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1
Trim and season the duck: In a mortar or spice grinder, grind the salt, garlic, zest, coriander seeds, five-spice powder, and pepper into a coarse paste.
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2
Make 20 to 30 small slits in the duck skin, using a sharp paring knife held parallel to the surface so that you pierce the skin and fat without cutting into the meat.
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3
Be sure to make slits on the back and thighs as well as the breast.
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4
Rub about two thirds of the spice mixture into the duck cavity and then rub what remains all over the skin.
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5
Set the duck on a rack set over a baking sheet and allow to air-dry in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours and up to 48 hours.
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6
Heat the oven: Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 325 degrees (300 degrees convection).
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7
Let the duck sit at room temperature as the oven heats.
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8
Roast the duck: Arrange the duck breast down on a roasting rack in a roasting pan (about 12 by 14 inches) and roast for 1 1/4 hours.
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9
Remove the pan from the oven and spoon or pour off most of the fat.
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10
(A turkey baster can make this job easier.)
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11
Using sturdy tongs inserted in the ducks cavity, flip the duck over.
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12
Pierce the skin again all over the breast and legs with a knife.
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13
Return the duck to the oven to continue roasting until the meat around the thighs feels tender when prodded (a skewer should penetrate the thigh with no resistance), the legs feel loose in their joints, and an instantread thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (without touching bone) registers 175 degrees, another 1 to 1 1/4 hours.
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14
(You can roast the duck a day ahead to this point; see Notes)
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15
Glaze and blast the duck: Remove the duck from the oven and increase the oven temperature, preferably to 500 degrees convection, if you have it, or to 525 degrees standard.
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16
In a small bowl, whisk together the hoisin sauce, orange liqueur, honey, and sesame oil.
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17
Carefully transfer the duck (on the roasting rack) to a rimmed baking sheet.
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18
Paint the breast and legs with about half the glaze and return the duck to the hot oven.
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19
Paint again after 5 minutes, and continue roasting until crispy and mahogany-colored, about 3 minutes in a convection oven, 5 minutes in a standard oven.
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20
Let rest and carve: Transfer the duck to a carving board, ideally one with a trough, and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes before carving.
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21
Carving a duck is much like carving a small version of a goose, so you can refer to the directions in Notes.
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22
Be sure each person gets both breast meat and a thigh or leg.
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23
Variation: Plain Slow-Roasted Duck
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24
You can use the preseasoning and slow roasting method from the Whole Roast Duck with Hoisin Sauce recipe with just about any flavors you like, including just simple salt and pepper.
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25
Just be sure to use at least 1 tablespoon of salt per bird in the presalting step.
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26
Follow the trimming and roasting instructions (steps 1-3).
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27
Omit the glaze, but do give the duck that final blast of heat to brown it beautifully.
