Best 10 Easy Duck Confit Recipes

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Duck confit is a classic French dish that is made by curing duck legs in salt and then cooking them slowly in their own fat. This results in a tender, flavorful, and juicy dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a casual meal. If you're looking for an easy and delicious duck confit recipe, you've come to the right place. In this article, we'll walk you through the steps of making this classic dish at home.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

DUCK CONFIT



Duck Confit image

This is a classic French recipe that is easy to make and easy to scale. It makes a great gift for friends and family.

Provided by Bryce Gifford

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     French

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 uncooked Peking duck legs
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 lemon, zested and thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon whole allspice berries
1 tablespoon juniper berries
2 sprigs fresh thyme
2 cups rendered duck fat

Steps:

  • Season the duck legs with kosher salt on both sides. Place them in a large resealable bag. Add the lemon zest and slices, garlic, allspice berries, 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 200 degrees F (93 degrees C).
  • Remove the duck legs 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 enameled cast iron or 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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 2520.5 calories, Carbohydrate 9.5 g, Cholesterol 330.4 mg, Fat 270.5 g, Fiber 5.3 g, Protein 20.1 g, SaturatedFat 90 g, Sodium 2988.7 mg

EASY DUCK CONFIT



Easy Duck Confit image

The name of this recipe may seem laughable. Isn't confit meant to be an arduous, messy, not-really-easy thing to make at home? Doesn't it involve large quantities of hot liquid fat and even larger reserves of patience? Surely chefs have a trick to getting those duck legs to be so rich, so luxurious? This version is not traditional, and it is still a time investment for home cooks (the legs are cured for 24 hours, and then cooked for about 3 ½ hours more). But by allowing the duck legs to cook in their own rendered fat, rather than adding quarts of extra fat to the pan, you have a recipe that is far less of a pain to both prepare and clean up. And the method is truly simple, with results that are just as outrageously good. The duck lasts for at least 5 days in the refrigerator, and should be reheated in a 350-oven until warm. Then run the legs under the broiler until crisp.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     dinner, easy, main course

Time 3h30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf, crumbled
8 moulard duck legs (about 4 pounds total), rinsed and patted dry but not trimmed
Roasted potatoes, noodles or sturdy salad greens for serving
Bitter salad greens such as arugula, chicory and/or radicchio, for serving

Steps:

  • In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, thyme and bay leaf pieces. Sprinkle duck generously with mixture. Place duck legs in a pan in one layer. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.
  • The next day, heat oven to 325 degrees.Place duck legs, fat side down, in a large ovenproof skillet, with legs fitting snugly in a single layer (you may have to use two skillets or cook them in batches). Heat duck legs over medium-high heat until fat starts to render. When there is about 1/4 inch of rendered fat in pan, about 20 minutes, flip duck legs, cover pan with foil, and place it in oven. If you have used two pans, transfer duck and fat to a roasting pan, cover with foil and place in oven.
  • Roast legs for 2 hours, then remove foil and continue roasting until duck is golden brown, about 1 hour more. Remove duck from fat; reserve fat for other uses.
  • Serve duck hot or warm, over roasted potatoes or noodles or sturdy salad greens.

EASY DUCK CONFIT



Easy Duck Confit image

Skip the mess and time of making duck confit the hard way. With our easy method, you get mind-blowing results from nothing but duck legs and salt in 2 hours, not 2 days. It's a game-changer. Bonus by-product: plenty of glorious duck fat.

Provided by Hank Shaw

Categories     Restaurant Favorite     Duck

Time 2h25m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 2

Duck legs (at least one per person)
Salt

Steps:

  • Dry the duck: Pat the duck legs dry with paper towels.
  • Slowly heat the duck in the oven: Put the casserole in the oven and heat it to 300°F (150°C); if you have a digital oven, you could even go down to 285°F (140°C). Do not preheat the oven. You want to cook the duck as gently as possible. Walk away and watch football, go shopping, read a book or something. How long? Every duck has a different level of fat, so I can't tell you exactly. But it will be at least 90 minutes, and 2 hours is better. After 90 minutes, check the duck: It should be partly submerged in melted fat and the skin should be getting crispy.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 492 kcal, Carbohydrate 0 g, Cholesterol 259 mg, Fiber 0 g, Protein 61 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, Sodium 2575 mg, Sugar 0 g, Fat 26 g, UnsaturatedFat 0 g

DUCK CONFIT, THE RIGHT WAY



Duck Confit, the Right Way image

Duck confit takes a while to prepare properly but is well worth the effort. This melt-in-your mouth duck treat will become a favorite. I buy whole ducks and then remove legs/wings whole and breasts from the bone. Always keep the skin on duck! You can easily double this recipe if you're having a dinner party. I learned this method from Chef Uriah of the Columbian Cafe of Astoria, Oregon. The breasts become pan roasted Muscovy duck (see my recipe) and the legs/wings become confit. Never roast a Muscovy duck whole: the breast comes out dry, musky, and bitter tasting.

