Poultry Recipes - Stir Fried Duck And Bitter Melon

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp (15ml) fermented black beans

• 1 clove garlic

• 4 1/2 lb (2kg) duck

• 1 tbsp (15ml) sherry

• 1/2 tsp (2.5ml) chili pepper sauce

• 1 tbsp (15ml) cornstarch

• 1/2 lb (225g) fresh or canned bitter melon

• 5 tbsp (75ml) oil

• 1 cup (250ml) chicken stock

• extra 2 tsp (10ml) cornstarch

• 3 tbsp (45ml) water

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Method:

1. Soak black beans in water for 10 minutes. Drain and mash beans with garlic. Cut duck meat from breast and legs and reserve carcass for making stock. Cut meat across the grain into 1/2 inch (1cm) thick slices.

2. Mix hoisin sauce, sherry, chili pepper sauce and cornstarch. Add duck slices and mix well. Marinate for 20 minutes. If using fresh bitter melon, wash and drain. Remove stalks, halve bitter melon lengthwise and remove seedy center. Cut into thin slices. Bring plenty of salted water to boil, add bitter melon and parboil 4 minutes.

3. Rinse under cold running water until completely cooled; drain. If using canned bitter melon, drain liquid, rinse under cold running water, drain and slice.

4. Heat half the oil in a wok. Add black bean mixture and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add duck slices and stir-fry the bitter melon for 1- 1 1/2 minutes. Add stock and bring to a boil. Return duck slices to wok, reduce heat, cover and simmer until heated through. Blend cornstarch with water and add to wok; cook until sauce is thickened.