How to Make Cantonese Roast Duck at Home

With juicy meat and shiny, crackly-crisp skin, the classic dish makes a show-stopping centerpiece for a holiday feast

Cantonese roast duck. CiCi Li

Hold the turkey; how about roasting a duck for this year’s Thanksgiving dinner instead?

Cantonese roast duck—the glistening red birds you see hanging in Chinatown shop windows—is known for its shiny, crackly-crisp skin and succulent meat. The duck is traditionally hung to air-dry before cooking, for extra crispy skin, and roasted with a liquid marinade sealed inside the cavity, for extra juicy and flavorful meat. It’s a must-eat dish during any family gathering.