A Whole Duck Holiday (Best Table Settings For Serving Duck During The Holidays)
POSTED: 12/15/2022
It’s the holiday season and if your friends and family will soon be coming around, then you are probably feeling pressure to treat them to a memorable meal. If you are searching for a truly unique dish to serve this Thanksgiving or Christmas, take a look at whole duck.
Roasted whole duck is a rich, tender entrée that works well at the center of any special meal. It’s packed full of flavor that can easily complement your favorite sauce, side or wine. To personalize your menu to meet your tastes and match your cooking ability, check out our favorite whole duck holiday tips.
Roasting basics
Although you may think preparing whole duck is difficult, it’s really pretty simple if you follow these basic cooking tips:
- For golden crispy skin, rub the skin of the raw duck with paprika prior to cooking. Once it’s done cooking place it under the broiler for a few minutes to crisp the skin to a beautiful golden brown. Make sure to watch it closely so it does not burn or char.
- If you want to cut your cooking time, try butterflying the duck. This method ensures consistent cooking and a crispy skin.
- Once your whole duck is finished roasting, let it rest before carving it. If this is your first time carving a duck, watch this video for a step-by-step tutorial!
Sauces to dress up your duck dish
A simple way to add variety to any duck dish is to add a sauce. Because duck has a deep, rich flavor, pairing it with a sweet or tangy sauce creates a wonderful dining experience. A couple of our favorite sauce recipes to pair with roasted duck include tart Cherry Sauce and tangy Currant Sauce. Roast duck also pairs well with your favorite sweet-sour cranberry, pomegranate or red wine sauce.
Interested in exploring other options? Check out the recipe catalog or other blogs on our website for inspiration.
Wines that work well with roasted duck
Duck is a favorite among wine connoisseurs because its rich flavor balances the acidity of many wines. Because duck is a red meat but has several poultry qualities, you might be uncertain about what wine to pair with your duck dish. However, it is not as hard as you may think because your options are really endless since duck is so versatile.
You can’t really go wrong pairing Pinot Noir with any duck dish—it's a classic match because the fruity notes of the wine enhance the rich flavor of the duck. It works particularly well with any duck dish served with a fruit sauce. For a duck dish that is served with a savory sauce, we recommend trying a Zinfandel or Merlot. If you prefer white wine, try pairing duck with an Oaky Chardonnay.
Sides to serve with whole duck
If you roast whole duck, be sure to save the carcass and fat to make stock, gravy, sides and more! In fact, duck fat can enhance the flavor of any of your favorite side dishes. If you are not sure how to incorporate it into your preparation, check out the following recipes to see how it can amplify holiday favorites.
