Duck Curry Recipe – Guyana’s Bold, Spicy Street Food Classic

Duck Curry (Guyana)

Green Seasoning from MAD LOVE by Devan Rajkumar

Deeply aromatic, spicy, and layered with Caribbean warmth, Guyanese Duck Curry is food for both family and festivity. Featured on Global Street Eats with Chef Devan Rajkumar, this dish celebrates Guyanese street food at its most flavorful—tender duck simmered slowly with curry, garam masala, and green seasoning from MAD LOVE by Devan Rajkumar. Each spoonful blends heat, earthiness, and comfort, paying tribute to Guyana’s Indian heritage and Creole spirit.

The Inspiration

In Guyana, curry isn’t just a dish—it’s a ritual of flavor and togetherness. Stalls and roadside kitchens across the country serve steaming bowls of duck curry, where the air fills with the smoky scent of masala, chili, and thyme. Passed down through generations, Guyanese curry captures the influence of Indian indentured laborers who brought their spices and techniques to the Caribbean in the 19th century, reshaping local cuisine forever.

On Global Street Eats, Devan Rajkumar returns to his roots, celebrating the comfort of home through the rhythms of cutting, toasting, and slow simmering. His Duck Curry honors traditional flavors—yellow curry and cumin cooked “low and slow” with homemade green seasoning—while highlighting the proud, fiery essence of modern Caribbean Street cooking. It’s bold, rustic, and impossible to forget.

Ingredients

For the Duck Curry:

• 1 whole duck, chopped into 2 inch chunks with skin and bones included
• 1 yellow onions, chopped
• ¼ cup (60ml) yellow curry powder
• 2 tbsp (29.6ml) garam masala
• 1 tsp (4.9ml) cumin powder
• 1 tbsp (14.8ml) kosher salt
• Neutral oil such as vegetable or canola oil
• Cooked rice for serving
• Dhal for serving (optional)

For the Green Seasoning:

• 2 Wiri Wiri chili peppers
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/3 cup (80ml) garlic cloves
• 1 cup (240ml) chopped tomato
• 1 (2-inch) piece ginger, chopped
• ½ cup (120ml) chopped celery
• 2-3 scallions, chopped
• ¾ cup (180ml) roughly chopped cilantro
• ¾ cup (180ml) cilantro
• 1 cup (240ml) roughly chopped parsley
• 2 tsp (9.9ml) thyme leaves
• 2 tsp (9.9ml) salt
• 2 tsp (9.9ml) fresh lime juice
• 1 tbsp (14.8ml) oil

Method

For the Green Seasoning:

• Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend to desired consistency.

For the Duck Curry:

• Heat a thin layer of oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until it turns translucent, about 2 minutes. Add in half the green seasoning (reserve the rest for another use) and the yellow curry powder, garam masala, and cumin powder. Cook, stirring, until the green seasoning releases its oil, about 10 minutes.
• Increase the heat to high add the duck. Cook, stirring, until the duck releases its fat, about 10 minutes.
• Add the salt and 4 cups of water to the saucepan. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to a simmer. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for about 1 and a half hours, or until the duck is fall off the bone tender and the liquid has reduced and thickened. Add more water during cooking if the dish gets too dry to keep cooking down.
• Serve the curry along with rice and dhal if desired.

Serving Suggestions

Serve Duck Curry steaming hot over rice or with soft roti to scoop up every bit of curry gravy. For a truly traditional meal, pair it with Guyana-style dhal, whose mild creaminess tempers the dish’s bold spice. Garnish with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime for brightness.

It’s perfect for gatherings or family feasts—served communal-style straight from the pot. Pair with cold ginger beer, light lager, or coconut water to balance the rich spice. For an authentic touch, add fried plantains or spiced mango achar on the side to echo the curry’s tropical origins.

Final Thoughts

This Duck Curry recipe from Global Street Eats and Chef Devan Rajkumar brings the heart of Guyanese street food to life with bold, comforting flavor. From the kick of Wiri Wiri chilies to homemade green seasoning, it reflects the depth and soul of Latin-Caribbean cooking at its best.

Steeped in history, spice, and passion, it’s the kind of dish that reminds you why food is culture’s most enduring storyteller—one simmer, one aroma, one memory at a time

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