Spicy duck, North Chungcheong Province
JoongAng Daily
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| Spicy duck from Eumseong County, North Chungcheong. Provided by Korea Tourism Organization |
It’s almost time for Thanksgiving in the United States, the time of the year when Americans the world over think of turkey. Sadly, it can be nearly impossible to cook a decent turkey in Korea or even to buy one, since you generally need to make reservations in advance.
But thanks to Eumseong County dwellers in North Chungcheong, there’s a good Thanksgiving alternative that keeps the spirit and flavors of the holiday: spicy duck.
Seasoned with Eumseong County chili peppers, this rich and flavorful dish will make you forget that you ever considered eating anything else.
The people of Eumseong County swear by their chili peppers, and for good reason. The county’s sandy soil, nourished by plentiful supplies of water, abundant sunshine and huge daily temperature ranges, have made Eumseong’s uniquely spicy and strongly scented chili peppers popular with the locals as well as with people nationwide. Eumseong County chili peppers were even selected by one Korean newspaper as the best local food in the nation.
Eumseong County is also known for is its duck farms, which have flourished in the area for over 30 years. Countless restaurants in the region have long served boiled or roasted duck dishes, but it wasn’t until the spicy flavor of the chili peppers and the rich grilled taste of the duck came together to make Eumseong Country spicy duck that the duck dish became something extraordinary.
The dish looks simple and it is simple to make. After boiling the duck in plain water, ground Eumseong chili is added to spice it up. Then red bell peppers and ginseng from the Eumseong region are added to mask the peculiar scent of the duck. When all the ingredients are mixed together and the seasonings are added, the resulting mixture is shaped into a patty and grilled until golden brown.
The patties are then smothered in a rich brown sauce, the recipe for which remains a secret well kept by the residents of Eumseong.
The tenderness of the patty and the smooth velvety texture of the sauce melt in the mouth, while the spice of the chili peppers add an unexpected kick to balance all of that richness.
You adventuresome eaters don’t need to go traditional this holiday season. Why not do something different and try a duck on Turkey Day?
By Yim Seung-hye Contributing writer [estyle@joongang.co.kr]