Meats and oven dishes

Arroz de pato

Baked rice with shredded duck, a rich broth and slices of chouriço.

RegionNationwide / North
DifficultyMedium
Total time2 h 05 min
Servings6 servings
Photo of Arroz de pato — traditional Portuguese recipe
Photo of the traditional Portuguese recipe.

Editorial content from Empório Portugal. Traditional recipes may vary by region, family and cook.

About the recipe

Arroz de pato is an elegant, homely oven dish, often present at special lunches.

The rice cooks in the duck broth, gaining deep flavor before it browns in the oven.

The chouriço slices on top add aroma and color.

Ingredients

  • 1 small duck or 1.5 kg duck pieces
  • 2 cups rice
  • 1 onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 150 g chouriço, sliced
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper

Method

  1. Cook the duck with onion, carrot, bay leaf and salt until tender.
  2. Shred the meat and strain the broth.
  3. Sauté the rice in olive oil and garlic.
  4. Cook the rice in the duck broth until almost dry.
  5. Mix in part of the shredded duck and assemble in a baking dish.
  6. Cover with the remaining duck and chouriço, then bake until golden.

Tips from Empório Portugal

  • A well-made broth defines the dish.
  • The rice should go into the oven still moist.
  • Shred the duck into visible pieces, not into very fine shreds.

Possible substitutions in Brazil

  • Frozen duck thighs and drumsticks work well.
  • If you cannot find chouriço, use good-quality Portuguese sausage.

Pairing

A red from Dão or Douro. Content intended for adults 18+. Drink responsibly.

Editorial note from Empório Portugal

This recipe is an Empório Portugal editorial version inspired by Portuguese culinary tradition. Regional and family variations exist, especially in seasoning, quantities and method.

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Send it to the Empório Portugal community. Submitted recipes are reviewed before any publication.

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Quick facts

Prep
35 min
Cooking
1 h 30 min
Total time
2 h 05 min
Yield
6 servings
Difficulty
Medium
Occasion
Special lunch

Pairing

A red from Dão or Douro. Content intended for adults 18+. Drink responsibly.

Empório tip

A well-made broth defines the dish.

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