Duck Soup with Ginger and Star Anise
 
 
by:
Serves: 8 (one cup servings)
Ingredients
  • Backs, necks, giblets (excluding liver) wing tips, and outer wing joints of 2 ducks
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, plus a little extra for sauteing
  • Salt
  • 1 quart chicken broth
  • 1 ounce dried mushrooms
  • 2 thumb size pieces of fresh ginger, sliced into coins
  • 16 peppercorns
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 star anise
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 4 scallions
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 6 tablespoons sherry vinegar
  • A handful of Brussels sprout leaves
Instructions
  1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Place duck pieces on a large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with oil, sprinkle with salt, and toss to coat, arranging pieces in a single layer. Roast duck pieces until well browned, turning them once about halfway through cooking, 35 to 45 minutes.
  2. Turn duck pieces into a large pot; add broth, mushrooms, ginger, peppercorns, bay leaves, star anise and 1½ quarts of water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to simmer, partially covered, until broth is rich and flavorful, about 45 minutes. Strain broth; and when meat is cool enough to handle, cut giblets into small dice and pull meat from neck, back and wings; set aside (Broth, meat, and giblets can be covered and refrigerated up to 5 days in advance)
  3. When ready to serve, return broth to a simmer. Heat a splash of oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and scallions; saute until soft and fragrant, a couple of minutes. Add sugar, vinegar and duck meat; cook to thicken and intensify flavors, a couple of minutes longer. Just before ladling into bowls, drop Brussels sprouts leaves into the soup. Spoon a portion of the duck mixture in each of 8 small bowls. Ladle in broth and serve immediately.
Notes
Inspiration for this soup came BBC Food. Nigel Slater shares with readers (there’s a short video too) how to make a flavorful broth from a Peking duck carcass.
Recipe by Three Many Cooks at https://threemanycooks.com/recipes/duck-soup-with-ginger-and-star-anise/