🍽️ Jiaji Duck

Qionghai fat duck poached, silky skin.

Jiaji Duck comes from Jiaji town in Qionghai, Hainan, and is one of the province's four famous dishes. It is a type of Muscovy duck raised locally, known for thick, tender flesh. The classic preparation is white-cut, or poached: the duck is simmered then chilled in cold water so the skin turns smooth and taut while the meat stays pink-white and juicy beneath a thin layer of rich but non-greasy fat. It is dipped in a sauce of garlic, mandarin-orange juice and soy sauce, whose bright acidity lifts the natural sweetness of the duck; the carcass is later used for winter-melon soup. Jiaji duck is prized for silky skin, thick meat and crisp bones.