Classic duck confit
This is a classic French recipe, which creates the most tender duck legs. They are slowly baked for 6 hours, then allowed to cure for up to 2 months. It makes a wonderful gift for family and friends.
Ingredients
Serves: 2
- 2 duck legs
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 lemon, zested, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 tablespoon whole allspice berries or 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 tablespoon juniper berries
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 475ml rendered duck fat
Method
Prep:30min ›
Cook:6hr ›
Extra time:60days curing ›
Ready in:60days6hr30min
- Season the duck legs with salt on both sides. Place them in a large resealable bag. Add the lemon zest and slices, garlic, allspice, juniper berries and fresh thyme. Seal and massage the duck legs through the bag until all of the ingredients are evenly dispersed. Refrigerate for 24 hours to marinate.
- Preheat the oven to 93 C / Gas 1/4.
- Remove the duck from the marinade. Rinse them off and pat dry. Place the rest of the contents of the bag into the bottom of an oven safe dish just large enough to hold the legs in a single layer, preferably glass. Arrange the duck legs skin side down in the dish. Pour the duck fat into a small saucepan and warm over low heat until liquid. Pour over the duck legs until they are completely covered. If the legs are not covered, you can top it off with some olive oil. As the legs cook, more fat will be rendered from the skin. Cover the dish with a lid.
- Bake for 6 to 7 hours in the preheated oven, until the meat pulls easily from the bone. Remove the duck legs from the fat and place in a sealable container. You may leave the bones in or remove them. Make sure there is room at the top of the container. Strain all of the solids from the remaining fat and discard the solids. Pour the fat over the duck in the container, covering completely. Seal and allow to come to room temperature. Once the jar is cool, place in the refrigerator and let the duck meat cure for 2 months. Reserve any leftover duck fat for other uses.
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Reviews & ratings
Average global rating:
(13)
Reviews in English (8)
Duck confit may be my favorite food, and this recipe did not disappoint. I made it for a large dinner party, and everyone cleaned their plate, including those who had never eaten duck before. However, this recipe leaves out a crucial step, which this the final frying before serving - warm the jar until the fat melts so you can remove the meat, pat it dry, then put it in a frying pan over moderately high heat until the meat is crispy and golden. I also made this recipe with turkey thighs, and it was a big hit - people who hated dark meat before couldn't get enough - I served it with Harry and David's cranberry relish. - 21 Sep 2009 (Review from Allrecipes US | Canada)
Really a great recipe, wonderful with roasted garlis paste in the marinade rather than raw garlic.yum! - 09 Dec 2010 (Review from Allrecipes US | Canada)