Transform your weeknight dinners with air fryer spicy Peking duck, seasoned to perfection with Maldon Chilli Sea Salt. This quick and easy dish brings the irresistible flavours of a takeaway favourite right to your kitchen. Crispy skin, tender duck and a bold chilli kick make it a satisfying and hassle-free option for busy evenings. Why settle for a delivery when you can enjoy this flavourful ‘fakeaway’ in no time?
Perfect for celebrating Lunar New Year or elevating any weeknight, this spicy Peking duck pairs beautifully with steamed pancakes, fresh cucumber and spring onions. The Maldon Chilli Sea Salt adds a fiery twist, enhancing the classic flavours while keeping preparation simple and convenient. Serve it up and impress your family or guests with this effortless, restaurant-style feast.
What is Lunar New Year?
The Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year, is a 15-day festival which begins on the first day of the first lunar month in the calendar, ending with the ‘Lantern Festival’ on the 15th day. It’s full of celebration, centred around removing the bad and the old, and welcoming the new and the good. It’s a time where many worship ancestors, exorcise evil sprits and pray for good harvest. The date of the Lunar New Year changes every year. In 2024, this will occur on the 29th January. Across many countries, including China, South Korea, North Korea, Singapore and Cambodia, each year is associated with an animal from the zodiac. For 2025, this will be the Year of the Snake. The Snake represents wisdom, transformation and renewal.
Why do you eat duck during Lunar New Year
According to Reader’s Digest, duck is one of the most popular dishes at Lunar New Year dinner. This is because duck symbolises loyalty and is a great choice for good fortune because of it’s ‘reddish hue’ – the luckiest colour in Chinese culture.
Here is how to make Air Fryer Spicy Peking Duck
- To a large pan, add the Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, soft brown sugar, spices, Maldon Chilli Sea Salt, spring onions, ginger, lemongrass, hoisin and chicken stock. Bring it up to a simmer and then add the duck legs and breast. Continue to simmer gently for 1 hour 30 minutes.
- After this time, remove the duck from the pan and pat dry using kitchen paper. Preheat the air fryer to 200c. Then place the duck into the basket and cook for 10 – 15 mins so skin goes really crispy and caramelized.
- While the duck is crisping up, mix together the rice vinegar, Maldon Sea Salt and caster sugar together in a small bowl and then add the julienned carrot. Toss it through and set aside to lightly pickle.
- When the duck is cooked, remove it from the air fryer. Slice the duck breast and shred the duck leg meat, then place it onto a serving platter. Warm through the Chinese pancakes and then serve alongside the crispy duck, hoisin sauce and the julienned spring onions, cucumber and pickled carrots. Let everyone tuck in and make their own pancakes up!
