Duck Stir Fry Noodles

Description

Duck Stir Fry Noodles is a dish that I love to make either as a More Recipe for any Asian style meat dish that I cook or even as a main meat dish.  It is definitely a One Pot Wonder as well.  I love preparing and eating Asian dishes.  Whether the dish is stir fry, main meat dishes or soups. The dishes are quick and easy to prepare if you have all the right ingredients. I can feed a whole household with stir fry dishes. Everyone loved this dish. Using deli BBQ duck is a nice alternative to the basic proteins such as chicken, pork, beef and seafood. All stir fry’s whether it be rice or noodles is always a go to for me.  As I stated in my Air Fryer Crispy Pork Belly Recipe, I really enjoy going to the deli at the Asian Markets and purchasing precooked meats.  I have 3 favorites I always get, and they are Crispy Pork Belly, BBQ Pork and Duck.  I purchase the whole duck and have them chop it for me.  I utilize it in at least 3 meals.  I freeze it in portions and add it to stir fry’s or even just reheat it and eat it on its own with green onion pancakes and hoisin sauce, yum.

Small Facts About Chinese Roasted Duck

Ducks were domesticated by the Chinese as early as 4000 years ago.  Roasted duck was a dish that was sold door to door in early Chinese Culture and is a highly regarded meat and has been served to royalty throughout the ages is still served in many Asian dishes.  The Chinese people believe that duck has many medicinal properties, and they utilize the entire bird to make healing broths and dishes.  I always feel good after I have eaten of meal with duck.  My granddaughter Janelle really loves duck and I try to always make sure I have some on hand in the freezer to make her something great for dinner and of course for her doggy bag to take home.

Easy and Quick Recipe

This meal is fast and easy to make as your protein is already cooked.  All you need to do is remove the duck meat from the bones and the skin.  Keep the skin as it will give the dish a great Umami boost to the dish later.

Once the duck meat is separated cut it into smaller cubes and set aside.  Decide on what ingredients you want or have on hand.  I utilized Carrots, onions and sweet bell peppers.  This dish can be made with so many different varieties of noodles but my favorite for stir frying is Asian egg noodles.  I find that they keep their texture and shape well in stir fry’s.  Of course, there is a stir fry sauce that you need to make.  I always make my own sauces for any Asian dish I cook.  I really don’t like the package sauces.  The ingredients always scare me.  Eating foods made with words I can’t pronounce or understand is not good eating to me. There are staple ingredients that I must keep on hand for cooking Asian meals.

Most Popular Asian Ingredients

Cooking authentic Asian food requires the proper ingredients.  Yes, substitution's  can be made with North American pantry products but nothing beats original Umami flavors that come with authentic Asian ingredients.  Here is a list of must haves for your pantry that I use.  The flavors that give Asian cuisine its distinctive taste is the formula for perfect cuisine, Bitter, Sweet, Sour, Salty and Umami

(Umami is Savory).  Always remember this formula when cooking all your meals.  These are the receptors in our taste buds and when all are ignited you have a wonderful taste experience. 

Light and Dark Soy Sauce - Have both varieties on hand.  Dark Soy Sauce is thicker and sweeter than normal or Light Soy and it is more suitable in cooking in dishes as to using it as a condiment.  It gives a rich dark color to your dishes as well. 

Sesame Oil - Is an essential ingredient for Asian cooking.  Toasted Sesame Oil and Seeds give Chinese and Asian dishes that distinct flavor.  Utilize this oil in small amounts as the fragrance and flavor can overwhelm a dish. 

Vinegars - Rice Wine Vinegar, Black Vinegar and just regular White Vinegar.  Vinegar adds that tangy sour note to Asian dishes.

Cooking Wine - I use Shao Xing Wine.  It is a rice wine.  You may use any other that you prefer but I will never substitute this wine.  It really gives the dish a combination that is a little acidic, a bit salty and not very sweet and savory all in one. 

Crispy Chili Oil – Whenever I want some heat in my dish, I add Crispy Chili Oil.  It not only adds flavor to a dish but also adds a beautiful color and the crispiness of the pepper adds texture.

Fish Oil – Depending on the region of the Asian cuisine dish that I am making, this sauce is a must.  East and south Asian countries utilize fish sauce in dishes.

Dried Mushrooms – This adds that wonderful Umami flavor.  Mushrooms are a flavor enhancer and can be used dried, ground or rehydrated.  Great way to get that Umami flavor in your dish.  My favorite is Dried Shitake Mushrooms.  Try them and they last for months in your pantry.

Fermented Black Beans – These beans are not the same as regular black beans in a can.  They are black soybeans and add an exciting Salty flavor in dishes.

Five Spice Powder – This is a blend of Peppercorns, Star Anise, Cinnamon, Fennel and Cloves.  It is described as Sweet, Spicy, earthy and aromatic. 

There are many other pantry items you can keep on hand that are essential such as variety of noodles and rice blends. Rice Noodles, Egg Noodles are just a couple of suggestions.  Additional sauces that also add great flavor are oyster, hoisin and peanut sauce.  Ginger and Garlic are also a must, fresh or minced in a jar version is fine.  I always have these two in my fridge.  I even freeze the raw ginger and just grate it when I need it. 

Not all these ingredients are available in Major Grocery Stores.  Take a trip to your closest Asian Market and open your world to a new culinary experience.  Most products are in English and Chinese, and I usually can find them all just by taking my time browsing through every aisle. 

The Stir Fry Sauce compliments the duck and adds great flavor to the noodles.  It is comprised of Shao Xing wine, light and dark soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sugar, black vinegar, crispy chili oil and sesame oil and garlic.  This sauce covers all taste requisites of Bitter, Sweet, Sour, Salty and Umami.