Thai Spicy Duck Salad Recipe

By
Joshua Bousel
a photo of Joshua Bousel, a Contributing Writer at Serious Eats
Joshua Bousel
Joshua Bousel is a Serious Eats old-timer, having started sharing his passion for grilling and barbecue recipes on the site back in 2008. He continues to develop grilling and barbecue recipes on his own site, The Meatwave, out of his home base of Durham, North Carolina.
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Updated Jan. 06, 2020
20130603-254598-thai-duck-salad.jpg
Joshua Bousel

An intoxicating juxtaposition of flavors, including spicy and salty lime dressing, sweet pineapple, nutty cashews, and lightly smoky duck, make this a salad of the highest order.

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Recipe Facts

5

(2)

Active: 45 mins
Total: 45 mins
Serves: 4 servings

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Ingredients

  • For the Dressing:
  • 2 tablespoons fresh juice from about 2 limes
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 teaspoon palm sugar or light brown sugar
  • 1 to 2 small Thai chilies, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 cup raw unsalted cashews
  • 1 small red onion, finely sliced
  • 3/4 cup diced pineapple
  • 1/2 cup packed roughly chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1 large duck breast, about 1pound
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Type of fire: two-zone indirect
  • Grill heat: medium-high

Directions

  1. To make the dressing: Whisk together lime juice, fish sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and chili in a small bowl. Set aside.

  2. Place cashews in a small cast iron skillet over medium heat. Toast until fragrant and lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer a medium bowl. Add onion, pineapple, and cilantro; toss to combine. Set aside.

  3. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and arrange the coals on one side of the charcoal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Score duck skin diagonally every 1/2-inch. Season breast liberally all over with salt and pepper. Place duck breast on hot side of grill, skin side down, and cook until skin has browned and crisped, 5 to 7 minutes. Flip and brown on other side, about 4 minutes. Move duck to cool side of grill, cover, and continue to cook until an instant read thermometer registers 130 degrees when inserted into middle of breast. Remove duck from grill and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes.

  4. Thinly slice duck, halving any long strips into bite-size pieces. Add duck into bowl with pineapple mixture. Pour on dressing and toss to combine. Transfer to plates and serve immediately.

Special equipment

Grill

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