"grilled duck"

If you need some last minute ideas what to cook for a festive occasion, I’ve put together a Roundup of Festive Dishes, the Wok Star Way. It’s what being a Wok Star is all about! Do things differently and out of tradition with your own twist!

Let’s start with a few appetizers that are sure to please…

This wok frittata or tortilla can be made ahead of time and served at room temperature. It’s so versatile, good as an appetizer, for breakfast when you have a lot of people or a perfect tapas or brunch dish.

Wok Frittata

Rainbow Lettuce Wrap is always a BIG HIT and will WOW your guests. As the name says, it’s a “rainbow” of colors and beautiful presentation with flavors and textures that explode in every bite.

Rainbow Lettuce
Wrap

Next course, and going the Wok Star Way, an Asian 5 Spice Roast Pork joint so there’s enough for several meals. It’s so simple, helps save time and most important, it’s delicious!

5 Spice Pork

OR, you could go with Grilled Korean Style Kalbi Short Ribs, who doesn’t love beef ribs?

Kalbi, curry quinoa and stir fried baby bok choy

Grilled Kalbi

OR CHEAT and purchase a whole Roast Duck from Whole Foods, then reheat and crisp up!

Roast Duck

OR CHEAT again and purchase ready cooked Maple Leaf Farm duck, grilling it and stir fry some Brussels Sprouts. This combination immediately conjurs up a Festive Dinner.

Grilled Duck
Leg

Sides are EASY, there’s so much to choose from…

This Stuffed Squash a la Wok Star Style is festive, colorful and tasty. Use whatever colorful veggies you have, add quinoa, or rice and voila!

Stuffed
Squash

My Honey Ginger Wok Brussel Sprouts were inspired by Sakaya Kitchen’s dish. They cause such a stir when you mention them, you either hate or love them.

Ginger Honey
Brussels Sprouts

These vegetables were all holiday colors with crispy textures to complement any bird or surf and turf, a lovely Festive Side.

Festive
Vegetables

For the following day, if you have any leftover duck, throw some into a noodle soup. It is so quick and easy to put together. If you don’t have any Asian green vegetables, throw some romaine lettuce leaves in the soup last minute. A great Duck Noodle Soup using leftovers.

Duck Noodle
Soup

Now, for an Asian dessert that will round out your festive feast…my mom’s Malaysian Banana Fritters with ice cream of your choice but I think vanilla complements instead of overpowers the fritters.

Malaysian Banana
Fritters

My Roundup of Festive Dishes has something for everyone! With the Wok Star Way, you’ll be introducing your family and friends to new flavors and spark some interesting conversations around the dining table.

This easy weeknight dinner idea involves a little cheating and ghee. Duck may seem a rather opulent weeknight dinner but it’s really not. Grilling duck while stir frying brussels sprouts will get your dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes AND you’ll be showered with loads of compliments! At least, that’s what happens every time I serve duck.

Ready cooked meats…but good ones without processed chemicals is key to success with the cheating and Costco carries some really good ones. Some I’ve tried are octopus, Carnitas and of course Maple Leaf Farm ready cooked Duck, it’s actually cheaper at Costco than buying directly from them!
Notes on duck, ghee and wok…
Duck is very rich, so you only need half a duck for 2 people, it’s all meat, no bones at only $8. The duck comes in 2 half portions with orange sauce for about $15.99, so no more paying $27 at a restaurant for half a duck.
Ghee, clarified butter is excellent for a stir fry, it can handle high heat, coats your meat or veggies with a glossy sheen and makes everything taste good. This article, 15 Amazing Benefits of Ghee will change all the misconceptions about it and if you want to make ghee yourself, take an Ayurvedic cooking class with my chef friend, Sabrina Dora Lopez of Vesta Foods, it was amazingly easy. The Truth About Fats and Oils will debunk all the old myths, read this.
Please do NOT use a nonstick pan or nonstick wok to cook in, it cannot handle high heat! If you don’t have one of my lightweight, thin walled cast iron wok and gas stove setup, I’d rather you use a stainless steel pan or even pot to stir fry in.
Ingredients:
2-4 cloves garlic and 2 slices ginger shredded
6 grape tomatoes, halved
4 handfuls of brussels sprouts chopped
1 tablespoon ghee
dash of San-J tamari
dash of medium sherry
orange sauce heated for duck
Step by step how to…
1. set underside of duck on a grill rack on a baking tray, use top shelf to broil till golden crispy
2. wash & chop tomatoes and sprouts
3. thwack garlic and ginger
4. crank up your cast iron wok on high
5. add ghee
6. add garlic and ginger, then sprouts, hold the tomatoes.
7. when sprouts are nicely covered with ghee, add about 2 tablespoons of water and cover with wok lid to steam fry. When texture is how you like your sprouts, add in tomatoes, add dash of tamari and sherry, swish around till tomatoes blister and soften a little. You’re DONE!
8. remember to check your duck and flip over to grill topside till golden crispy.
9. while plating, heat up orange sauce and pour over duck, wow, dynamite dinner!
Last thoughts…You’ll feel like you’re eating at a high end restaurant. Serve this on your first date and I guarantee you’ll be a hit. I’ve yet to try using the ready cooked duck in a curry or other ethnic dishes because I just want to devour the duck just like it is, it’s so good! Of course, you can stir fry other veggies to go with your duck but brussels sprouts go really well.

Roundup of Festive Dishes, Wok Star Way

Easy Dinner: Grilled Duck, Stir Fry Brussels Sprouts

"grilled duck"

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