MeatEater, Inc. is an outdoor lifestyle company founded by renowned writer and TV personality Steven Rinella. Host of the Netflix show MeatEater and The MeatEater Podcast, Rinella has gained wide popularity with hunters and non-hunters alike through his passion for outdoor adventure and wild foods, as well as his strong commitment to conservation. Founded with the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, MeatEater, Inc. brings together leading influencers in the outdoor space to create premium content experiences and unique apparel and equipment. MeatEater, Inc. is based in Bozeman, MT.

Honey-sesame duck hearts with scallions and sesame seeds served with white rice

Duck Heart Stir-Fry

  • Duration

    20 minutes

  • Serves

    2 to 3
Chef’s notes

This is the kind of special dish you only get to make once or twice a year since it requires so many hearts to make, and each bird you bring down only has one.

It’s a good idea to bug your friends, family, and hunting buddies for their hearts and organs if they’re not going to use them—that way, you can collect a bigger bag of them to make this dish with.

Since hearts benefit from short cooking times with high heat, stir-frying is probably one of the best ways to cook them. Once you try this dish, you’ll never leave the hearts in the field again!

Note: if your hearts vary significantly in size (e.g., duck and goose), cut the larger ones in half to make everything similar in size. This will help everything finish cooking at the same time, avoiding chewy, over-cooked hearts.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. duck hearts
  • 1 tsp. + 1 tsp. cornstarch
  • ½ tsp. kosher salt
  • ½ tsp. black pepper
  • 2 tbsp. duck fat or cooking oil
  • ½ cup honey
  • 2 tbsp. soy sauce
  • 2 tsp. dark soy sauce (optional)
  • 1 tbsp. sesame oil
  • 2 tsp. rice wine vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp. roasted sesame seeds
  • 2 scallions/green onions, sliced thickly

Also works with

Any heart

Preparation

  1. Toss the hearts in a teaspoon of the cornstarch and the salt and pepper.
  2. Mix the honey, soy sauces, sesame oil, vinegar, garlic, sesame seeds, and the other teaspoon of cornstarch in a bowl and set aside.
  3. Heat the duck fat in a wok or cast iron skillet over high heat. Once the oil is smoking, add the hearts, watching out for hot splatters.
  4. Let sear in one layer for 30 seconds, then begin tossing and stir-frying for about 5 minutes, or until hearts are golden brown all over, but still pink inside. Do not overcook the hearts or they will be very chewy and grainy.
  5. Stir the sauce well and add it to the wok, quickly tossing it in with the hearts.
  6. Once the sauce has thickened and is clinging to the hearts, take off the heat. Serve immediately with white rice.

Shop

Meatcrafter Essential fillet knife with long curved steel blade and olive green handle
Save this product
Shop Now
THE MEATEATER OUTDOOR COOKBOOK — STEVEN RINELLA WITH KRISTA RUANE; steak in cast-iron skillet over grill
Save this product
Penguin Random House
$38.00
Shop Now
Cookbook cover with roasted game in pan; text "MEATEATER'S wild+whole" by Danielle Prewett
Save this product
Penguin Random House
$35.00
Shop Now
STEVEN RINELLA — THE MEATEATER FISH AND GAME COOKBOOK; plate of cooked game with antler
Save this product
Shop Now
MeatEater seasonings six-pack: Mojave Mix, Roost Rub, Backcountry Bark, Bayou Boil, Backstrap Brew, Campfire Crust
Save this product
Shop Now
Mojave Mix seasoning jar, MeatEater label reads "MOJAVE MIX" and "SOUTHERN ZEST WITH A TANGY PUNCH"
Save this product
MeatEater Store
$13.99
Shop Now
Work Sharp electric knife sharpener with label "WORK SHARP SHARPENERS" and buttons "SHAPE SHARPEN REFINE"
Save this product
Shop Now
Meater+ Bluetooth stainless meat probe in bamboo charging block, visible text "MEATER+"
Save this product
Shop Now

Sign In or Create a Free Account

Access the newest seasons of MeatEater, save content, and join in discussions with the Crew and others in the MeatEater community.

Related

Reviews

Save this recipe

Duck Heart Stir-Fry

Recipe by:Adam Berkelmans
Honey-sesame duck hearts with scallions and sesame seeds served with white rice
  • Duration

    20 minutes

  • Serves

    2 to 3
Chef’s notes

This is the kind of special dish you only get to make once or twice a year since it requires so many hearts to make, and each bird you bring down only has one.

It’s a good idea to bug your friends, family, and hunting buddies for their hearts and organs if they’re not going to use them—that way, you can collect a bigger bag of them to make this dish with.

Since hearts benefit from short cooking times with high heat, stir-frying is probably one of the best ways to cook them. Once you try this dish, you’ll never leave the hearts in the field again!

Note: if your hearts vary significantly in size (e.g., duck and goose), cut the larger ones in half to make everything similar in size. This will help everything finish cooking at the same time, avoiding chewy, over-cooked hearts.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. duck hearts
  • 1 tsp. + 1 tsp. cornstarch
  • ½ tsp. kosher salt
  • ½ tsp. black pepper
  • 2 tbsp. duck fat or cooking oil
  • ½ cup honey
  • 2 tbsp. soy sauce
  • 2 tsp. dark soy sauce (optional)
  • 1 tbsp. sesame oil
  • 2 tsp. rice wine vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp. roasted sesame seeds
  • 2 scallions/green onions, sliced thickly

Also works with

Any heart

Preparation

  1. Toss the hearts in a teaspoon of the cornstarch and the salt and pepper.
  2. Mix the honey, soy sauces, sesame oil, vinegar, garlic, sesame seeds, and the other teaspoon of cornstarch in a bowl and set aside.
  3. Heat the duck fat in a wok or cast iron skillet over high heat. Once the oil is smoking, add the hearts, watching out for hot splatters.
  4. Let sear in one layer for 30 seconds, then begin tossing and stir-frying for about 5 minutes, or until hearts are golden brown all over, but still pink inside. Do not overcook the hearts or they will be very chewy and grainy.
  5. Stir the sauce well and add it to the wok, quickly tossing it in with the hearts.
  6. Once the sauce has thickened and is clinging to the hearts, take off the heat. Serve immediately with white rice.