
Chili is an interesting dish. It’s probably one of the few meals that vary from region to region, gets in a heated debate on beans vs. without (I’m in the without camp) and has cook-offs big and small dedicated solely to it.
I never really grew up eating chili, it just wasn’t something my mom made. We ate plenty of traditional meals found in suburban homes but this was always left off the menu. I’m not sure if it was my refusal to eat beans of any kind (okay scratch that, I do like green beans and chickpeas as long as it becomes hummus) or if mom herself wasn’t a fan. Maybe it’s because we didn’t have a palate for spicy foods.
Whatever the reason, my introduction to chili came late in life and even then it took time to really start to like it. Some people make huge batches every week to stock their freezer with. I probably make it once a year.
Insert our #SundaySupper theme today. Not only are we making chili, we are actually having a virtual chili cook-off where you – yes YOU will have the chance to vote for the best sounding/looking/imagine tasting chili. What does the winner get? A ticket to the Food and Wine Conference in Orlando this summer. Pretty awesome huh?
What’s somewhat interesting about my recipe today is the fact I’ve had the idea for my Asian inspired duck chili for a few years now but it took our chili cook-off to make it! I probably could have shared it when the idea first came to me but I was saving it for the Brooklyn Chili Takedown. Life and lack of time got in the way and well I just never competed the last two years. I can safely say though, I’m really glad I a) finally made this and b) waiting for this competition to share it!
The flavors are incredible unique and different, yet familiar at the same time. The first bite you have that familiar, comforting chili taste. The second bite the Asian inspired flavors start to come out, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, lots of garlic. You know what I’m getting at. Can you smell it? I wanted to make sure the best part of duck wasn’t wasted here, so I took all that duck skin and made some crispy cracklins to top the chili. It’s an explosion of flavor and texture.
Ingredients
- 3lbs duck breast
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon Chinese Five Spice Powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 medium onion, diced
- grapeseed or other neutral oil
- 2 carrots, diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 3 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced
- 1 14.5oz can chopped tomatoes with green chiles
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- 1 teaspoon sweet chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- duck skin removed from duck breasts
- 1/4 cup water
- salt to season
Instructions
- Using a sharp knife, remove the skin from the duck, making sure not to cut away too much meat. Set aside.
- Cut the duck breasts into 1/2 inch chunks. In a small bowl mix the cornstarch with 1 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder, kosher salt and white pepper. Coat the duck in the cornstarch mix and shake off any excess.
- In a dutch oven over medium heat, drizzle some grapeseed oil and heat until it just starts to smoke.
- Brown the duck on all sides and remove.
- If necessary add a little more oil to the dutch oven and add the onions and carrots to saute until soft and the onions are translucent - about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic and ginger and cook for 30 seconds.
- Place the duck back into the dutch oven, pour in the chopped tomatoes, chicken stock, soy sauce, sriracha and season with sweet chili sauce, Chinese five spice powder, chili powder, white pepper and kosher salt.
- Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Cover and let cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- While the chili is simmering, cut the duck skin into strips 1/4 inch wide and 1/2 inch long.
- Place into a medium sized heavy bottom pot and pour in 1/4 cup water. Turn the heat to medium and cover.
- After 10-15 minutes you'll start to hear crackling, that's the fat rendering off the duck skin. It will start to darken and you may want to flip some of the skin around after 20-25 minutes making sure every bit crisps up.
- Cook the cracklins for 45 minutes to 1 hour total. You want them to be medium dark brown and completely crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to drain on paper towels. Season generously with kosher salt.
- See below note on how to save the rendered duck fat.
- Serve the chili over a bowl of jasmine rice, topped with duck cracklins and additional sriracha sauce on the sauce.
Notes
After making the cracklins you'll be left with the bonus of rendered duck fat. Don't let this go to waste. Let the fat cool completely and strain it through a fine mess sieve. Store the duck fat in a jar in your fridge for a month or freeze indefinitely in a freezer safe container.
While I know you are clearly going to be voting for my chili (oh which you can do at the Sunday Supper Movement website). Here are the rest of the chili recipes competing in #SundaySuppers first ever chili cook-off!
Will YOU be a part of the #SundaySupper Chili Cook-Off judges panel this week? Voting is live at the Sunday Supper Movement Online Community Magazine starting now and concluding (fittingly) on February 27 – National Chili Day! Browse the submissions and cast your vote by clicking HERE! Beef and Bison Chili
- Bison & Black Bean Chili from It’s Yummi!
