Step 1

In a mixing bowl, add duck legs and massage with crushed ginger and rice wine. This helps eliminate any gamy odors. Rinse and pat dry. Then marinate the duck legs with five-spice powder, dark soy sauce, crushed shallots and garlic for 20-30 minutes.

Step 2

Set the oven broiler to high. Shake off bits of aromatics in the marinade from the duck legs, and place the duck legs skin side up on a wired rack over a lined baking tray. Broil until the skin is blistered and golden with some darkened spots (about 10 minutes).

Step 3

While marinating the duck legs, soak the red dates, goji berries and dried shiitake mushrooms in room temperature water for about 10 minutes. Rinse and drain.

Step 4

After the duck legs have been broiled, add water, red dates, goji berries, dried shiitake mushrooms, star anises, black cardamom pod, coriander seeds, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, ginger, garlic cloves, shallots and onion to a heavy-bottomed pot. Bring it to a boil, add the duck legs, and then lower to a simmer.

Step 5

Simmer the broth with the lid askew until the duck meat is tender and can be easily picked out with chopsticks (about 80-90 minutes). Skim off foams while simmering. If the broth has too much duck fat, skim off most of it, otherwise the dish might be too greasy.

Step 6

Taste the broth and add rock sugar to taste, and adjust seasonings to your likings. If too much liquid is lost during cooking, you can add back a splash of water.

Step 7

Add noodles and blanched green vegetables to serving bowls. Place a duck leg in each bowl, sprinkle some scallions and cilantro on top. Then ladle the hot soup into the bowls and serve immediately.