Preparation
30 minutes
Cooking
45 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Duck Soup with Papaya For 4 people
Duck 1/2 bird Papaya 1 fruit Kumquat 2 fruits (quất) Lemongrass 2 stalks Green onions 3 stalks Minced garlic 5 cloves Small ginger 1 piece Chili 2 fruits Fish sauce 2 tablespoons Cooking oil 3 tablespoons Common spices a little (sugar/ pepper/ seasoning/ salt)
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh duck meat
- If buying live ducks: You can look at the outer feathers of the duck, choose those with smooth and full feathers, do not choose those with frizzy feathers as they may be molting or not healthy.
- It is advisable to choose ducks that are mature, with a round breast which will have more meat, and select those with thick skin on the neck and belly.
- You can try pulling the two duck wings together, if they just intertwine, then you should buy.
- If buying pre-prepared ducks: Choose ducks that have just been slaughtered, the outer skin should be a yellow color that is not too dark, blotchy, or has many bruises.
- Press your finger to feel the duck is firm, elastic, do not choose those that deform when pressed as they may have been water-injected.
- Do not choose young ducks, prefer ducks with less fat and more meat for better taste.
See more: How to choose good duck meat
How to choose fresh papaya
- Choose papayas that are elongated in shape, with a yellow skin that has tiny green spots. Typically, papayas with smooth shiny skin are those that have been artificially ripened and treated with chemicals.
- A crisp papaya when held will feel firm, with full and hard flesh, the stem should still be fresh and have sap flowing.
- To make the dish more visually appealing, you should choose papayas that are just starting to ripen, the flesh will have a beautiful pink-red color but still have a crunchy taste.
- Additionally, you should not buy papayas on rainy days (or in the rainy season) as they will not be sweet and delicious at that time.
See more: How to choose good papaya
How to prepare Duck soup with papaya
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Prepare the duck meat
To clean the duck and eliminate the unpleasant smell, use tweezers to remove any fine feathers, then place the duck in a basin, squeeze in the juice of 2 calamondins (or 1 lemon) along with a bit of salt, and massage the duck meat for about 5 minutes before rinsing it thoroughly with water.
Proceed to chop the duck into bite-sized pieces.
Tips for cleaning the duck and effectively eliminating the smell
- Carefully pluck the feathers to avoid having a smelly duck.
- Soak and rub the duck with salt, lemon or vinegar, and minced ginger, then let it sit for about 10 – 15 minutes before rinsing it several times with water. You can also chop the duck into smaller pieces, then briefly blanch it in boiling water with ginger and roasted shallots for about 5 minutes to eliminate the smell.
See more: The simplest tips to eliminate the smell of duck when cooking
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Prepare the papaya
Peel the papaya, wash it clean, then cut it lengthwise into 3 – 4 pieces, removing the flesh and seeds. Next, cut each long piece of papaya into small pieces about 1/2 finger thick (as shown).
Peel 1/2 of the ginger and slice it thinly, and cut the remaining part into strips.
Wash the green onions and lemongrass, then cut 2 stalks of green onions and lemongrass into pieces about 2 – 3 fingers long. Chop the remaining stalk of green onion finely.
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Marinate the duck meat
Place the duck meat in a bowl and marinate with 1/2 tablespoon of salt, 1/2 tablespoon of seasoning, 1 tablespoon of sugar, a bit of sliced ginger, some pepper, and 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, then mix well to let the meat absorb the spices. Marinate for about 15 minutes.
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Stir-fry and stew duck meat
Add 3 tablespoons of cooking oil to a hot pan, add 2 minced garlic cloves to sauté until fragrant, then add the marinated meat and stir-fry until the duck is sealed.
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Make duck stew with papaya
Put a pot on the stove with 2 liters of water, add the sliced ginger, the remaining minced garlic, chili, green onions, and lemongrass into the water.
When the water boils, add the stir-fried duck meat along with 1 tablespoon of seasoning, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1/2 tablespoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, simmer for about 15 minutes until the duck is cooked.
After 15 minutes, add the papaya and stew for another 10 minutes until the papaya is soft, adjust the seasoning to taste, then turn off the heat, sprinkle the chopped green onions on top to enhance the flavor of the dish.
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Final Product
The duck soup with sweet broth and tender duck meat combined with papaya will surely make family meals more flavorful and appealing.
See more:
Wishing you success in making the duck soup with papaya that is delicious and nutritious, easy to make at home as mentioned above!
*Images and recipes referenced from the YouTube channel: Living in the Countryside.
