Youxi Cured Duck

Youxi Cured Duck

　　Cured duck is a handmade product made by roasting raw duck over charcoal. The resulting dish has a strong smoky aroma, tender meat, delicious flavor with a hint of spiciness, making it a convenient accompaniment to alcohol. In addition to being sold at street stalls, it is also vacuum-packed and distributed within the province as a ready-to-eat cooked food. The preparation method involves cleaning a Muscovy duck, cutting off the feet and wing tips, splitting the body open from the abdomen, and marinating it with soy sauce, monosodium glutamate, sugar, five-spice powder, and chili powder to infuse flavor. The duck is then spread open using bamboo strips and secured flat with bamboo skewers, before being placed on an iron rack over a charcoal brazier and roasted on both sides alternately. While roasting, it is brushed with a sauce made from the aforementioned seasonings mixed with sesame oil until the surface turns a soy-sauce red and the duck is fully cooked.

　　Wenfeng cured duck and Shuidong cured duck are two major branded varieties of cured duck from Youxi. Their flavors are similar, but Wenfeng cured duck is roasted drier while Shuidong cured duck remains slightly moister, catering to different preferences.