Duck Confit

Ingredients for Duck Confit

• 80g coarse kosher salt

• 1 tablespoon dried thyme

• 2 teaspoons white peppercorns

• 2 bay leaves

• 12 whole duck legs (leg and thigh)

• 15 garlic cloves, peeled

• 6 200g containers rendered duck fat

• 240ml water

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

How to make Duck Confit

Finely grind first 4 ingredients in spice mill. Trim excess fat from duck legs; place trimmings in bowl, cover, and chill. Rub salt mixture all over duck legs. Layer legs and garlic cloves in large resealable plastic bag. Seal; chill 24 hours.

Preheat oven to 163°C. Simmer duck fat, duck trimmings, and 240ml water in large saucepan over medium-low heat until water evaporates and simmering slows, about 30 minutes. Thoroughly rinse salt mixture from duck and discard garlic; pat dry. Place duck in large deep roasting pan. Pour hot fat over. Cover with foil; place in oven. Cook until meat is tender and falling off bone, about 3 1/2 hours. Uncover; cool slightly. Transfer to refrigerator. Chill until cold. Cover; chill at least 4 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 month ahead. Keep chilled and completely covered in duck fat. Always use clean tongs to remove duck from fat in pan.

Before using duck confit in a recipe, preheat oven to 204°C. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Remove duck from fat; scrape fat back into pan. Working in batches, cook duck, skin side down, in skillet 1 minute. Transfer, skin side down, to rimmed baking sheet. Roast until skin is crisp and duck is heated, about 15 minutes. Remove from sheet, keeping skin intact.

Duck legs can be found at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores. Look for rendered duck fat in the freezer section of some supermarkets, at specialty foods stores, and online at dartagnan.com or gourmetfoodstore.com.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.