you can also use oats, the point is using something rough to peel off that thin layer. Bran is more commonly used in the Middle East.
- Here is my grandma's way of cleaning ducks:
- First rinse duck under cold running water, the outer and inner part of the duck, put your hand in the body cavity and cut any dangling fat or veins.
- Rub the whole bird inside out with a little bit of kosher salt then let it set for 5 minutes rinse with cold water.
- A Final step is rubbing the whole duck inside out with plain flour, let it set for 5 minutes then rinse again with a cold water.
- I also like to place the duck in a big enough bowl or pot, cover with cold water then add a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar to the water, let it soak there for 10 minutes then rinse with cold water.
- Do not get intimidated by the process it only takes like 20 minutes or so but it ensures there is no unpleasant smell in the duck.
- You should tie the duck's leg with a butcher’s twine. I did not have a twine at the time so I just cut a piece of foil, shaped it into a rope and use it. Another option is to use unwaxed dental floss.
- Black pepper is a key to spice up the onion mixture, I like adding a whole tablespoon but if you do not like black pepper you might want to cut back on it to your liking.
- Some people also add a couple of garlic cloves to the onion mixture, but I am used to the onions only version.
- If you do not want to bake the duck in the oven, here is another way you can cook it. Heat up 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a deep pot and brown the duck from all the sides. Cover with enough hot water add bay leaves, 2 cardamom pods and a quartered onion. Cook until it is done.
Please check the nutrition disclaimer policy for more information.
Calories: 1175kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 113g | Saturated Fat: 38g | Cholesterol: 215mg | Sodium: 762mg | Potassium: 643mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 476IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 7mg