Make Your Own Bbq Duck Sauce At Home

BBQ duck sauce is a popular condiment served in Chinese-American takeout restaurants, often paired with fried foods like egg rolls, crab rangoon, and wonton strips. While store-bought options are readily available, making BBQ duck sauce at home allows for customization and the use of natural ingredients, avoiding artificial additives and preservatives. The basic ingredients include apricot preserves or jam, rice vinegar, salt, and sugar, with optional additions like soy sauce, ginger, and garlic to enhance the flavor. The process is simple and quick, taking around 5 minutes, and the sauce can be adjusted to suit individual taste preferences.

Combine ingredients

To make a BBQ duck sauce, you will need to combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients in a bowl.

First, measure out your dry ingredients: cinnamon, coriander, cumin, black pepper, salt, sugar, apricot preserves, soy sauce, and any other spices you wish to include. You can also add garlic powder or minced ginger for a more savoury sauce.

Next, add the wet ingredients: water, vinegar, and any other liquids such as orange juice or apple sauce. You can also add duck fat or oil to your mixture.

Now, combine the dry and wet ingredients in a bowl. Use a whisk or a fork to mix everything together until the sauce is well-combined and has an even consistency.

Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as needed. If you prefer a sweeter sauce, add more sugar or apricot preserves. For a tarter sauce, add more vinegar. If you want a thinner sauce, add a small amount of hot water and blend until you reach the desired consistency.

Once you are happy with the flavour and texture of your sauce, let it rest in the refrigerator for a few hours to allow the flavours to meld. This will help the flavours to develop and mature.

Your BBQ duck sauce is now ready to be served! It can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.

Adjust to taste

When adjusting your BBQ duck sauce to taste, consider the following:

If you prefer a sweeter sauce, add more sugar or apricot preserves. You can also experiment with other types of preserves, such as peach or pineapple jam, to add a unique twist to your sauce.

For a more savoury sauce, try adding a touch more soy sauce, minced ginger, toasted sesame seed oil, fresh garlic, or garlic powder. You could also add some extra salt and vinegar to make the flavours pop.

If you like your sauce on the tangier side, add more rice vinegar. You can also try using a different type of vinegar, such as plum or white vinegar, to give your sauce a sharper edge.

Finally, if you prefer a thinner sauce, add a little water to adjust the consistency. You can even puree the sauce in a blender to make it smoother.

Remember, when adjusting your sauce, it's always better to add a little at a time and taste as you go. That way, you can ensure you don't overpower the flavours and end up with a sauce that's too sweet, too tangy, or too savoury.

Refrigerate

Refrigerating your BBQ duck sauce is an important step in the process of making this condiment. Allowing the sauce to rest in the refrigerator gives the flavours time to meld and develop. This step will ensure that your sauce is at its most flavourful when served.

For optimal results, it is best to refrigerate your BBQ duck sauce for a few hours before serving. This will allow the flavours to meld together, creating a more cohesive and tasty sauce. Aim for at least three hours, but if you can, it is even better to leave it overnight. This will give the sauce a chance to really develop those deeper flavours.

The sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month. This means you can make a big batch and enjoy it over several meals. However, it is important to always use a clean utensil when serving the sauce to avoid contamination.

When you are ready to serve the sauce, take it out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour. This will allow the sauce to warm up slightly so that the flavours can really shine.

Your BBQ duck sauce should have a thick and glossy appearance. If you find that the sauce has thickened too much in the refrigerator, simply stir in a small amount of hot water until you reach your desired consistency.

Remember, the key to a great BBQ duck sauce is patience. Allowing the sauce to rest and the flavours to meld will make all the difference, so plan ahead and give your sauce the time it needs to develop its full potential.

Serve with roasted/grilled meats

Duck sauce is a condiment that can be served with roasted and grilled meats. It is a great addition to any barbecue and can be used as a marinade or a dipping sauce. Here are some tips and suggestions on how to make and serve duck sauce with roasted and grilled meats:

Choosing the Right Meat

Duck sauce pairs well with a variety of roasted and grilled meats. Some of the most popular options include:

• Roast duck: This is a classic combination, as the duck sauce enhances the flavour of the duck.
• Chicken wings: The sweetness of the duck sauce balances out the spiciness of chicken wings.
• Pork ribs: Whether you're making baby back ribs, St. Louis-style ribs, or spare ribs, duck sauce can add a unique flavour profile to your barbecue.

Making the Duck Sauce

There are many variations of duck sauce, but the basic ingredients typically include apricot preserves or jam, rice vinegar, salt, and sugar. Here's a simple recipe you can follow:

• Combine 1/2 cup of apricot preserves, 1/2 teaspoon of soy sauce, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon of rice vinegar in a bowl.
• Stir the ingredients until they are well combined.
• For a thinner and smoother sauce, add a small amount of water and puree the mixture in a blender.
• Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning to your preference. You can add more salt or vinegar to make the flavours pop.
• Let the sauce rest in the refrigerator for a few hours to allow the flavours to develop fully.

Serving Suggestions

When serving duck sauce with roasted or grilled meats, here are some suggestions:

• Serve the sauce as a dipping sauce on the side.
• Use the sauce as a marinade for your meat before cooking. This will add a depth of flavour to your dish.
• Create your own barbecue sauce by mixing the duck sauce with a little hot mustard. This can be brushed onto your meat during cooking or served as a dipping sauce.
• If you want to add a savoury twist to your duck sauce, try adding a touch more soy sauce, minced ginger, toasted sesame seed oil, fresh garlic, or garlic powder.

Storage

Duck sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. This makes it easy to prepare in advance for your barbecue or meal. Simply give it a quick stir before serving to ensure all the ingredients are well combined.

Try different vinegars

When making BBQ duck sauce, you can experiment with different types of vinegar to find your preferred taste. The type of vinegar you use will impact the overall flavour of the sauce, so it's worth trying out a few options to see what works best for you.

Apple cider vinegar is a popular choice for BBQ sauces, especially those with a vinegar base. It has a distinctive flavour that can enhance the taste of the sauce and give it a tangy twist. This type of vinegar is commonly used in Carolina-style BBQ sauces and is known for its ability to tenderise meat due to its high acidity.

Rice vinegar is another option, particularly if you want to add a slightly tart flavour to your duck sauce. This variety of vinegar is often used in Asian cuisine and can give your sauce a more authentic flavour. It is one of the ingredients in the popular Chinese duck sauce, where it contributes to the characteristic sweet and sour taste.

If you're looking for a more subtle vinegar flavour, you could try using white vinegar. It is a common substitute for apple cider vinegar and can be used in a pinch if you don't have any apple cider vinegar on hand. White vinegar has a milder flavour, so it won't overpower the other ingredients in your BBQ duck sauce.

Additionally, you can explore other varieties of vinegar, such as red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar, to add unique flavours to your BBQ duck sauce. Each type of vinegar will impart a distinct characteristic to your sauce, so experimenting with different options can help you create a truly customised and delicious condiment.

Frequently asked questions