Recipe - Deep-Fried Steamed West Lake Duck

6 Dried black mushrooms
1 Duck; 4 to 5 pounds
2 teaspoon Soy sauce
Oil for deepfrying
Duck giblets
4 sl Fresh ginger root
1 Clove star anise
1 tablespoon Sherry
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Honey
1 tablespoon Soy sauce
Water to cover
One half cup Duck liquid
One half cup Bamboo shoots
One half cup Celery
1 One half cup Duck liquid
One half cup Smoked ham
One half cup Chinese parsley
1 tablespoon Cornstarch
One fourth cup Water

1. Soak dried mushrooms.

2. Wipe duck inside and out with a damp cloth. Dry well with paper
toweling or hang up to dry in a cool, airy place 1 to 2 hours.

3. Rub duck lightly with soy sauce. Then truss (see "HOWTO SECTION").

4. Heat oil to boiling. Using a wire basket or longhandled Chinese
strainer, gently lower in duck and deepfry, basting and turning, until
golden. Drain quickly. Rinse in a pan of cold water and drain again. Untie
duck.

5. Transfer bird to a large heatproof bowl. Dice giblets; slice ginger
root and add, along with star anise. Combine sherry, salt, honey and
remaining soy sauce and pour over. Meanwhile boil water in another pan, and
also pour over duck.

6. Steam by the bowlinapot method until duck is done, but still firm
(about 1Three fourths hours). See "HOWTO SECTION".

7. Remove duck and let cool. Bone; then cut meat in bitesize squares,
each with a piece of skin. Strain duck liquid, skimming off fat.

8. Return duck squares, skinside up, to heatproof bowl. Add strained duck
liquid and steam 15 minutes more.

9. Meanwhile shred bamboo shoots, celery and soaked mushrooms. In a
saucepan, bring remaining duck liquid to a boil. Add shredded vegetables
and simmer, covered, 10 minutes.

10. Cut smoked ham in strips. Chop Chinese parsley. Blend cornstarch and
cold water to a paste and stir into duck liquid to thicken. Pour over duck
squares and serve, garnished with ham strips and chopped parsley.

NOTE: This recipe can be made with chicken as well as duck.

VARIATIONS:

1. In step 5, omit the seasonings given and pour over duck and giblets
the following mixture: 1One half cups stock; 1 slice fresh ginger root and 1
clove garlic, both minced; and 1 cup canned button mushrooms. Also omit the
water.

2. In step 10, arrange duck squares on a serving platter over 1 head
lettuce, shredded; or over 1 pound of any of the following: asparagus,
broccoli, Chinese cabbage, mushrooms, mustard greens, onions or spinach.
(These must be stirfried first.)

From The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook, ISBN 0517658704. Downloaded
from Glen's MM Recipe Archive, http://www.erols.com/hosey.