It’s Saturday night and you’re on the way to your favorite restaurant. The filet mignon or chicken parmesan entrée you’ve come to crave awaits you as your taste buds water with anticipation. But should you stick with the meat dish you’ve grown so fond of or branch out and try something new? What possibly could surpass the piquant taste of your delectable, mouthwatering meal? According to Maple Leaf Farms of Leesburg, Ind., indulging in a dish featuring duck will not only quench your appetite, but will also provide you with a healthy alternative to common, everyday meats. 

While ordering duck at a restaurant may not sound commonplace to some, more Americans are discovering this meat than ever before. According to Janelle Deatsman, communications manager at Maple Leaf Farms, the consumption of White Pekin duck, a popular breed of domesticated duck, rose 35 percent between 1995 and 2005. The delightful flavor profile, unique versatility and ease of preparation have consumers choosing duck as an alternative to other meat and poultry. Education by Maple Leaf Farms and the National Duckling Council has also made Americans aware of the health benefits of duck in your diet. Within the United States, the coasts and major metropolitan areas are the main markets for this delicacy.

Why choose duck?

As duck is introducing itself into American cuisine, it is doing so in a nutritious way. White Pekin duck meat remains in good standing with its competitors, containing a comparable amount of calories to chicken and turkey and fewer calories than many cuts of beef. Duck is thought of as very fatty or greasy, but that’s a myth. Cooking duck properly eliminates 70 percent of the fat, leaving a crisp skin that adds to the unmatched flavor of the meat.

“The fat in duck is almost all in the skin and not in the meat, giving cooks the option of limiting the fat without sacrificing much flavor,” says Deatsman.

A three-ounce serving of skinless White Pekin duck contains only two grams of fat and 0.5 grams of saturated fat. This is a win-win for both you and your taste buds.

Although containing a low percentage of fat and calories are major pluses for this meat, they are not the only health advantages duck has to offer. It is abundant with iron, containing more per serving than many other meats including chicken, turkey, Cornish game hen and several cuts of beef. Iron serves as an essential part of the body’s blood, helps in brain development and supports a healthy immune system. Indulging in a duck dish is an easy and tasty way to help boost your well-being. Adding duck in to your diet provides the healthy and weight-conscious a flavorful substitute that tastes great and makes you look even better.

Duck in Your Kitchen

The myth that duck is hard to prepare has ordinary cooks shying away from making these dishes. Don’t be afraid! Duck is a very easy protein to work with. Yes, it may take practice to acquire the exact taste you are looking for, but Maple Leaf Farms makes preparing duck a little easier. Step-by-step instructional videos and a wide selection of recipes are available for consumers on the website, providing a painless and trouble-free solution to preparing what seems to be a difficult dish. While the process can be simple, it is important for consumers to remember that although it is poultry, duck is different than chicken or turkey and should be cooked with that in mind. Most people are surprised to discover that duck is actually a red meat and should be cooked as such.

According to John Tucker, co-president of Maple Leaf Farms, simply following instructions can ensure that your duck will not be overcooked. Reading directions will also shatter the idea that duck is hard to prepare. The image of grandma cleaning up a grease-stained oven after cooking grandpa’s wild duck will be no more.

Duck offers many options when deciding which dish to prepare. Meal times vary as preparing duck can be as simple or complex as you would like to make it.

“A duck meal featuring one of our fully cooked duck items can be ready in 15-20 minutes,” says Deatsman. “Consumers preparing a traditional Peking duck may take several steps over a few days to complete the dish.”

The most popular duck-based dishes are duck breast, duck leg quarters and roast duck. According to Maple Leaf Farms, because whole ducks are still the easiest duck product for most consumers to find at their retail grocery store, roast duck remains the most common. Simply roasting the duck may sound plain, but there is a variety of glazes, sauces and side dishes that can be added to enhance and bring forth flavor. Wild rice and a cranberry glaze are both traditional, yet flavorful, accents to roast duck.

If you’re feeling adventurous and would like to expand the boundaries of cooking with duck, you’re in luck. Duck is a very versatile meat and can be used in a wide variety of applications from soups and salads to pastas and casseroles. Rustic duck stew with rigatoni or barbeque crock-pot duck could be your new favorite meal.

Spread your wings, enjoy and, if all else fails, “Don’t overcook it. It’s not chicken,” says Tucker.

For more information about Maple Leaf Farms, visit www.mapleleaffarms.com.