Traditional Azerbaijani Wood-Roasted Duck and Spiced Baked Apples

Experience the rustic flavors of the Caucasus with succulent duck slow-roasted with apples and paired with warm, cinnamon-spiced roasted fruits finished with honey and walnuts.

Servings 4-6 persons Difficulty Medium baking fruit poultry 45 minutes

Products used in this recipe

Important Disclaimer: The original video shows large-scale traditional cooking without precise measurements. The quantities below are estimations adapted for a smaller, home-friendly batch and might need adjustment. They are inspired by the video but are not exact conversions. Feel free to adjust ingredients like sugar or ghee to your personal preference.

Ingredients

📌 Ingredients for Spiced Roasted Village Apples You Can Make Yourself:

🍎 10 large firm apples (red or yellow)
🍯 100 g granulated sugar
🍯 150 ml organic honey
🧈 50 g unsalted butter (cut into small cubes)
🍖 15 g fresh cinnamon sticks (ground into powder)
🌰 100 g walnuts (crushed)
🫐 50 g dark raisins or dried berries (finely chopped)

👩🏻‍🍳 Preparation Steps for Spiced Roasted Village Apples:

1. Wash the apples thoroughly. Cut them in half horizontally and use a spoon to remove the core, creating a small hollow in the center of each half.
2. Place the apple halves on a baking tray or inside a rustic oven rack.
3. Sprinkle a small amount of sugar into the center of each apple half.
4. Place a small cube of butter in the hollow of each apple.
5. Dust the apples generously with freshly ground cinnamon.
6. Roast in a preheated oven at 180°C for approximately 30-40 minutes, or until the apples are soft and slightly caramelized.
7. Once roasted, remove from the heat and sprinkle the crushed walnuts and chopped raisins over the top.
8. Finish by drizzling a generous amount of honey over each warm apple piece before serving.

Instructions

👩🏻‍🍳 Preparation Steps for Spiced Roasted Village Apples:

1. Wash the apples thoroughly. Cut them in half horizontally and use a spoon to remove the core, creating a small hollow in the center of each half.
2. Place the apple halves on a baking tray or inside a rustic oven rack.
3. Sprinkle a small amount of sugar into the center of each apple half.
4. Place a small cube of butter in the hollow of each apple.
5. Dust the apples generously with freshly ground cinnamon.
6. Roast in a preheated oven at 180°C for approximately 30-40 minutes, or until the apples are soft and slightly caramelized.
7. Once roasted, remove from the heat and sprinkle the crushed walnuts and chopped raisins over the top.
8. Finish by drizzling a generous amount of honey over each warm apple piece before serving.

Ingredients 2

📌 Ingredients for Azerbaijani Apple-Stuffed Roasted Duck You Can Make Yourself:

🍗 1 whole duck (2 kg)
🧂 10 g sea salt
🌶️ 5 g red pepper flakes (Pul Biber)
🍖 5 g ground turmeric
🌻 50 ml sunflower oil
🍋 1 large lemon (juiced)
🍎 3-4 firm apples (sliced into wedges for stuffing)

👩🏻‍🍳 Preparation Steps for Azerbaijani Apple-Stuffed Roasted Duck:

1. Clean the duck thoroughly and pat the skin completely dry with a cloth.
2. In a small bowl, prepare the marinade by mixing the sunflower oil, lemon juice, sea salt, red pepper flakes, and turmeric into a smooth paste.
3. Rub the marinade all over the duck, ensuring you cover the skin and the interior cavity. Massage the spices into the skin for better absorption.
4. Stuff the cavity of the duck with the sliced apple wedges. Use small wooden skewers or a needle and kitchen twine to seal the cavity closed.
5. Wrap the stuffed duck tightly in heavy-duty aluminum foil to lock in the moisture.
6. Place the duck in a deep roasting pan. If using a traditional wood-fired oven, place it deep in the embers. For a home oven, bake at 160°C for 2.5 to 3 hours.
7. For the final 20 minutes of cooking, carefully open the foil to expose the skin and increase the heat to 200°C to allow the skin to become crispy and golden brown.
8. Allow the duck to rest for 15 minutes before carving. Serve the tender meat alongside the roasted apples and a pot of hot black tea.

Instructions 2

👩🏻‍🍳 Preparation Steps for Azerbaijani Apple-Stuffed Roasted Duck:

1. Clean the duck thoroughly and pat the skin completely dry with a cloth.
2. In a small bowl, prepare the marinade by mixing the sunflower oil, lemon juice, sea salt, red pepper flakes, and turmeric into a smooth paste.
3. Rub the marinade all over the duck, ensuring you cover the skin and the interior cavity. Massage the spices into the skin for better absorption.
4. Stuff the cavity of the duck with the sliced apple wedges. Use small wooden skewers or a needle and kitchen twine to seal the cavity closed.
5. Wrap the stuffed duck tightly in heavy-duty aluminum foil to lock in the moisture.
6. Place the duck in a deep roasting pan. If using a traditional wood-fired oven, place it deep in the embers. For a home oven, bake at 160°C for 2.5 to 3 hours.
7. For the final 20 minutes of cooking, carefully open the foil to expose the skin and increase the heat to 200°C to allow the skin to become crispy and golden brown.
8. Allow the duck to rest for 15 minutes before carving. Serve the tender meat alongside the roasted apples and a pot of hot black tea.

Watch the recipe video