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Simple Herb Roast Duck with Crispy Skin

A split image showing a whole roast duck with crispy skin and sliced roast duck revealing pink interior.
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Learn to roast a whole duck for tender meat and mahogany, crispy skin using simple herbs and citrus.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 whole duck (about 5–6 lbs)
  • 1 large orange, halved
  • 1 lemon, halved
  • 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 6 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 tablespoon coarse salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  1. Remove the duck from its packaging. Remove any giblets from the cavity. Pat the entire duck, inside and out, very dry with paper towels. This step is key for crispy skin.
  2. Place the duck on a rack set inside a roasting pan. Prick the skin all over the breast and legs using a sharp fork or skewer. Do not pierce the meat underneath, only the fat layer.
  3. Stuff the cavity with the orange halves, lemon halves, rosemary, and thyme sprigs.
  4. In a small bowl, mix the salt, pepper, paprika, and olive oil to form a paste. Rub this mixture all over the duck skin.
  5. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
  6. Place the roasting pan in the preheated oven. Roast for 30 minutes at 400 degrees F.
  7. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Continue roasting for about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).
  8. During the roasting process, periodically pour off the rendered fat from the bottom of the pan to prevent smoking and help the skin crisp.
  9. Once cooked, remove the duck from the oven. Tent loosely with foil and let it rest for 15 minutes before carving.

Notes

  • Save the rendered duck fat for roasting potatoes later.
  • If the skin is not crisp enough after resting, place the duck briefly under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
  • For a simple glaze, mix 1/4 cup honey with 2 tablespoons orange juice and brush onto the duck during the last 20 minutes of cooking.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://rosatasty.com/roast-duck-recipe-crispy-skin/