Duck fried rice is a fantastic way to use leftover duck meat, or to make good use of otherwise “off” ducks that you have to skin, like divers, sea ducks and spoonies.
Traditional Chinese fried rice is largely a thrown-together affair; it’s meant to be made with leftover rice, leftover meat, and whatever vegetables you have lying around. Here in the United States, it’s more of a planned thing, and there are many, many versions.
My favorite way to make duck fried rice is with leftover leg and wing meat, shredded. You start with something like my easy roast duck legs, or duck confit, and use that for this recipe. I find this superior to using breast meat.
But, many times you will find yourself with skinless duck breast, especially from “off” ducks like sea or diver ducks, or spoonies. In this case, you dice the meat and stir fry it at the same time you are making the rice. The effect is mostly cooked breast meat that is a little pink inside, but not overcooked and livery.
I like the sort of fried rice you get here in America, with the carrots and peas and bits of scrambled egg; I lived off the stuff in high school and college, when it was my primary lunch. As a young track and field athlete, a pint — sometimes even a quart — of fried rice was a sure fire way to fuel up before or after practice.
When you are making fried rice, there is only one iron law: You must use cooked, cooled rice. It won’t fry up right if you use freshly made rice. You can make it a few hours ahead of time and cool the rice on a baking sheet, but day old rice is best. And use long-grain rice, like jasmine, for best results.
Feel free to play with my recipe for duck fried rice: Use goose, or any other leftover meat. Shredded venison, chicken, pheasant, you name it. You can also adjust the amounts in the ingedients, too, to suit your taste. Making fried rice should be fun, stress free and above all, easy.
Duck Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons duck fat or peanut oil
- 3 scallions, chopped, white and green parts separate
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 to 3 small, hot chiles, chopped
- 1/2 pound leftover shredded duck meat (see above for duck breast option)
- 3 cups cooked, cooled rice, jasmine if possible
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced small
- 1 cup peas, fresh or thawed
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
Instructions
- Get a wok or large frying pan very hot over a strong burner. Add the duck fat or peanut oil, and the moment it begins to smoke, add the garlic, chiles and the white part of the scallions. Stir fry about 30 seconds.
- Add the duck meat, rice, carrots and peas and stir fry 2 minutes. Push everything to one side of the wok and pour in the beaten egg. Swirl it with a chopstick or somesuch until it sets, then stir fry it into the rest of the rice. This helps keep it in largish, recognizable pieces.
- Let the stir fry sit for 1 minute without touching it. You want to develop some browning and crispiness on the bottom. After the minute has elapsed, pour the soy sauce in around the edges of the rice, then mix well. Turn off the heat and drizzle the sesame oil over it.
This reminded me that I had 7-8 duck breasts in the freezer so I tossed them on the smoker when I did some pork and walleye today. Wow, this is the best fried rice ever. I got out a packet of fried rice seasoning but forgot to add it and thank goodness i did. This is just so good w/o it.
Tomorrow ill use the smoked walleye fillet to make Hanks fish / dill dip for a work carry in. Thank you sir! I visit the site often and have bought 2 of your books.
What a great recipe to have in my arsenal! I recently roasted a duck and had two leg quarters left. and while searching through recipe ideas I came across this recipe. I followed the recipe exactly (as I feel its always important, and then tweak to taste if needed). I did sprinkle some of the scallion greens over top when I served it. This recipe did not need anything. It was perfect as is. Thank you for sharing! (leaving a photo on Instagram!)
Made this for dinner. Omitted the chilies to reduce the spicyiness of the dish. Delicious!
Love, love, love this recipe.
I’m about a poor of a duck hunter as they come, but a friend of mine always gives me skinned out duck breasts. Likely out of pity.
This is my favorite meal to make when I’m donated a breast. Chunking up the breast meat is also a great way to avoid any stray shot. Chipped my tooth on one of those buggers last year when I cooked the mallard breast up like a steak.
Used some goldeneye breasts to make this for lunch. Was delicious. Only thing for improvement is amounts where a little bit too much for my wok. Next time I would split it and make it twice to get the added crispness.
Another excellent recipe. Thank you!
This is delicious comfort food at it’s best. Definitely going to try this when I have leftover duck.
Delicious and easy! Great way to use up leftover meat and veggies. Even our 2 year old loved it. This will definitely be making its way into our regular rotation.
Thanks so much for this recipe. Super quick and tasty, with lots of chances to customize. I think this will become a Friday night staple for us.
Delicious like all your recipes and a great way to use up some leftovers!
LOL. Need recipes for skinless duck breasts-if I pick it there will NEVER be leftover or extra duck.
Yummmm. We often buy ‘window ducks’ from the Asian grocery and have all sorts of leftover bits – we use the carcass for stock and do all sorts of weird things with the wonderful skin/fat …. but this is a great use for the meat. Nice recipe. Love your ‘traditional’ approach to ingredients; that basic Chinese restaurant’ style fried rice is down home comfort food for real.
Did this for a “recovery” breakfast and it really hit the spot.
Well, I never have leftover duck, but when I do, I’m making this!