Soy ginger glazed whole roasted duck over duck fat potatoes. This whole roasted duck is marinated in Chinese five spice and stuffed with aromatics, roasted over sliced potatoes that get flavored from the duck fat, and finished with a soy ginger glaze. This whole roasted duck over potatoes is the perfect holiday main course, full of flavor, and crispy delicious skin.

Whole duck

Duck is always a treat to eat. It has rich juicy meat and you can’t forget about the thick fatty skin that becomes crispy and is arguably the best part. Roasting a whole duck is a great meal for the holidays or when you want a more elevated and decadent dish.

Prepping the duck

1. When preparing whole poultry, I work in the sink and in a colander inserted in a bowl, to keep everything sanitary. Remove duck from package and remove: neck, gizzards, and any inner parts loose in the cavity. You can use for an alternate dish or discard.
2. Place duck on a small sheet pan with rack. Use a paper towel to dry the inside and outsides of the duck.
3. In a small bowl, make a mixture of five spice and kosher salt. Liberally season on the inside and outside of duck.
4. Rub the seasoning into the skin

1. Using kitchen shears, cut fatty deposits hanging off the back of the bird and discard.
2. Cut excess neck skin from the top
3. Use toothpicks to secure the neck skin down
4. Using a sharp pairing knife, make small pricks into the skin around the whole duck. This will help render the fat and allow the skin to become crisp.
5. Marinate the duck in the refrigerator overnight or minimum 4 hours.

Potatoes

Since duck has a high fat content, it tends to splatter when roasted on it’s own. By laying the duck on a bed of potatoes and shallots, as the fat renders out, the potatoes cook in the duck fat making them SO delicious and caramelized. Have you ever had duck fat potatoes? If not, you’re in for a major treat!

Stuffing duck

1. Besides the spices, another way to favor a duck is by stuffing the cavity with aromatics. For this recipe I used a whole head of garlic, cut in half, orange slices, and sliced ginger root.
2. Stuff the garlic, ginger, and orange slices into the cavity of the duck.
3. Using twine, tie the legs of the duck together.
4. Carefully set the duck on top of the bed of potatoes and shallots.
5. As the duck roasts, the flavors will not only flavor the meat from the inside, they will also flavor the potatoes underneath.
6. Roast the duck at 350F, for 2 hours.

Soy ginger glaze

1. While the duck roasts, make the soy ginger glaze in a saucepan. Over medium heat add: soy sauce, orange juice, mirin, honey, rice wine vinegar, and sliced ginger.
2. Bring the glaze to a gentle boil, then lower the heat to simmer. Allow the sauce to thicken for 10 minutes, then remove from heat.
3. After the 2 hours have elapsed, carefully remove the duck from the oven. Using two forks, flip the outermost potatoes over.
4. Using a brush, brush the duck with the glaze, getting all the crevices and sides. Place back in the oven for 30 more minutes, if the skin begins to brown too much, tent with foil.

Duck temperature and resting

• Temperature: Once the duck is done roasting, the internal temperature of the thickest part (usually the breast and thigh) should be 165F.
• Resting: Rest the duck for 10-15 minutes with foil tented on top, so the juices have a chance to redistribute. If you carve the duck right away, all the juices will run out and the meat will dry out.

Butchering a duck to serve

• To carve a roasted duck, use a large knife and meat fork to secure the duck.
• First, cut between the leg and the breast to separate the thigh from the bird. Tilt the bird to free the thigh bone with your hands. Repeat with other thigh.
• Next, locate the bone down the middle of the breast. Cut flush against that bone from the top to the bottom, then cut under to free the breast. Use your knife to cut the breast in halves or thirds.

Serving whole roasted duck with potatoes

Serve the duck fat potatoes and shallots with a few spoons of the pan drippings with duck breast or legs along the side.

Storing and reheating duck

• Storing duck and potatoes: Ensure you have butchered the roasted duck. Store duck and potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, with the potatoes on bottom.
• Reheat: Roast on a foil lined tray at 350F for 15 minutes until warmed through. Microwaving duck will result in soggy skin.

Looking for more roasted poultry recipes?

• Whole Roasted Chicken and Vegetables
• Peruvian Roasted Chicken

Made this recipe and loved it? Leave a star rating below!