Duck sauce, also known as plum sauce, is a popular condiment often served alongside Chinese dishes like spring rolls, egg rolls, and spareribs. The sweet, acidic sauce provides a nice complement to fatty and salty foods. But with a name like “duck sauce,” it begs the question – is duck sauce actually meant to be eaten with duck?
The Origin of Duck Sauce
Duck sauce originated in the United States in the late 19th century. Chinese immigrants arriving in America were looking for ways to replicate popular condiments from their homeland. One such condiment was a pickled plum sauce that was commonly served with Peking duck, a famous duck dish from northern China. The immigrants recreated the sauce using ingredients available in America, like plums, apricots, sugar, vinegar, ginger, and spices. The tangy, orange-colored sauce became popularly known as “duck sauce” since it was originally served with duck dishes.
In the early 20th century, duck sauce started being served in Chinese-American restaurants alongside dishes like egg rolls. The name “duck sauce” stuck, even though the sauce was no longer limited to being paired just with duck. Over time, duck sauce evolved into a thicker, sweeter sauce that contained puréed fruits and was versatile enough to complement various American-Chinese dishes beyond duck entrees.
Duck Sauce Ingredients
Modern duck sauce contains the following ingredients:
- Fruit: Plums, pineapple, apricots, cherries, and apples provide sweetness and texture.
- Vinegar and lemon juice: Gives the sauce a tangy flavor.
- Sugar or honey: For additional sweetness.
- Ginger and five-spice powder: For a little spice and aromatic flavor.
- Cornstarch or potato starch: Thickeners that give the sauce a rich, clingy texture.
- Soy sauce: Adds a savory, umami taste.
- Sesame oil: Provides nutty, toasted aroma.
- Garlic and onion: Extra flavor dimension.
- Salt and white pepper: For subtle seasoning.
As you can see, modern duck sauce contains no duck or duck fat at all. The name is purely based on the sauce’s historical ties to Peking duck, not its actual ingredients.
How Duck Sauce Is Used
These days, duck sauce is rarely served with actual duck dishes. Instead, it’s primarily used as a condiment for various appetizers and finger foods, including:
- Egg rolls
- Spring rolls
- Potstickers
- Tempura
- Fried wontons
- Spareribs
- Fried shrimp
- Chicken nuggets or fingers
Duck sauce works well with deep fried foods since its sweetness balances out saltiness and fat. The thick, sticky texture also allows it to adhere nicely to foods with crispy exteriors. A bit of acidity from vinegar and fruit brightens up greasy appetizers too.
Does Duck Sauce Go Well with Actual Duck?
While duck sauce is no longer really associated with duck in American-Chinese cuisine, it can complement actual duck dishes quite nicely. The sweet fruity flavors pair excellently with fatty duck meat. Duck has a rich, meaty flavor that benefits from a counterpoint of sweetness. The sauce also cuts through the gamey taste that can sometimes be present in duck meat. Acidity helps cut the fattiness as well. Duck sauce is especially tasty with roasted duck breast or seared duck with a nice crispy skin.
That said, duck sauce is seldom the default sauce for duck in fine dining Chinese establishments. More traditional sauces for duck include:
- Plum sauce: The ancestor of duck sauce, with more sourness.
- Hoisin sauce: Thick, sweet, salty, and mildly spicy.
- Soy sauce: Enhances umami and saltiness of the meat.
- Sweet bean sauce: Savory and sweet with fermented beans.
So in high-end Chinese cuisine, duck sauce is not necessarily the “go-to” condiment for duck. But it can still make a delicious pairing in more casual settings or fusion-style cooking.
Nutrition Facts of Duck Sauce
A 2 tablespoon (30g) serving of duck sauce contains the following nutrients:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 60 |
| Carbohydrates | 15g |
| Sugars | 12g |
| Fiber | 0.5g |
| Fat | 0g |
| Protein | 0g |
| Sodium | 75mg |
As you can see, duck sauce is high in sugar but contains no fat or protein. The calorie and carbohydrate content is moderately high considering the small serving size.
Is Duck Sauce Healthy?
Duck sauce is not particularly healthy due to its high sugar content. The average commercially-prepared duck sauce contains about 20-30 grams of sugar per 100 ml or 1/2 cup. That’s nearly the full recommended daily amount of added sugar for an adult!
Consuming too much added sugar from sauces can lead to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 6 teaspoons or 25 grams of added sugar per day for women, and 9 teaspoons or 36 grams for men.
On the plus side, duck sauce has no fat or cholesterol. But it is fairly lacking in nutrients beyond pure sugar calories. Eating large amounts of duck sauce can displace healthier foods from your diet.
Enjoying duck sauce in moderation with the occasional Chinese takeout meal is fine. But it shouldn’t be a daily habit due to the high sugar content. Opt for lower-sugar alternatives like soy sauce, hot mustard, or vinegar when possible.
Low-Sugar Duck Sauce Alternatives
You can create healthier duck sauce alternatives at home with less added sugar, such as:
- Pureed fruit sauce made with unsweetened frozen berries or peaches
- Greek yogurt mixed with orange marmalade and spices
- Bean sauce made from puréed white beans with garlic, ginger, and vinegar
- Applesauce spiced up with cinnamon and nutmeg
- Mashed avocado with lemon juice and Asian seasonings
Experiment with fruits, vegetables, beans, yogurt, nut butters, and spices to invent your own tasty low-sugar “duck” sauce creation!
How to Make Homemade Duck Sauce
Making duck sauce from scratch allows you to control the ingredients and tweak the flavor to your liking. Here is a basic recipe to try:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup drained canned plums or other fruit like peaches, mango, or pineapple
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar or white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey or agave nectar
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1 minced garlic clove
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- Pinch of five-spice powder or cinnamon
Instructions:
- In a blender or food processor, puree the fruit, vinegar, honey, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and five-spice powder until smooth.
- Transfer sauce to a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer for 5 minutes to meld flavors.
- Let sauce cool slightly before serving. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Serve as a dipping sauce for egg rolls, fried wontons, spring rolls, chicken wings, shrimp, potstickers, pork ribs, or even over duck meat!
For a low-sugar version, replace the honey with a mashed ripe avocado. For a vegetable-based sauce, use cooked, puréed carrots or butternut squash in place of the fruit.
Making your own duck sauce allows endless possibilities for healthy, customizable flavors!
Where to Buy Duck Sauce
While homemade is best, store-bought duck sauce is widely available for convenience:
- Grocery stores: Look in the Asian foods aisle, often near the soy sauce and produce.
- Big box stores: Sold at Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s, etc.
- Online: Buy duck sauce in bulk on Amazon or Asian food websites.
- Asian markets: Large selection available at stores like H Mart, 99 Ranch, and Hong Kong Supermarket.
- Chinese restaurants: Can request extra duck sauce packets for takeout orders.
Major brands to look for include Kari-Out, Pento, and Lee Kum Kee. Be sure to check the ingredients and nutrition labels when purchasing store-bought duck sauce.
Conclusion
While the name implies it should be served with duck, most duck sauce today no longer contains duck as an ingredient. The condiment evolved from a sauce for Peking duck into a versatile, fusion-style dip for American-Chinese appetizers. However, duck sauce can still pair well with duck meat. Due to the high sugar content, it’s best enjoyed in moderation rather than daily. For a healthier version, make your own homemade duck sauce with real fruit and less added sweeteners. So while it may not be a requisite for duck, a spoonful of duck sauce can brighten up many finger foods when you’re in the mood for its sweet, tangy punch.