Grilled Wood Duck Poppers
A waterfowl camp favorite that's easy to make and always disapears fast. While this recipe uses wood duck breasts, it works just as well with mallards, pintails, teal, specklebelly geese, or your favorite wild game bird.
Yield: 20 Poppers
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 15-20 Minutes
ingredients
- 10 wood duck breasts, sliced in half lengthwise (from approximately 5 wood ducks)
- 10 jalapenos, halved lenthwise and seeded
- 20 slices regular-cut bacon
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 tablespoon Dale's Original Blend Marinade
- Favorite steak seasoning
instructions
1. Prepare the Duck
Thaw the duck breasts completely and allow them to come to room temperature. Slice each breast in half lengthwise. Smaller ducks, such as teal, may only yield one popper per breast, while larger ducks may provide more than two slices per breast.
Inspect each piece carefully for feathers, pellets, and shot fragments.
2. Season the Meat
Place the duck breast slices into a large mixing bowl. Add Dale's Original Blend Marinade and your favorite steak seasoning. Toss until each piece is evenly coated.
3. Prepare the Jalapenos
Cut the jalapenos in half lengthwise and remove all seeds and membranes
4. Assemble the Poppers
Fill each jalapeno half about three-quarters full with cream cheese.
Place one seasoned duck breast slice on top of the cream cheese, then wrap the entire popper with a slice of bacon. Secure with a toothpick if needed.
5. Preheat the Grill
Preheat your grill to 350°F
6. Grill the Poppers
Place the poppers on the grill with the cream cheese side facing up.
Cook for approximately 10 minutes, then carefully rotate the poppers to allow the bacon to cook evenly. Continue rotating every few minutes as needed to crisp the bacon without losing the cream cheese filling
7. Remove and Rest
Once the bacon begins to develop crispy edges, remove the poppers from the grill. Total cook time is typically 15–20 minutes.
Avoid overcooking the duck. Wild duck is best served medium to medium-rare and can become tough if cooked beyond that point.
Let the poppers rest for about 5 minutes before serving, as the cream cheese will be extremely hot.
8. Serve
Serve whole as an appetizer or slice into bite-sized pieces for sharing. Either way, don't expect leftovers.
Pro Tip: Experiment with different duck species and seasonings to create yor own signature version of this classic waterfowl favorite.
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