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Thai Duck Noodle Soup

A comforting and flavorful Thai Duck Noodle Soup that brings warmth and happiness with every spoonful, combining tender duck, fragrant herbs, and silky noodles.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Thai
Calories: 540

Ingredients
  

Broth Ingredients
  • 8 inches cinnamon stick
  • 2 pieces star anise
  • 8 slices galangal (or ginger if unavailable) can substitute with ginger
  • 1 tsp toasted coriander seeds
  • 8 inches pandan leaf optional, for extra fragrance
  • 10 to 12 pieces goji berries optional, for a touch of sweetness
  • 0.5 tsp Sichuan peppercorns
  • 4 cups unsalted chicken stock or water
  • 2 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp oyster sauce
  • 0.5 to 1 Tbsp black soy sauce use more for a darker color
  • 2 Tbsp palm sugar can substitute with brown sugar
  • 4 pieces bone-in duck hindquarter (leg and thigh combo)
  • 1 cup water or as needed
  • 0.5 tsp ground white pepper or more to taste
Noodle Ingredients
  • 220 g fresh egg wonton noodles thin
Garnishes
  • Cilantro or celery leaves, chopped
  • Bean sprouts
  • Green leaf lettuce, torn into chunks
  • Fried garlic and garlic oil optional, but highly recommended
  • Chili vinegar optional, for a spicy kick
For Fried Garlic
  • 1 head of garlic, chopped
  • 0.25 cup of neutral-flavored oil
For Chili Vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic (for chili vinegar)
  • 0.25 to 0.5 cup white vinegar as needed (to blend)

Method
 

Make Fried Garlic
  1. Heat about 0.25 cup of neutral oil in a small skillet over low heat. Add the chopped garlic and fry gently until golden brown, stirring frequently to avoid burning (about 5-8 minutes). Strain the garlic and store it in a jar for later use.
Make Chili Vinegar
  1. In a broiler, char the spicy chili peppers with the garlic until blistered. Let them cool slightly, then blend them with white vinegar until smooth.
Prepare the Broth
  1. In a large pot, toast the cinnamon stick, star anise, galangal, and Sichuan peppercorns over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
  2. Add the chicken stock, duck, and one cup of water. Bring it to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and let it cook for about 2 hours, or until the duck is tender and falls off the bone.
  3. Skim off any fat that rises to the surface and adjust the seasoning with soy sauce, oyster sauce, black soy sauce, palm sugar, and white pepper to taste.
Assemble the Soup
  1. In a separate pot, blanch the wonton noodles in boiling water for 2-3 minutes until tender but still al dente. Drain and rinse briefly to prevent sticking.
  2. In serving bowls, place the blanched noodles, torn lettuce, and blanched bean sprouts.
  3. Ladle the hot duck broth over the top, followed by pieces of tender duck meat.
  4. Drizzle some fried garlic oil on top and garnish with fried garlic, chili vinegar, and chopped cilantro. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

This soup can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. The noodles may become mushy, so keep them separate until serving. The broth and fried garlic can be made a day in advance. Just reheat before serving. Adjust spice levels to suit your taste.