What Can I Serve With The Roast Duck With Orange, Soy And Ginger?

Asked by Disciple. Answered on 18th December 2022

Full question

Thank you! I intend to cook the Roast Duck With Orange, Soy And Ginger for a family pre-Christmas meal. There will be 11 of us (youngest, 10 year old twins). I just wondered if four Ocado ducks will produce enough meat for all of us (my husband and I can have small portions!)? Also, my main question is please advise how to serve the duck meat - what would be best? My husband suggests Peking-type pancakes with plum sauce etc (I often cook Peking Duck) and I think that is a good idea but would like to offer a choice of that or vegetables, including, of course, roasties. I have never cooked roast duck except for Peking style and would love to know how Nigella serves this dish.

Image of Nigella's Roast Duck Legs and Potatoes — Photo by Lis Parsons

Roast Duck Legs with Potatoes

By Nigella

Our answer

Nigella's Roast Duck With Orange, Soy And Ginger (from AT MY TABLE) can be served many ways. Ocado ducks are advertised at 1.5kg each without giblets. They look to be very slightly smaller than the ducks specified in the recipe so the number needed really depends on the appetites of your guests. If you want to serve roast potatoes, you could buy two extra duck legs and try the Roast Duck Legs With Potatoes. They are cooked at a lower temperature than the roast whole ducks but you could probably start them in the cooler (180c/160c Fan/350F) oven for 1 hour and then turn the oven up for the whole ducks and cook the duck legs and potatoes for just 30 minutes more while the whole ducks roast. If you do this then keep an eye on the potatoes so that they don't catch in the hotter oven.

Peking-style Crispy Duck with pancakes is always popular or to sate those with a larger appetite you could serve the duck in bao buns instead (Ocado sell bao buns), with the shredded vegetables and plum sauce, as bao buns are a little more filling than pancakes. Nigella has suggested serving the duck with Red Cabbage With Cranberries, which can be made in advance and reheated, or with simply steamed cavolo nero. Both of these would go well with roast potatoes. Or if you prefer something slightly fresher to go alongside, try a salad made from rocket (arugula), mint and pomegranate seeds from the Duck Breasts With Pomegranate And Mint.