Mock duck facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mock duck
Canned fried wheat gluten ("vegetarian mock duck")
Traditional Chinese	燜齋鴨
Simplified Chinese	焖斋鸭
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin mènzhāiyā)

Mock duck is a special food that looks and tastes a bit like duck meat, but it's actually made from wheat gluten. Wheat gluten is a protein found in wheat. This food is also called a meat substitute because it can be used instead of real meat.

It is made by mixing wheat gluten with oil, sugar, soy sauce, and salt. Mock duck has a lot of protein, which is good for your body. It has a unique taste and a chewy texture that makes it different from other gluten foods. You can't eat mock duck raw; it needs to be cooked, usually by lightly frying it in vegetable oil.

What is Mock Duck Made Of?

Mock duck is mainly made from wheat gluten. This is the part of wheat flour that gives dough its stretchy texture. When you wash wheat flour dough, the starch washes away, leaving behind the sticky gluten.

Key Ingredients in Mock Duck

The main ingredients used to make mock duck are:

• Wheat gluten
• Oil
• Sugar
• Soy sauce
• Salt

These ingredients are mixed and cooked to create the final product. It's known for being high in protein, which is an important nutrient for growing bodies.

Where Did Mock Duck Come From?

Mock duck and other foods made from wheat gluten have a long history. They started in Buddhist cuisine in China many centuries ago, during the Middle Ages. Buddhist monks often ate vegetarian meals, and these gluten-based foods were a great way to create dishes that felt like meat without actually using animal products.

Finding Mock Duck Today

You can often find mock duck in Chinese grocery stores. Some larger stores that sell foods from all over the world might also have it. It is most commonly sold in cans, ready to be cooked and added to your favorite dishes.

Other Similar Foods

Sometimes, you might see similar products labeled as "Mock Abalone" or "Cha'i Pow Yu" (齋鮑魚; pinyin: zhāibàoyú). These are also vegetarian meat substitutes made from similar ingredients.

How Does Mock Duck Get Its Flavor?

Mock duck gets its delicious flavor from how it's prepared. It is usually stewed, which means it's cooked slowly in a liquid.

Flavoring Ingredients

The main ingredients used to give mock duck its taste are:

• Soy sauce: This gives it a savory, salty flavor.
• MSG: This is a flavor enhancer that makes food taste more savory and delicious.

What is Tofu Duck?

There is also a different kind of mock duck called tofu duck. This version is made from tofu skin instead of wheat gluten. Tofu skin is made from the film that forms on the surface of heated soy milk. It can also be shaped and flavored to resemble duck meat.

See also

In Spanish: Pato falso para niños