Grilled duck with mac mat leaves is a unique dish with a very distinctive delicious flavor, the duck meat is tender and absorbs the taste extremely attractively. Today, let’s join TasteVN get into the kitchen to immediately prepare grilled dishes that are rich in the essence of the Northwest mountains in two ways: grilled duck with mac mat leaves using an oven and grilled duck with mac mat seeds using an air fryer!
1. Grilled duck with mac mat leaves

Preparation
20 minutes
Cooking
50 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Grilled Duck with Mac Mat Leaves For 4 people
Duck 1 (about 2.5 kg) Mac mat leaves 100 gr Mac mat fruit 50 gr Ginger 1 piece Garlic 5 cloves Shallots 4 bulbs Cinnamon stick 5 gr (about 1 stick) Star anise 1 piece Honey 2 tablespoons Salt/ seasoning powder a little
What is Mac Mat leaf? How to choose and where to buy Mac Mat leaves
- Mac Mat leaves are a type of leaf widely grown in the Northwest mountainous region, containing a lot of fragrant essential oil used to make dishes aromatic and very appealing.
- In addition to its uses as an ingredient in food, the leaves also have very good health benefits for humans.
- Mac Mat leaves are widely sold in the market; you can buy this leaf at markets or supermarkets.
- You should choose Mac Mat leaves that are dark green, with a smooth, shiny surface, and look fresh for delicious grilled dishes.
Tools needed
Oven, grill rack, bowl, spoon, chopsticks,…
How to prepare Grilled Duck with Mac Mat leaves
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Prepare the ingredients
You buy the duck and wash it with salt, using salt and ginger to rub on the duck’s body to eliminate the odor. Then, use scissors to cut along the back of the duck.
Wash the Mac Mat leaves and chop them finely. Crush the Mac Mat fruit.
Peeled shallots and garlic, minced. Crush cinnamon and star anise.
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Marinate the duck
Use a sharp tool to poke the skin of the duck, allowing it to absorb the seasoning more evenly during marination.
Use a bowl to mix the seasoning including 100g of finely chopped mac mat leaves, 50g of ground mac mat seeds, 5 minced garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons of seasoning powder, and 1 tablespoon of honey.
Then, use your hands to rub the mixed seasoning all over the duck to marinate it. Let the duck marinate for about 2 hours.
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Grill the duck
Place the marinated duck on a grilling rack, then put it in the oven, grilling at 210 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes, then take it out to flip the duck and grill for an additional 15 minutes for even cooking on both sides.
When the duck is nearly cooked, take it out and brush a mixture of 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of ground star anise on the surface of the duck. Grill for an additional 5 minutes.
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Finished Product
The aroma of the leaves and seeds of the Mac Mat, combined with the fragrant scent of cinnamon and star anise, creates an appealing roasted duck dish.
The roasted duck meat is tender and sweet, infused with rich spices without being dry, making it increasingly appetizing with each bite.
2. Roasted Duck with Mac Mat Seeds and Mac Khen

Preparation
15 minutes
Cooking
30 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Roasted Duck with Mac Mat Seeds and Mac Khen Serves 2
Duck 1/2 piece (about 800g/ choosing Muscovy duck will taste better) Mac Khen seeds 10 g Mac Mat 3 seeds Dried chili 5 g Seasoning powder 3 teaspoons Sesame oil 2 teaspoons White wine 200 ml Ginger 1 piece (mashed)
What is Mac Khen? How to choose, where to buy Mac Khen
- Mac Khen is a type of seed that grows in clusters on a woody tree found mainly in the mountainous regions of North West Vietnam. Mac Khen is harvested around November, then dried and used as a spice in various dishes.
- Mac Khen has a taste quite similar to pepper but is spicier and more aromatic. Currently, you can buy Mac Khen seeds at dry spice stores, supermarkets, or online through e-commerce sites.
- When buying Mac Khen, it’s best to choose seeds that are dry, loose, have a strong aroma, and show no signs of pests or mold. Additionally, be sure to check the expiration date and origin to ensure safety when using.
What is Mac Mat seed? Where to buy?
- In addition to Mac Mat leaves, Mac Mat seeds are also used to marinate grilled dishes such as grilled duck, grilled pork, etc. These seeds come from the Mac Mat tree, which are harvested and dried for later use.
- You can also find Mac Mat seeds at spice stores, supermarkets, or online…
Tools needed
How to Prepare Grilled Duck with Mac Mat and Mac Khen Seeds
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Prepare the Ingredients
To eliminate the smell, wash the duck meat with water, then use a mixture of white wine and crushed ginger to rub the meat thoroughly for about 3 minutes, then rinse with water until clean. Cut the duck meat into large pieces about 2 finger widths, and let it drain.
Put the Mac Khen seeds and Mac Mat seeds into a mortar and crush them.
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Marinate the Duck Meat
Place the duck meat in a bowl with 10g of crushed Mac Khen seeds, 3 Mac Mat seeds, 5g of dried chili seeds, 3 teaspoons of seasoning powder, and 2 teaspoons of sesame oil.
Mix well, then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to let the duck absorb the spices.
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Grill the Duck
Place the meat in an air fryer, grill for 30 minutes at a temperature of 200 degrees Celsius until the meat is cooked.
Note: To ensure the meat cooks evenly, after 15 minutes of grilling, take the duck out, flip it over, and continue grilling for another 15 minutes. -
Final Product
Grilled duck with mac mat and mac khen has a fragrant aroma that stimulates the taste buds, the duck meat is not dry but still retains its softness and sweetness. Additionally, with this grilling method, the duck meat does not absorb much grease, allowing you to eat more without feeling overwhelmed.
To enhance the flavor, enjoy the grilled duck with garlic chili sauce!
How to choose fresh and delicious duck meat
- You should choose ducks that have just been slaughtered, with skin that is yellow in color but not too dark, blotchy, or bruised.
- Choose ducks with taut, unwrinkled skin; if you press on it and it bounces back, it is good duck.
- You should choose Muscovy ducks instead of other ducks as they are usually fattier and will make the dish tastier.
Effective Ways to Eliminate the Smell of Duck Meat
You can use a mixture of salt, lemon, or vinegar to scrub the entire duck, which is also a commonly used method to eliminate odors and clean the duck.
Alternatively, you can use a mixture of rice wine and sliced ginger, gently rubbing and squeezing the entire duck to ensure it is thoroughly clean and free of odors. Then rinse with water and let it dry.
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On weekends, gather with family to enjoy 2 dishes of grilled duck with mac mat leaves that is both delicious and very unique, so why hesitate to show off your skills and treat your family! TasteVN wishes you success in your cooking.