Dried Salted Ducks, Specialty Of Enping City

Dried salted ducks hang from a trellis.

Enping, part of Jiangmen city, is about 100 km from Guangzhou and is famous for Dried Salted Duck, a recipe which dates back over 500 years. A story from ancient times goes that, a passing officer (called Zhifu) from the central government came south for a celebration and, on the way to Enping, the party was attracted by a batch of dried salted ducks hanging in a farm. Hungry and weary from their travels, they tried it – and the rest is history. A reputation was born.

Every family in Naji town of Enping city can make dried salted ducks, according to a special recipe passed down from generation to generation. 

Usually, the ducks are prepared during winter. First, they're cut open, washed and flattened. After a night covered in salt, the ducks are hung in the outside air on bamboo crucifixes. When night falls, the ducks are packed into a bamboo basket and buried in dry straw, which gives them a unique flavor. After 10 more days drying in the sun, they're ready.

Dried salted duck can be served in many different ways, and the dish has proven a real tourism magnet for Enping.

(By Carrot Chan, David Kellaway)

Source: www.lifeofguangzhou.com

Editor: Carrot Chan