Whole Duck Baked in the Oven with Mayonnaise
Duck with mayonnaise is very tasty and simple! The hands-on prep doesn’t take much time - the duck just bakes longer. Prunes with bay leaf and garlic give a gorgeous aroma with caramel notes. The roasting bag keeps the duck juicy and appetizing.
Updated : 10 March, 2026
Easy
About 30 min.
Ingredients
1.8 kilograms
Duck
300 grams
Prunes
3
Garlic
2
Laurel leaf
1 tablespoon
Salt
1 teaspoon
Ground black pepper
1 teaspoon
Ground coriander
50 grams
Mayonnaise
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
How do you bake whole duck with mayonnaise? Prepare everything you need. The taste depends on what duck you choose. I usually roast a duck weighing no more than 1.8 kg (about 4 lb). It’s best to buy chilled duck, since it’s hard to judge freshness and meat quality from a frozen carcass. The duck should be light pink with a neutral smell. If you’re using farm-raised duck, it should be young (under 1 year), otherwise it won’t be suitable for roasting.
Step 2
To remove the oil used to treat dried fruit before sale, pour warm water (about 70°C / 158°F) over the prunes. Stir so the water reaches all the prunes. Do not use boiling water, or the prunes will cook. Drain through a sieve so there isn’t too much liquid left.
Step 3
If the duck is frozen, thaw it ahead of time. Remove the packaging and place it in a container on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator 12 hours before cooking. Rinse the duck under running water, remove giblets and any remaining pinfeathers. Rub it inside and out with salt, pepper, and coriander.
Step 4
While the duck is salting, prepare the stuffing. Peel the garlic, rinse it, and chop it with a knife or a garlic press. Mix the prunes, garlic, and bay leaf.
Step 5
Stuff the duck with the mixture and sew up the belly with thread.
Step 6
Place the duck in a roasting bag and set it on a baking sheet. To let steam escape and prevent the bag from bursting, prick it with a needle in several places. Put the duck into a preheated oven so baking doesn’t turn into boiling. Bake on a rack below the middle for about 2 hours at 150°C / 302°F.
Step 7
Take out the browned duck, cut and open the top of the roasting bag. Since duck is quite fatty, a lot of fat may run out at this stage - carefully pour it off. If desired, brush the carcass with mayonnaise. Return to the oven and bake for about 15 minutes more. Garnish with herbs and vegetables and serve. This dish is loved by both adults and kids - tasty, beautiful, and wholesome.
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