A once popular delicacy loved by generations of Mancunians is now almost completely forgotten. Greater Manchester has its fair share of local delicacies that are still popular today, from black pudding to Eccles Cakes. But there is another foodstuff, once widely sold in the region, that few people still eat.
The strangely named Savoury Duck was something of an acquired taste, not least for the fact that there was no duck in the actual recipe. Savoury Duck is actually a type of meat ball, or faggot, usually made from minced pork liver and heart, wrapped in bacon, with onion and breadcrumbs.
- Read More: The Banshee: Toilet ear piercings and hot sweaty rain - the 'forgotten' goth nightclub with 'no townies' rule
- Read More: Manchester's tiniest village once attracted busloads of tourists before being abandoned and lost forever
Of course, not actually containing the meat the name suggests is not that unusual when it comes to traditional British dishes cheaply concocted to offer an acceptably passing resemblance to the real thing. Other popular examples include mock turtle soup and Welsh Rarebit, also known as Welsh Rabbit, which is cheese on toast that traditionally includes other ingredients, like beer and mustard.
Savoury Duck dates back to the early-19th century, with one of the first uses of the term appearing in print in the Manchester Times and Manchester and Salford Advertiser and Chronicle in 1835. A traditional way of serving the dish is with potatoes, peas and gravy.
In Greater Manchester, the working class delicacy could typically be bought at a UCP (United Cattle Products) shop. UCP were once a big deal in the North of England, with nearly 150 restaurants and shops that helped to promote eating tripe, cow heel pie and oxtail soup.
Another way of consuming Savoury Duck in the region was on a muffin. Anecdotally, this appears to have been particularly popular way of consuming the dish in Oldham.
Recently, a picture of a Savoury Duck muffin was uploaded to the Oldham's Past Facebook group, sparking long-forgotten memories.
For beautiful, historic images from the past have a look at memorylane.co.uk/ and see what you can discover
One person said: "We used to live near the market and every Saturday my dad used to send us for one."
Another said: "(You) can't be from Oldham if you've never heard of duck-a-muffin."
While another posted: "Brings back memories. Don't know where to get them now."
Most people remembered the taste of a 'duck-a-muffin' favourably, with one person saying it tasted "absolutely gorgeous" while another said "better than McDonald's".
When another post on Savoury Duck was shared on the 'Memories of growing up in and around Manchester UK' Facebook group a few weeks ago, the response was just as positive.
Join our Greater Manchester history, memories and people Facebook group here.
Love Greater Manchester's past? Sign up to our new nostalgia newsletter and never miss a thing.
One post said: "The best I have ever eaten was a pork butcher on 'the 20 row' in Ardwick just past the market, if my memory serves me well."
Another said: "Mam used to buy us kids one each when we shopped on Grey Mare Road market."
Another said they loved Savoury Duck with "a touch of French mustard" while another posted: "Love it, I don’t see it much these days".
Although nutritious and cheap, the popularity of foods containing offal fell during the latter part of the 20th century. And while it is still popular in many parts of continental Europe, the declining popularity of offal in the UK has seen many traditional dishes - such as Savoury Duck - become largely a thing of the past.
Do you remember eating Savoury Duck or a duck-a-muffin? Let us know in the comments section below.
Read Next:
- City centre area is completely transformed with these landmark buildings lost
- Inside the huge squat raided by a bailiffs on a busy high street
- 'There was sweat dripping off the windows': How Moss Side's boxing launched so many success stories
- Manchester's lost amusement arcade cafe sold 'the best' sandwiches and toasties with coleslaw 'to die for'
- 'Terrorised' Manchester shopping centre was commercial disaster patrolled by 'machine gun-toting teen'
