4 dried black mushrooms
1 duck (3 to 4 pounds)
4 cups water
1/8 pound smoked ham
1/2 cup bamboo shoots
1 stalk scallions
2 slices fresh ginger root
1 teaspoon salt
1. Soak dried mushrooms.
2. Wipe duck with a damp cloth. Place in a large heatproof bowl and add cold water.
3. Cut ham and bamboo shoots in 1/4-inch slices and scallion stalk in 1-inch sections; slice ginger root; cut soaked mushrooms in half if large. Arrange over duck.
4. Steam by the bowl-in-a-pot method until duck is tender (about 2 hours). See HOW-TO, _Steaming. Sprinkle with salt and serve.
VARIATION:
* For the ham and vegetables, substitute 4 medium parsnips, peeled and cut in half lengthwise.