Honey Roast Duck
User Reviews
4.9
Honey Roast Duck
Description
This Honey Roast Duck recipe involves seasoning a whole duck with a spice blend and scoring its skin to help fat release during roasting, which contributes to crispiness. The cavity is stuffed with garlic cloves, quartered onion, and rosemary sprigs (with options like lemon slices or apple for variation) to add subtle aromatic flavors. After trussing, the duck is roasted, allowing the honey glaze to caramelize and form a slightly sweet, sticky crust over the skin.
The finished roast presents a contrast between crunchy, glazed skin and succulent, juicy duck meat beneath. It is suited for festive dining or whenever a rich, scented poultry dish is desired. Typically, it is carved at the table and can be accompanied by root vegetables, roasted potatoes, or greens.
Cooked leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days or frozen for up to three months after cooling. Proper thawing and reheating methods will help retain moisture and flavor in reheated portions.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup honey
- 5 pounds duck whole
- ¼ onion
- garlic cloves
- rosemary Optional subs: lemon slices or a quartered apple, fresh sprigs
Instructions
- Completely defrost the duck in the refrigerator for 2-3 days if using a frozen duck, then remove the giblets and the neck. Rinse well, inside and out, with cold water and pat completely dry using paper towels. Let the duck sit out on the counter for 30 minutes to come up in temperature a bit.
- Use a sharp knife to score the skin on the duck's breast in a diamond pattern, trying to cut only the skin without reaching the breast meat below. If there are other fatty areas like where the duck legs connect to the body, give those a poke or slash as well.
- Stuff the cavity of the duck with garlic cloves, a quartered onion, and a couple of sprigs of rosemary. You could also use lemon slices or a quartered apple.
- Fold the loose skin on both ends of the duck to hold everything inside and tie the duck legs together. Do this with butcher's twine or string to truss it by tying a loop around one duck leg, then crossing it over the other leg and wrapping the twine around both legs a time or two, then tying it off.
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, paprika, garlic powder, and pepper, then rub it all over the duck.
- Place the duck breast-side up on a wire cooling rack over a baking sheet or on the rack of a large roasting pan.
- Start cooking the duck by roasting it at a high temperature of 425°F for 15 minutes, then decrease the oven temperature to 350°F and roast for 1 hour and 15 minutes. At the 60-minute mark, brush half of the honey over the duck, then cook for 10 minutes before brushing the duck with the remaining honey.
- If the juices are still running pink after a total of 1½ hours, let it roast another 15 minutes before pulling it out of the oven and tenting it with foil for 15 minutes to let the juices redistribute before carving. The duck will be done when the juice that runs from the thigh after poking it is barely just a rosy pink color.
Notes
- Cooked duck leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days when kept in an airtight container or tightly wrapped.
- Allow the cooked duck to cool completely before freezing; use a freezer-safe container or wrap securely to freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 2362 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 2362kcal | 118% |
| Carbohydrates | 19g | 6% |
| Protein | 66g | 132% |
| Fat | 223g | 343% |
| Saturated Fat | 75g | 375% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 29g | 171% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 106g | 530% |
| Cholesterol | 431mg | 144% |
| Sodium | 1522mg | 63% |
| Potassium | 1235mg | 26% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 18g | 36% |
| Vitamin A | 1448IU | 29% |
| Vitamin C | 16mg | 18% |
| Calcium | 69mg | 7% |
| Iron | 14mg | 78% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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