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Verna Gao's easy air fryer Peking duck
- Verna Gao
Published: June 29, 2026 at 3:27 PM
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Serves 2 - 4
Easy
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 15 mins
, plus overnight resting
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You may be surprised to know that Peking duck can easily be made at home - and in an air fryer! Verna Gao serves hers with the classic accoutrements
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Fancy making your own homemade Peking duck? Content creator and recipe developer Verna Gao (aka @vernahungrybanana) shares her recipe for easy Peking duck that you can even make in the air fryer. Try her recipe below, then discover more duck recipes. Read more about Verna Gao's food travel series.
Verna says: "You can make peking duck in the air fryer! Yes, really. I know it looks like one of those dishes that's impossible to make at home, but it's actually way more approachable than you'd think.
"The overnight fridge rest is what gives you that signature crispy skin, and I've swapped a few traditional ingredients for supermarket-friendly alternatives (hello maple syrup and hoisin sauce) to make it much more achievable without compromising on flavour. Wrap it up in a delicate little pancake with cucumber, spring onions and hoisin, and you've got one of my favourite ways to eat duck."
Verna Gao's easy air fryer Peking duck recipe
Ingredients
- 2 duck breasts (skin-on)
- ½ tsp Chinese five spice
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing cooking wine
SKIN GLAZE
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp white rice vinegar
TO SERVE
-
Chinese pancakes (shop-bought)
-
hoisin sauce
-
½ cucumber
cut into thin batons
-
2 spring onions
finely sliced
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Method
-
step 1
Put the duck breasts on a wire rack over a deep baking tray and pour over boiling water. This tightens the skin and helps it crisp up during cooking. Pat the duck dry thoroughly.
-
step 2
Mix together the Chinese five spice, Shaoxing wine and 1/2 tsp salt, then brush this over the meat side only.
-
step 3
In a separate bowl, combine the maple syrup and rice vinegar. Brush this evenly over the skin a few times. Place the duck uncovered on a plate in the fridge for 24 hrs.
-
step 4
The next day, cook the duck in an air fryer at 160C for 10 mins, then increase the temperature to 200C for a further 5 mins to crisp up the skin. Rest the duck for 4-5 mins before slicing.
-
step 5
Meanwhile, warm your pancakes following pack instructions and prepare the cucumber, spring onions and hoisin sauce.
-
step 6
To assemble, spread a little hoisin sauce over a pancake, top with slices of duck, cucumber and spring onions, then wrap and serve.
Authors
Verna Gao
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