Cantonese Recipe

Cantonese Marinated Duck

Marinated duck, soy duck, and some wor siu duck preparations use duck simmered or roasted with soy, spices, ginger, and scallion.

Recipe at a glance

PurposeMenu-derived Chinese restaurant recipe family
Cuisine or formatCantonese
Consolidation ruleClosely related menu names are treated as one recipe family when the sauce, technique, or format is the same.

Ingredients

  • 1 duck or 4 duck legs
  • 1/2 cup light soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 3 slices ginger
  • 2 scallions
  • 2 star anise
  • 1 cinnamon piece
  • 2 cups water
  • Optional pineapple or lychee for sweet banquet variants

Method

  1. Blanch duck briefly and rinse.
  2. Simmer soy sauces, sugar, aromatics, and water.
  3. Add duck and cook gently until tender.
  4. Turn periodically for even color.
  5. Rest before chopping.
  6. Reduce sauce if desired.
  7. Serve with rice or noodles.

Menu-literacy notes

  • Marinated duck differs from crisp roast duck.
  • Some banquet variants add fruit or sweet sauce.
  • Chopped duck may include bones.

Menu appearances covered by this recipe

  • Marinated Duck
  • Pa Chen Duck
  • Wor Siu Duck
  • Pineapple Lychee Duck

Variations and substitutions

  • Adjust the protein or vegetable only when the core technique and sauce remain recognizable.
  • For allergies or religious dietary needs, check sauces, broth, wrappers, cooking wine, and shared wok or fryer use.
  • For restaurant-style versions, texture matters as much as flavor: noodles should not be mushy, fried items should not be soggy, and broths should remain clear unless the dish calls for thickness.

Related guides