Duck breast with soba noodles and mango

Posted on October 5, 2026

This elegant duck breast with soba noodles and mango brings together rich, hoisin-glazed duck with fresh tropical sweetness and earthy buckwheat noodles. A punchy soy, sesame, and lime dressing ties every component together in a dish that feels restaurant-worthy yet comes together effortlessly. Whether you're entertaining guests or elevating a weeknight dinner, this recipe delivers bold Asian-inspired flavours in every bite.

Dinner

Ingredients

4 x 180g duck breast fillets (see note), skin scored

2 tablespoons hoisin sauce

270g packet soba noodles

1/3 cup (80ml) soy sauce

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon brown sugar

Juice of 1 lime

1 mango, sliced

2 cups watercress sprigs

Instructions

1

Preheat the oven to 180°C.

2

Season the duck, then place, skin-side down, in a non-stick ovenproof frypan over low heat. Cook for 5-6 minutes until most of the fat has rendered and the skin is crisp. Turn, then brush skin with hoisin sauce. Transfer to the oven and bake for 6 minutes or until just cooked but still pink in the center. Rest, loosely covered with foil, for 5 minutes.

3

Meanwhile, cook noodles according to packet instructions, then drain. Whisk soy, oil, sugar and lime juice together to make a dressing, then toss half with the noodles.

4

Thinly slice the duck and serve with the mango, watercress and noodles. Drizzle with the remaining dressing.

5

Notes

6

Scoring the skin on duck breast fillets (available from poultry shops, butchers and selected supermarkets) helps to render the fat.

Key Points About Ingredients:

• Scoring the duck skin before cooking is essential — it allows the thick layer of fat to render evenly, resulting in irresistibly crispy skin without leaving a greasy finish.
• Soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour and are naturally higher in protein and fibre than regular wheat noodles, making them a more nutritious base for this dish.
• Mango adds a natural sweetness and a boost of vitamin C and vitamin A, perfectly balancing the savoury, umami-rich dressing and the richness of the duck.
• Hoisin sauce acts as a glaze that caramelises beautifully in the oven, giving the duck skin a lacquered, sticky finish with deep sweet-savoury complexity.
• Watercress is a nutrient-dense leafy green packed with vitamin K, vitamin C, and antioxidants, adding a fresh, peppery bite that cuts through the richness of the duck.

Key Nutritional Insights:

• Duck breast is a great source of high-quality protein and iron, and when the skin is properly rendered, much of the saturated fat drips away during cooking.
• Soba noodles provide complex carbohydrates and contain all eight essential amino acids when made from 100% buckwheat, making them more nutritionally complete than many pasta alternatives.
• The soy-sesame dressing contributes a significant portion of the dish's sodium, so opting for a reduced-sodium soy sauce is an easy way to lighten the overall salt content.
• Mango is rich in folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin C, supporting immune function and skin health while adding natural sugar that reduces the need for additional sweeteners.
• Sesame oil is rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, and its powerful flavour means a small amount delivers a big aromatic impact.

• Nutrition Facts

• Serving Size1
• Amount per serving
• Calories610
• Standard DV% Daily Value*
• Total Fat22 g72 g30.56%
• Saturated Fat5 g20 g25%
• Trans Fat0 g
• Polyunsaturated Fat5 g
• Monounsaturated Fat10 g
• Cholesterol165 mg300 mg55%
• Sodium1420 mg2300 mg61.74%
• Total Carbohydrate58 g275 g21.09%
• Dietary Fiber4 g28 g14.29%
• Total Sugars14 g
• Added Sugars5 g50 g10%
• Sugar Alcohal0 g
• Protein46 g50 g92%
• Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol)18 mcg20 mcg90%
• Calcium80 mg1300 mg6.15%
• Iron5 mg18 mg27.78%
• Potassium720 mg4700 mg15.32%
• Vitamin A1850 mcg900 mcg205.56%
• Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)28 mg90 mg31.11%
• Vitamin E (Tocopherol)2 mg15 mg13.33%
• Vitamin K72 mcg120 mcg60%
• Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)0.3 mg1.2 mg25%
• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)0.5 mg1.3 mg38.46%
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin)10 mg16 mg62.5%
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)0.8 mg1.7 mg47.06%
• Folate55 mcg400 mcg13.75%
• Vitamin B12 (Cobalamine)0.6 mcg2.4 mcg25%
• Biotin8 mcg30 mcg26.67%
• Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)2.5 mg5 mg50%
• Choline145 mg550 mg26.36%
• Phosphorus480 mg1250 mg38.4%
• Iodine12 mcg150 mcg8%
• Magnesium85 mg420 mg20.24%
• Zinc4 mg11 mg36.36%
• Selenium38 mcg55 mcg69.09%
• Copper0.4 mg0.9 mg44.44%
• Manganese1.2 mg2.3 mg52.17%
• Chromium8 mcg35 mcg22.86%
• Molybdenum12 mcg45 mcg26.67%
• Chloride420 mg2300 mg18.26%
• * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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