Duck's head

Not to be confused with Duck Head.

Duck's head (simplified Chinese: 鸭头; traditional Chinese: 鴨頭) is a Chinese snack made by adding spices and herbs to a stir-fried head of duck. It is a popular dish in many parts of China, including Wuhan and Shanghai. One duck's head store claims that the snack "helps your own brain power". It has a crispy taste and is written to be a healthy food with no known health drawbacks. Kellie Schmitt of CNN describes duck's head as one of "Shanghai's weirdest foods".

History

Duck's head is not a modern invention; one specialty restaurant, Dongshan Duck's Head (Chinese: 东山鸭头), has been around for generations.[1]

Preparation and description

According to Pang Xijing, who is the owner of a Wuhan-based duck's head eating establishment, the snack is prepared by first leaving frozen duck heads under running water for some three hundred and sixty minutes, before stir-frying the heads with some herbs and spices.[2] The Shanghai-based Jiu Jiu Ya makes duck's head by stewing the heads "in a potent mix of 30 Chinese herbs and barley rice".[3] Duck's head is described to have a crispy taste – a result of the stir-frying.[1]

Consumption and nutritional value

The bulk of duck's head is not digestible; only the skin is eaten, while the rest of the snack is just gnawed by consumers.[4] It can be accompanied by alcoholic liquids like beer.[2]

Cultural impact

Kellie Schmitt of CNN calls duck's head one of "Shanghai's weirdest foods".[3] One duck's head store claims that the snack "helps your own brain power".[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sun, Zhenghuan (2003). 高雄美食攻略版圖 (in Chinese). Travelcom Press. p. 32–.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Smith, Craig S. (April 16, 2013). "When Dinner Has a Gleam in Its Eye". The New York Times.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Schmitt, Kellie (December 26, 2011). "Shanghai’s weirdest foods". CNN.
  4. ↑ Xuan, Yang (2006). 穿过彩虹回家: 杨萱散文集 (in Chinese). Asiapac Books. pp. 21–. ISBN 9789812294500.
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