Friday, March 6, 2009

The Feng Family Secret Peking Duck Recipe

So the story is, Jeff won Ilene's family over by making Peking duck for them before asking her parents' permission for her hand in marriage. And I happened to have a duck defrosting in the fridge, so I asked him if I could get his recipe. I'd perused many on-line versions, and they all seemed very complicated. Some had you drying the duck for hours, pouring boiling water over the skin and then drying it again before glazing it and drying it even more, and some even included using a bicycle pump to inflate the space between the duck skin and meat. Thankfully, the recipe that Jeff gave me was a lot simpler. The only stipulation: that I not post it because it's been handed down through his family over the years. I did get permission to post pictures of it, though, so here you go.

Peking duck - day 1 of drying in the fridge
Day 1

Duck dried for 4 days in the fridge
Day 3

Stuffing the duck with scallions
Stuffed

After 1 hour in the oven
Day 3 + 1 hour

2nd glazing
Day 3 + 2 hours

Finished!
Day 3 + 2 hours and 10 minutes

Homemade Chinese pancakes for Peking duck
Homemade Chinese pancakes

Making the Peking duck wrap
Duck meat, skin, scallions, and Hoisin sauce on pancake

Peking duck wrap
Wrapped

Jenny and Matt came over to taste test, and there were comments like, "I just don't want this to ever stop; it's so good."

So Ilene, you don't have to marry Jeff just to get the recipe; I can give it to you if you want it. ;)

Everyone else, I'll be accepting (and reserving the right to decline) marriage proposals. ^_^

More pictures here.

33 comments:

  1. So since California now doesn't allow same-sex marriage, guess that means I have to move to Massachusetts? ;)

    Hmm. I wonder if I look at your pictures often enough the recipe will come to me through osmosis?

    And, Ilene (I don't know who you are), but marry him. A man who can make Peking duck is a keeper!

    ReplyDelete
  2. You can't *post* the recipe, but could you email it to me? I love Peking Duck! Please-please?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I looooove peking duck but never even considered making it at home. I'm definitely giving this a try one of these days!

    ReplyDelete
  4. If I promise to never..ever..on all that is holy..as long as I live..til death do I part..to never EVER share it with anyone..blood kin or no--living OR dead..

    ..would you email me the recipe?!!

    PLLLLEEEEAAASSSEEE???? ::k..?::

    ReplyDelete
  5. wow that looks good. any chance marti convinced you that you can email it? i promise i won't post it either!

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is so good and delicious. I'm literally drooling over your peking duck. Would you email me the recipe, pls? I promise I won't post it online nor share it with anyone else.

    Living in France, I haven't had peking duck for years.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'd love to get the recipe ... I'd even settle for hints! Email me please =)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I was just browsing for food blogs and came across yours. There are so many recipes I'm dying to try! I saw this one and just started drooling immediately as Peking duck is my favorite dish of all time. Any hint or partial hint, partial recipe would be greatly, greatly appreciated, please email me! I promise to never share! :) Thank you for your blog, by the way. It's really wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hullo, I know many has asked you for this recipe, I feel rather bad asking, but for the life of me I have been looking all across the internet and books for the past 2 and a half years and still cannot find an authentic Peking Duck recipe.

    If you would e-mail it to me at GreggyBearDaddy@yahoo.com I would be indebted to you. I understand if you do not want to give it out, I would never give the recipe to anyone though (I have my very one dumpling recipe I created that no one knows the secrets of but me).

    Thank you very much, I wouldn't ask if I wasn't at the end of the line.

    ReplyDelete
  10. the picture are amazing, and it will be a grate honor and challenge to cook it. Can you send me your recipe if you please. Thank you.

    manuelfeito@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. i want to make the wrap! can you please sent me the recipe? perth_amy@yahoo.com.cn THANKYOU

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is making me soooo homesick. I'm stuck in England and the Chinese food here is so dire.... If you tell me the recipe I promise to never divulge it, not even to my future children.

    Thank you! And thank you for sharing these pictures and reminding me that food doesn't normally swim in mysterious orange sauces!

    emchen11@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Are you willing to email the recipe?

    angelaqchow@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. i'm in cambridge, ma. i could possibly meet u to watch you cook and i'll just note down whatever you're doing - does that count as sharing recipe? i so love peking duck!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am preparing a surprise dinner for my mom of all her favorite foods that she enjoys. So I've been looking online for various recipes and came across your site. As I was looking through your recipes, I came across this one. My mom loveeess peking duck and I never thought to try and make it. So I was wondering if you would send to me the recipe for the duck and the pancakes so that I can try and make it for my mom. If you do decide to email me the recipe, I promise never ever to reveal the recipe and will do justice to "the recipe". Thank you in advance!

    Also, continue posting recipes and pictures! They're amazing!

    My email is moochiejy@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Please send me recipes ! The duck look yummy

    Thanks

    jomp0723@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Could you possibly consider sending the recipe to me? I am marrying an amazing Shanghai guy and I want so much to make him happy by learning traditional Chinese cooking. Thank you so much!

    freeverse212@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. The duck looks very good! Please send me the recipe to frankcastelazo@gmail.com

    Thanks! and good luck.

    ReplyDelete
  19. wow, looks so delicious ^^
    i really want the recipe, email me please

    lyyin_lion@yahoo.com

    thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Beautiful duck!
    Can you please send me your recipe?

    liv_santos@yahoo.com

    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I would love the recipe I want to make it for our family please send to bettola1@gmail.com.. Thank you..

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow this looks amazing! I'm not sure if you are still sending out the recipe but if you are, I'd love to give it a try.

    I can be reached at pooney15@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Gorgeous! Thank you for posting pictures. We raised a dozen fat ducks last year and I still have a few waiting in the freezer. Would you consider sending me the recipe? pretty please? I am at agonies @ gmail.com. Thanks again and happy cooking!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oops it is aeonius, not agonies - drat that autocorrect....

      Delete
  24. going mad looking at the pictures! Could you kindly send me the recipe? My email:
    twinkle9099@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I will marry you right now if you send me the recipe!! Like those who came before on this post, I will NOT share it. Just a homesick boy trying to make his own Peking duck.

    Shenanigear@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi Joy,
    Does the sugar and soy sauce book have this peking duck recipe? I'm going to be moving from Vancouver, BC to Mexico and am anticipating I will really miss duck!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi! can i ask for the recipe? Your duck looks very good! Please email me chinita.cdo@gmail.com. Thank you very much!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi! Can I please beg for the emailed recipe? Trying to do a play off a tur-duck-en for Thanksgiving and your duck really is the best I've seen out there.
    If possible, please email to
    rita10024@gmail.com.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry, I keep my promises, so I'm still not giving away the recipe. =(

      Delete
  29. I'm begging you :( can you please share the recipe :(

    ReplyDelete
  30. You know I could never understand why people would not want to share recipes. What have they got to lose? I can understand it completely if they operate a restauran.t I am just the opposit, I like to spread the joy to everyone.

    ReplyDelete