Smoked duck sushi rolls with julienned cucumbers, spring onions, and blackberry dipping sauce. The smoky duck and sweet-tart blackberry are an unexpected pairing.
I ordered smoked duck sushi at a small fusion restaurant in Brooklyn where the menu was handwritten on a chalkboard and the chef was the only person in the kitchen. Thin slices of smoked duck breast laid over sushi rice with julienned cucumbers and spring onions, rolled tight, sliced into rounds, and served with a blackberry dipping sauce. The smokiness of the duck and the sweetness of the blackberry were a combination I had never tasted in sushi before.
This is not traditional sushi and does not pretend to be. The smoked duck is rich and salty, the rice is sticky and mild, and the blackberry sauce is where the plate tilts into something unexpected. Tart and fruity against cold, smoky meat. I went back twice that month.
Tips for Making Smoked Duck Sushi Rolls
Slice the duck as thin as possible
Smoked duck breast from a deli counter or a vacuum-sealed package works. Chill it before slicing. Cold meat cuts cleaner and thinner.
Thick slices overpower the rice and make the rolls hard to bite through. You want translucent-thin, almost see-through.
Roll tightly and use a sharp wet knife to slice
Lay out the sushi rice in an even layer, arrange the duck, cucumbers, and spring onions, and roll with firm, even pressure. A loose roll falls apart when you cut it.
Wet the knife blade between cuts. A dry knife drags the rice and crushes the roll. Clean cuts give you neat rounds.
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Smoked Duck Sushi Rolls with Blackberry Sauce
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: Serves 4
Description
These smoked duck sushi rolls are a delightful fusion of flavors, featuring smoked duck breast, cucumbers, and spring onions rolled with sushi rice, served with a tangy blackberry dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Instructions
- Prepare the sushi rice according to package instructions.
- Slice the smoked duck breast thinly.
- Julienne the cucumbers and spring onions.
- Lay out a sheet of sushi rice and place slices of smoked duck, cucumbers, and spring onions on top.
- Roll the sushi tightly and slice into rolls.
- Serve with blackberry dipping sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 20
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find smoked duck breast?
Specialty grocery stores, butcher shops, or online. It is sold pre-cooked and ready to slice. Some delis carry it near the smoked salmon.
What is the blackberry sauce?
A dipping sauce made from blackberries. You can simmer fresh blackberries with a tablespoon of sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice, then strain. It should be thick enough to cling to the sushi.
Can I use regular duck instead of smoked?
You can pan-sear a duck breast, cool it, and slice thin. The flavour is different, richer and fattier without the smoke. The blackberry sauce still pairs well.