Basics: Pesach Duck Sauce

Once you have this basic in your fridge, there’s so many things you can do with it! This all-purpose condiment will save the day.

Today, it’s hard to find a cooking ingredient that doesn’t have a kosher-for-Passover version. I sound old when I tell my children that when I was a kid, the only cookie we had were ladyfingers (I thought it was a bad name for a cookie back then and still think so). And among the items on the shelves today, there’s also duck sauce, of course.

All around the year, duck sauce is a key ingredient in so many recipes. It’s the base for dips (think egg rolls) or an integral part of a sauce for meats and chicken. For those who don’t use processed ingredients, having a homemade version can come in handy. Very handy.

So, for those that don’t buy processed ingredients on Pesach, or just want to make their own (because on Pesach, many of you prefer the freshness and simplicity of homemade sauces vs. store-bought), here is a recipe I’ve shared over the years for the simplest duck sauce possible. It doesn’t call for apricots or jams (the usual duck sauce components), just simple basic ingredients most people have at home.

That’s finely diced red onion, sugar, fresh ginger, fresh orange juice, and fresh lemon juice. This already feels good.

onion and sugar in a saute pan.

Saute the onion with the sugar.

After 10 minutes, you’ll see the mixture get syrupy and soft.

Stir in the lemon juice.

ginger and lemon juice to onion and sugar in a sauté pan

and some freshly grated ginger.

Dissolve potato starch in orange juice

Dissolve the potato starch in orange juice.

adding dissolved potato starch in orange juice to pot with sautéed red onion (sugar, ginger and lemon juice)

Then add it to the pot.

Continue to cook until the mixture thickens! That’s it. Keep in the fridge until you’re ready to use. Scroll down for ideas on how and where to use this duck sauce

Homemade Pesach Duck Sauce

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1 red onion, diced
  • 6 tbsp sugar
  • juice of ½ lemon
  • ½ tsp fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 tsp potato starch
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add onion and sugar and cook, stirring constantly, for 10 minutes, until mixture is syrupy. Add lemon juice and ginger.
  • Dissolve potato starch in orange juice and add to pot. Season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook until sauce thickens.
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Note: the color of your homemade duck sauce will depend on the color of the red onion.
Want to finely dice an onion like in these photos? Check out How to Dice that Red Onion into Really Tiny Pieces.

Now once you made it, what can you do with it?

Make Barely-Any-Ingredients Baby Back Ribs

Make Chicken Steaks

Use it as a dip for Pulled Beef Eggrolls

Duck sauce is the perfect dip for flanken beef egg rolls. Shred your favorite roast (great use for leftovers) and fill Pesach crepes with the shredded beef. Pan-fry and serve with the duck sauce on the side.

Make Orange Flanken or Ribs

Place ribs into a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Season with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over ribs. Cover tightly and bake for 2-3 hours. Pour sauce over ribs when serving.

Alternatively, you can use equal parts of duck sauce and orange juice. First season the meat with paprika and garlic powder. Pour over sauce and orange juice and cover and bake for 2 ½ hours. Uncover for an additional 20-30 minutes.

Make Renee Muller's Mommy's Chicken

Dinner Express: Chicken Teriyaki Stir-Fry. No time to cook tonight? Make this (almost) completely effortless chicken stir-fry in minutes

Make easy chicken strips

Sauté an onion for 3-4 minutes. Add crushed garlic (optional). Add thin strips of boneless chicken breast into the skillet. Sauté until chicken is white on all sides. Add a couple of tablespoons of homemade duck sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 3-5 minutes until sauce gets mixed in well with the chicken and chicken starts to brown. You can also add vegetables after sautéing the onion (mushrooms, peppers, or carrots all pair well).

Use as a marinade for grilled chicken

Simply marinade ahead of time, then remove from marinade and grill. You can serve the chicken with additional sauce.

Leah Schapira

Leah is the best-selling author of 10 kosher cookbooks. She’s known as a master “connector,” bringing people together and collaborations to life.

 

9 responses to “Basics: Pesach Duck Sauce”

  1. R Avatar
    R

    Can the sugar be substituted with honey?

  2. lea Avatar
    lea

    can the potato starch be left out or replaced with anything else?

    1. Between Carpools Avatar

      Potato starch can be left out. The consistency will be different but still good. full ‘n free makes an arrowroot starch https://fullnfree.com/product/arrowroot-starch-12oz/ that you can try

  3. Silky Avatar
    Silky

    This is a staple in my pesach kitchen. I usually make a lot more than I need and send to family and friends.

  4. Esther Avatar
    Esther

    How long does this last in the fridge?

    1. Leah Schapira Avatar
      Leah Schapira

      Lasts for a week. However it freezes really well.

  5. Esther Avatar
    Esther

    I’d also like to know if potato starch can be left out and what can be used to keep it gel like.

  6. Malka Avatar
    Malka

    Does this freeze well? If not, how long can it last in the fridge?
    Thank you!!

    1. Between Carpools Avatar

      Yes, this does freeze well.

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