- Cincinnati Chili from Savvy Eats
- Easy Beef Bean Chili from The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
- Easy Chili con Carne from Manu’s Menu
- Gesundheit Chili from Magnolia Days
- Hellfire Chili from Yours And Mine Are Ours
- Hoisin Beef Chili from Small Wallet, Big Appetite
- Moroccan Harissa Spiked Chili from MarocMama
- Short Rib Chili from The Texan New Yorker
- Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Chili from Hip Foodie Mom
Pork Chili
- Apple and Red Ale Pulled Pork Chili from Curious Cuisiniere
- Pineapple Pork Chili from Melanie Makes
Chicken, Duck, and Turkey Chili
- Asian Five Spice Duck Chili from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Buffalo Turkey Chili from La Bella Vita Cucina
- Chicken and Bell Pepper Chili from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Chicken Meatball Chipotle Chili from Soni’s Food
- Gluten Free Turkey Chili from Gluten Free Crumbley
- Kickin’ Chicken Chili from Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
- Low Calorie Turkey Chili from Basic N Delicious
- Olé Mole Turkey Chili from Kudos Kitchen By Renee
- Quick & Easy Chipotle Turkey Chili from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Shockingly Delicious Chili Mole with Red Beans and Raisins from Shockingly Delicious
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili from Family Foodie
- Thai Chicken Chili from Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
- White Chicken Chili from The Foodie Army Wife
Mixed (meat combo) Chili
- Best Damn Chili Ever from Noshing With The Nolands
- Chili con Tres Carne from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Daddy’s Favorite Chili from Momma’s Meals
- Harlem Meatloaf Chili from Neighborfood
- Leslie’s Best Chili from La Cocina de Leslie
Fish and Seafood Chili
- Scrumptious Seafood Chili from A Kitchen Hoor
Vegetarian Chili
- Easy Vegetarian Chili with Raisins and Cashews from Delaware Girl Eats
- New Orleans Style Vegetarian Chili from Take A Bite Out of Boca
- Vegan Slow Cooker Chili from Killer Bunnies, Inc
Twist-on-Chili
- Chicken Chili Cheese Fries from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Chili Cornbread Cupcakes from In The Kitchen With KP
- Chili Topped Tater Tots from Ruffles & Truffles
- Spicy Chili Mac from girlichef
Best Wines To Pair with Chili #SundaySupper from ENOFYLZ Wine Blog Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.
Duck chili? You rocked this, my friend!!!!
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You had me at duck skin cracklins and then it just got better from there. Incredible chili.
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What a creative and delicious chili this is!! Love it!!
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These chili recipes are getting better and better. I’ve been going down the list of entries and yours is a real stand-out for me. So unusual and creative with the duck. Good luck with the contest. I’ll bet you have a real shot to win!
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Love the Asian spin on this chili. . very inventive!
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Wow! I can honestly say that I’ve never had duck chili! Amazing!
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I never would have thought of duck in chili! This is just wonderful! Love the asian flair to it!
I CAN smell it from here!
You really got inventive here! Awesome idea to go the Asian route and also use duck
My husband was just saying how we haven’t had enough duck lately. We both love it. This was would be a great new way to have some in our lives.
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Duck chili?? This sounds heavenly… gourmet food! I love the Asian twist!
Wow – now this is a chili I would never have dreamed up on my own, and it sounds incredible! Cracklins on top? Genius…
I’m so intrigued by your ingredient list!
I want to eat this so bad! Love love love it!
Those cracklins look AMAZING!!!
Wow, this is just the bomb! I absolutely love what you’ve created . . . the Five Spice with Duck is genius, Susan!
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Wow you really took this to the next level with this duck chili. It is moments like this that I get sad this is just a virtual competition because I could eat this right through the computer screen. Is it wrong to vote for someone besides yourself for best dish? 🙂
Such a unique take on chili with some of my favorite flavors!!Love the Sriracha and the oriental sauces and spices!I bet this would be a winner in any cook off 🙂
I can smell it! I would have never thought to do an Asian-inspired chili. But, I’m sold!
OMG. I have to make this, I have to make this!! I’ve never had an Asian inspired chili, but this one I will try in a heartbeat. I mean, I read “duck cracklins” and started drooling. Wow! Thanks for posting!
aw this is a brilliant Asian twist on chili. Love chili especially in the winter time.
I’m going to be craving this one all day long.
I think this recipe was the most intriguing of the lot!
This looks wonderful! We love chili at our house and THIS, oh my THIS is going to be a hit!
Ok, I knew you were totally brilliant before but…this is fabulous!
I love five spice powder! It adds such great flavor to everything. This chili looks so comforting!
I too, was introduced to chili late in life. I wish I had known about it earlier because it is so easy and versatile. I never would have thought to do duck! The food recipe ideas you come up with amaze me.
Ok, you had me at duck skin cracklins. Can I have a giant bowl of this incredibly unique, flavourful chili with a side bucket of the cracklins? You never cease to amaze me with your creativity, Susan. And I hope to see you at this year’s F&W Conference. It’s about time we get together, eat ‘n gab in real life!
Wow! Amazing recipe Susan! I would LOVE to have a bowl of this!
Looking back, I wouldn’t call what my mom made “chili”, but it was still tasty. Though, I am LOVING the Asian fusion flavors you put in this version! Such a fun dish!
DUCK CHILI?! Are you kidding me?? I need a bowl of this, like, now.
I LOVE that you topped this with duck cracklins! What a wonderful idea! And the Asian flavors sound like a great twist on this classic. I never liked beans growing up either so when my mom made chili she just put green beans in it instead! I still love chili with green beans in it. 🙂
Okay – I confess to have eaten duck maybe once and I just do not remember the taste. Yes, it is true!!! – Susan, your Chili sounds absolutely amazingly fantastic out of this world. How is the spice level? I will have to give it a try, what do you think about using chicken instead of duck?
Brilliant flavor combo! Sounds great!!
Voted for you!
I’ve been visiting many of the Chili recipes for this #SundaySupper event and I must say this is the most unique of all. I think this sounds incredible and I’d love to give it a try.
Oh my gosh, so many great flavors going on here!
Oh of course you would make duck chili! Confession: I’ve never made duck before. I may have eaten it once or twice at a Chinese buffet (does that even count?). I’m pinning this for when I can buy duck breast some day.
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