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Home » Wild Game » Ducks and Geese » Ceviche de Pato

Ceviche de Pato

By Hank Shaw on February 11, 2021 - 4 Comments

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4.75 from 4 votes
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Ceviche de pato is a misleading name for what is really Peruvian braised duck with a zippy, citrusy sauce — not raw duck in lime juice!

It is a fantastic way to eat duck legs (or wings), and the sauce, which hinges on hot (but not too hot) chiles, garlic, cumin and lots of citrus, is such a winner you’ll want to make it and serve it on pretty much anything.

ceviche de pato with duck legs on a platter
Photo by Hank Shaw

I should state at the outset that my rendition of this homey dish is a little different from the traditional.

Normally, you will see ceviche de pato as a one-pot stew, where a whole duck, cut into pieces, will simmer with the sauce, and often chunks of yuca root, a/k/a manioc, lots of onion, and sometimes carrots.

This is nice, but I really don’t like braised duck breast. It gets chalky and livery, at least to me. So I could have simply used a bunch of duck or goose legs and wings and braised the lot. That will work, and it’s a great way to go if you have skinless legs lying around your kitchen. (It is also the way I might do this with chicken or pheasant.)

But, if you have skin-on legs — store-bought, or from geese like specklebellies, or fat mallards — it would be a crime to not enjoy that skin crispy, no?

So in this case, I break from tradition and roast the legs in an open pan until they are tender, make the sauce separately, then join them together on the plate. Not traditional, but very, very good.

The sauce is vaguely similar to the marinade in another Peruvian dish I make, anticuchos de corazon, marinated, grilled hearts. If you can find Peruvian chiles, which are increasingly common in Latin markets sold either jarred, in puree, or pickled, by all means use them.

You’ll want both aji amarillo, which is a golden orange, as well as aji panca, which is a brick red.

If you can’t find these, which is entirely possible, use guajillo or New Mexican or California chiles, which are a bright crimson when rehydrated, and not too spicy. All are easily found either in Latin markets or in larger mainstream supermarkets.

To use them for this recipe, you will want to remove the seeds and stems from 4 or 5 dried chiles. Put them in a bowl and pour boiling water over them. Let them soften about 20 minutes. Add the rehydrated chiles to the sauce as per the instructions below, then puree as normal. The color will be different, but it will get you close.

A platter of goose legs served with ceviche de pato sauce.
Photo by Holly A. Heyser

As for the citrus, my first choice would be Seville orange juice, which is a bitter orange. Hard to find. Easier is a 50-50 mix of lime juice and either orange juice or tangerine juice. If you happen to have some grapefruits, they are nice, too, but not traditional.

You will want to serve your ceviche de pato with either simple steamed rice, or boiled yuca root, which is increasingly available in supermarkets. Potatoes are another good, and very Peruvian, option.

ceviche de pato with duck legs on a platter
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4.75 from 4 votes

Ceviche de Pato

This is an untraditional take on the Peruvian classic. I do this so you have crispy skin and the sauce is brighter and more flavorful than it would be if it were long simmered. Feel free to sub in chicken legs or pheasant thighs here.
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time2 hrs
Total Time2 hrs 20 mins
Course: lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Peruvian
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 504kcal
Author: Hank Shaw

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds duck or goose legs
  • Salt
  • 2 cups duck stock or chicken stock

SAUCE

  • 2 tablespoons duck fat or olive oil
  • 1 small red onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon oregano (see below)
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 1/4 cup pisco, mezcal or tequila
  • 1/4 cup duck or chicken stock
  • 2 tablespoons aji panca paste (see above)
  • 2 tablespoon aji amarillo paste (see above)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325°F. Salt the duck well and set them, skin side up, in a casserole or baking dish that just about fits them. Pour in the 2 cups stock only to the point it comes up to the skin of the legs. You don't want them submerged. Pop everything in the oven and let this bake for at least 90 minutes, or until the legs are tender.
  • Meanwhile, make the sauce. In a smallish pot or deep-sided pan, heat the duck fat over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for a few minutes, until it is translucent but not browned. Add the garlic and cook another minute or two. Add all the remaining ingredients, stir well and bring to a simmer. Cook gently for about 15 minutes.
  • Move the sauce to a blender and puree. Pour back into a small pot and leave it alone for the moment.
  • When the legs are tender, bring the sauce back to a simmer and spread some on everyone's plate. Top with the legs and garnish with cilantro. Serve with rice and/or boiled potatoes or yuca.

Notes

NOTE: If for some reason you happen to have the herb huacatay, which is common in Peruvian cooking, use it instead of the oregano. 

Nutrition

Calories: 504kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 178mg | Sodium: 218mg | Potassium: 293mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 89IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 4mg
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Filed Under: Ducks and Geese, Featured, Recipe, Wild Game

Avatar for Hank Shaw

Hank Shaw

Hey there. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet's largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.

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Comments

  1. Avatar for Jeff PollackJeff Pollack says

    February 11, 2021 at 12:54 pm

    Kick ass ! (from Jersey !)

    Reply
  2. Avatar for Eric TheiseEric Theise says

    February 11, 2021 at 9:46 am

    I recently discovered the pleasures of aji amarillo and aji panca, in paste form, while making carapulca for the first time. Evergreen Market in San Francisco’s Mission District carries a selection of Peruvian ingredients, including papa seca, the dehydrated potatoes used in that dish. Looking forward to trying this recipe.

    Reply
  3. Avatar for Austin G EnglishAustin G English says

    February 11, 2021 at 8:04 am

    Hank,

    I don’t duck hunt but am interested in a stew with chicken parts, probably slow cooker for stew. What would change too get the extra volume needed… Or what is the stew version in comparison.

    Reply
    • Avatar for Hank ShawHank Shaw says

      February 11, 2021 at 8:28 am

      Austin: Depends on how much stew you want to make, but definitely double the sauce, and then add enough chicken broth to make it stewy.

      Reply

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Hi, my name is Hank Shaw. I am a James Beard Award-winning author and chef and I focus my energies on wild foods: Foraging, fishing, hunting. I write cookbooks as well as this website, have a website dedicated to the intersection of food and nature, and do a podcast, too. If it’s wild game, fish, or edible wild plants and mushrooms, you’ll find it here. Hope you enjoy the site!

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