I recently had a get-together with some friends that I had been planning for months. I love throwing dinner parties and plotting a menu that takes me forever to decide on. It allows me to try out any recipes I’ve been marking or any creative ideas that have been spinning around waiting to come to life. One item in particular that I wanted to make was duck confit.
If you have never had duck confit, then I highly recommend you find some duck legs, a ton of duck fat (no really, like 2 quarts), and a glass of wine or beer–because they have to cook low and slow.
When I first tried duck confit my first reaction was, “Where has this been all my life?” Tender, luscious duck confit, seasoned perfectly with warm spices and aromatics that go with practically anything. Duck confit can be paired with a lot of things like Sourdough Bread and Chicken Salad if want to have a full meal.
So, are you all set to learn something tasty today? If yes, just make all the preparations to please your family today and make me a partner in your reviews and compliments.
What Is Duck Confit?
Duck confit is a French cooking method where duck legs are slowly cooked in their own fat until tender and flavorful. First, the duck legs are seasoned with salt and spices, then cooked submerged in duck fat or oil at a low temperature for several hours. This slow cooking process makes the meat incredibly tender and rich in taste. After cooking, the duck can be stored in the fat, which helps preserve it for longer periods. Duck confit is known for its succulent texture, and deep flavors, and is often served as a delicious main dish in gourmet cuisine.
Let Me Walk You Through My Tips!
Follow the tips given below for the optimum flavor in your dish and get to hear compliments from your loved ones. Be mindful of the things mentioned below and create a wind of unbeatable flavors in your home.
- Score the Duck Legs: When prepping the duck legs, use a knife to score around each end of the leg. Make sure to cut through the tendon. Since meat shrinks as it cooks, scoring helps ensure a nice presentation when serving.
- Prepare the Cure: For the cure, I toasted the spices and blended them in a spice grinder. I apply the cure to the flesh side only, not the skin. Use about 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of the mixture per leg and let it cure overnight.
- Customize Your Cure: You can experiment with the cure by adding a little sugar or leaving it out entirely, depending on your taste.
- Use Olive Oil if Needed: If you can’t find duck fat, olive oil works well too. I used olive oil this time because duck fat was unavailable. Save the flavorful oil for frying eggs or roasting potatoes for a delicious twist.
- Try Duck Confit Tacos: Shred the duck confit meat and use it as a filling for tacos. Top with fresh slaw, avocado, and a drizzle of spicy aioli for a unique, fusion-inspired dish.
- Crisp Up the Skin: After cooking, place the duck legs under the broiler for a few minutes to crisp up the skin. This adds a delightful crunch that contrasts beautifully with the tender meat.
I hope these tips help you create a truly memorable duck confit dish!
What do I Usually Pair with Duck Confit?
Duck Confit Recipe
Equipment
- Large roasting pan
- Saucepan
- Oven
- Paper Towels
- Parchment Paper
- Aluminum foil
- Small pairing knife
- Kitchen shears or sharp knife
Ingredients
- 1 cup kosher salt
- 1 tsp allspice berries
- 4-5 whole cloves
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 1 tsp coriander
- a few fresh thyme
- 8 whole duck legs
- 6-8 cups of duck fat or olive oil
- 2 heads of garlic cut in half
- a bunch of fresh thyme
- 3 fresh bay leaves
- 2 or dried bay leaves
Instructions
- Toast and grind spices, mix with salt, and set aside.
- Score duck legs, season with salt cure, and refrigerate overnight.
- Preheat oven, rinse and dry duck legs, place in roasting pan with garlic, thyme, and bay leaves.
- Melt duck fat or olive oil, pour over duck legs, cover with parchment and foil.
- Cook in preheated oven at 325 degrees for about 3 hours, checking hourly for doneness.
- Remove foil and parchment, cool duck legs for 30 minutes before serving.
Jennifer Miller
Friday 12th of July 2024
This recipe brings back memories of a trip to France where I first tried duck confit. Can't wait to recreate that experience at home and share it with my friends. Who else here has tried making this dish?
John Smith
Friday 12th of July 2024
If I can pull off making duck confit as well as you describe, my friends might start thinking I'm a professional chef! Here's hoping it turns out as good as it looks in your photos.
David Davis
Friday 12th of July 2024
Thank you for sharing this recipe! Duck confit has been on my cooking bucket list for a while, and your blog always delivers great recipes that inspire me to try new things in the kitchen.
John Smith
Friday 12th of July 2024
I remember the first time I had duck confit was at a cozy French bistro with my best friend. It was love at first bite! Your recipe has motivated me to try making it myself and relive that delicious memory.
Amanda Anderson
Friday 12th of July 2024
Thank you so much for this wonderful omurice recipe! I made it for dinner, and my family loved it. Your blog is my go-to for delicious meals.