Duck kebabs with red onion that are quickly cooked under the grill (broiler) in a wonderful sticky marmalade and red wine vinegar glaze.
Cooking this dish is nice and easy, the glaze takes 10 minutes to make and the kebabs cook under the grill (broiler) in right around 10 minutes too.
Sticky Duck and Red Onion Skewers
I think that there is something quite magical about “stuff on sticks” and these sticky duck kebabs join a whole host of recipes that involve things cooked on skewers.
I’ve got everything from meaty pineapple chicken kebabs and beef kofta kebabs, to veggie options like harissa halloumi kebabs and paneer tikka kebabs.
Duck and orange is a wonderful combination, duck a l’orange anyone? And it features heavily in this recipe too, sticky orange marmalade forms the sweet and sticky element to the coating on the duck.
Some orange juice, red wine vinegar and a sprinkling of nutmeg round out the flavours in the marinade.
Then all you do is thread the meat onto sticks with some red onion, brush with the marinade and slide them under the grill.
I love cooking kebabs this way, I use the same technique in both my lamb tikka kebabs and chicken tikka kebabs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these in advance?
I wouldn’t re-cooking the duck will overcook them and they will become very chewy!
However, you can make the glaze 2-3 days in advance and reheat it over a gentle heat. You could also prepare the skewers in advance and pop them in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Can I cook these in an air fryer?
Yes, so long as your air fryer is big enough, I much prefer them cooked under the grill though.
Brush them with the glaze and cook them for 8-10 minutes in a preheated air fryer at 200°C or 390°F. Rotate them every 2-3 minutes and baste them with more glaze.
Can I cook these on a BBQ?
Yes, these are superb on the BBQ. Start them off skin side down over direct heat before you add any glaze and cook them for 2-3 minutes.
Then brush them all over with the glaze and cook for a 5-7 minutes longer. Flip them regularly as you brush them with the glaze.
How well cooked is the duck when cooked this way?
To keep the duck succulent and pleasant to eat I’ve kept a hint of pinkness in the centre of the meat.
They are not as pink as I usually serve duck breast though, they should be fine for people who like their meat cooked a little closer to medium.
Serving Suggestions
I’ve photographed these sticky duck kebabs with my take on a fennel and orange salad.
The anise flaovur of the fennel works so well with the orange, and it is crispy and fresh enough to contrast the richness of the duck.
If you wanted to stick with a salad but one that is a little “heartier”, both my giant couscous salad and roasted vegetable couscous salad would work well.
If you’re a salad dodger, how about some potatoes? Air fryer potato wedges, air fryer chips or even some fried straw potatoes are fantastic served alongside these kebabs.
Equipment Used
I only mention brands of equipment if I think that they make a material difference to a recipe. But, if you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.
- Grill (Broiler).
- Stovetop.
- 15cm or 6″ saucepan.
- Skewers, I use bamboo skewers.
- Stirring spoon.
- Pastry brush.
- Chopping board.
- Kitchen knife.
- Weighing scales and or measuring cups and spoons.
Grilled Duck Kebabs Recipe with Red Onion and Marmalade
These wonderfully sticky duck kebabs come with a marmalade, orange juice and red wine vinegar glaze and cook in well under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 Duck Breasts
- 75g (¼ Cup) Marmalade
- 35ml (2 Tbsp + 1 Tsp) Orange Juice
- 15ml (1 Tbsp) Red Wine Vinegar
- ⅛ Tsp Ground Nutmeg
- ¾ Tsp Salt
- 1 Large (250g) Red Onion
Instructions
- If you are using bamboo skewers soak them in water before you get started.
- Trim up the duck breast and cut each of them into 9 equally sized chunks.
- Top and tail the red onion, peel it, then cut it into 6 wedges, remove the centre of the onion, and cut each of the wedges in half widthways.
- Heat a small (15cm or 6") saucepan over a medium heat and add the marmalade, orange juice, red wine vinegar and nutmeg, then cook until the marmalade "melts" and a glaze forms.
- Heat your grill (broiler) as high as it will go.
- Thread the duck and onion onto 6 skewers, I start with duck, then red onion, then duck, red onion and a final piece of duck. You need to keep the skin of the duck all on the same side of the kabob, then season them with salt.
- Brush the kebabs with the marmalade glaze and slide them under the grill, skin side up, and cook for 3-4 minutes until the fat starts to render and you get a nice dark caramelisation on the duck skin.
- Rotate the kebabs 120° brush with more of the glaze and cook for another couple of minutes.
- Rotate another 120° brush again and cook for a final couple of minutes.
- Remove from the grill and rest for 3-4 minutes then finish by brushing them with any leftover glaze.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 599Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 306mgSodium: 775mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 2gSugar: 23gProtein: 57g
Calorific details are provided by a third-party application and are to be used as indicative figures only.
Dahn
Friday 14th of April 2017
looks delicious and a fun video to watch. I am ready for some duck :)
Brian Jones
Sunday 16th of April 2017
Thanks Dahn.
Jane
Friday 14th of April 2017
Yeah, let's hear it for BBQ season!!! Look forward to more of your videos too :) Jane x
Brian Jones
Sunday 16th of April 2017
Thanks Jane... Next up smoked wings :D
Diana
Friday 14th of April 2017
I am so excited that it's BBQ season, just waiting for the weather to get a little better and the sun to shine and we will start with the BBQ parties. Love how you added orange and asparagus to the BBQ.
Brian Jones
Sunday 16th of April 2017
Thanks Diana, me too, we'll probably be cooking al fresco a couple of times a week right through till September :D
Tina
Friday 14th of April 2017
I cannot wait until the summer for bbq! It's too bad we live in a London flat though, so bbqs are not the easiest to do. Our little one really loves duck at the moment though, so I'll have to seek out a bbq to make this for him.
Brian Jones
Sunday 16th of April 2017
I have a Hungarian cookbook called the chef on the roof and it is a nutter that cooks BBQ on his roof in Budapest all year round, I'll think I'll stick to summer ;)
Shumaila
Friday 14th of April 2017
Videos are time consuming for sure! Love how you snap and things get ready on their own, wish that was the case in real life- cooking would have been so much fun! These sound really good, and perfect for Bbq season!
Brian Jones
Sunday 16th of April 2017
Haha, it would be nice to click your fingers and done :D