Provided by brujakitty

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Game Meats     Duck

Time P1DT3h13m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 shallot, minced
¼ cup evaporated cane sugar
¼ cup kosher salt
3 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper
4 cloves garlic, minced
6 sprigs thyme, chopped
4 duck legs with thighs
4 duck wings, trimmed
4 cups duck fat

Steps:

  • Combine shallot, sugar, salt, pepper, garlic, and thyme in a small bowl. Rub all over duck legs, thighs, and wings.
  • Arrange duck parts skin side-up in a dish and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until the seasoning is well absorbed, 24 to 48 hours.
  • Rinse off the seasoning and pat the duck dry. Arrange duck in a single layer in a 9x13-inch baking pan. Let duck stand until it reaches room temperature, about 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C).
  • Melt duck fat in a saucepan over medium heat until bubbles begin to form, 6 to 8 minutes. Pour duck fat over the room-temperature duck.
  • Bake duck in the preheated oven until tender and the juices run clear, 2 to 3 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 135 degrees F (57 degrees C). Pour off the duck fat.
  • Brush a grill pan with some of the used duck fat and heat over medium-high heat until smoking. Add baked duck; cook in batches until skin is crispy, about 90 seconds per side.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 554.4 calories, Carbohydrate 5.3 g, Cholesterol 137.8 mg, Fat 47.2 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 23.5 g, SaturatedFat 13.2 g, Sodium 3103 mg, Sugar 2.3 g

CONFIT OF DUCK



Confit of duck image

A classic, hugely popular recipe from France - one you can make time and time again and it just gets better

Provided by Barney Desmazery

Categories     Dinner, Main course, Supper

Time 2h50m

Number Of Ingredients 6

handful coarse sea salt
4 bay leaves, roughly torn
4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
handful thyme sprigs, roughly torn
4 ducks legs
100ml white wine

Steps:

  • The day before you want to make the dish, scatter half the salt, half the garlic and half of the herbs over the base of a small shallow dish. Lay the duck legs, skin-side up, on top, then scatter over the remaining salt, garlic and herbs. Cover the duck and refrigerate overnight. This can be done up to 2 days ahead.
  • Pour the wine into a saucepan that will snugly fit the duck legs in a single layer. Brush the salt off the duck legs and place them, skin-side down, in the wine. Cover the pan with a lid and place over a medium heat. As soon as the wine starts to bubble, turn the heat down to the lowest setting and cook for 2 hours, checking occasionally that the liquid is just barely simmering. (If you own a heat diffuser, it would be good to use it here.) After 2 hours, the duck legs should be submerged in their own fat and the meat should feel incredibly tender when prodded. Leave to cool.
  • The duck legs are now cooked and can be eaten immediately - or you can follow the next step if you like them crisp. If you are preparing ahead, pack the duck legs tightly into a plastic container or jar and pour over the fat, but not the liquid at the bottom of the pan. Cover and leave in the fridge for up to a month, or freeze for up to 3 months. The liquid you are left with makes a tasty gravy, which can be chilled or frozen until needed.
  • To reheat and crisp up the duck legs, heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Remove the legs from the fat and place them, skin-side down, in an ovenproof frying pan. Roast for 30-40 mins, turning halfway through, until brown and crisp. Serve with the reheated gravy, a crisp salad and some crisp golden ptoatoes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 636 calories, Fat 57 grams fat, SaturatedFat 16 grams saturated fat, Protein 30 grams protein, Sodium 2.83 milligram of sodium

"CHEATER'S" DUCK CONFIT



Provided by Anne Burrell

Categories     main-dish

Time 2h30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 very fatty large duck legs
Kosher salt
Olive oil
4 large onions, sliced
2/3 bottle white wine
1 bundle thyme
10 bay leaves
1 bunch dandelion leaves
Red wine vinegar, to taste

Steps:

  • Season the duck legs with salt. Coat a large wide pot lightly with olive oil. Lay the duck legs skin side down, in a single layer, in the pan.
  • Cook the duck legs low and slow over low heat to render the fat. This process will take a while, don't rush it. It is really important to render as much fat out of the duck legs as possible. Once the pan is full of fat, turn up the heat and brown the duck legs on both sides.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Once the legs have rendered and are nice and brown, remove them from the pan and reserve. Add the onions and season with salt. Stir to coat with the duck fat. Cover and cook over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes. Once the onions are really nice and wilted, remove the lid and cook for another 15 minutes or until the onions start to caramelize. Taste to make sure they are very well seasoned, add salt if needed. Return the duck legs to the pan, snuggle them in with all the onions and add the wine, thyme and bay leaves.
  • Cover the pan and place in the preheated oven. Braise the duck in the oven for about 90 minutes. Stir the onion and duck every 30 minutes to be sure that the onions are not burning. When done, the duck should be incredibly flavorful, tender and falling off the bone.
  • Remove the tough lower stems from the dandelion greens, wash and spin them dry. Cut them into 1 -inch lengths. Place the greens in a large bowl with red wine vinegar. Season with salt and some of the warm duck fat. Strain some the onions out of the duck fat and toss them in with the greens.
  • Place a large mound of the dressed dandelion greens on each serving plate, lay a duck leg on the greens and top with a little more of the onions.
  • It's just ducky!!!

DUCK CONFIT



Duck Confit image

Provided by Emeril Lagasse

Categories     main-dish

Time P1DT2h15m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 duck leg portions with thighs attached, (about 2 pounds) excess fat trimmed and reserved
1 tablespoon plus 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
10 garlic cloves
4 bay leaves
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon table salt
4 cups olive oil

Steps:

  • Lay the leg portions on a platter, skin side down. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the kosher salt and the black pepper. Place the garlic cloves, bay leaves, and sprigs of thyme on each of 2 leg portions. Lay the remaining 2 leg portions, flesh to flesh, on top. Put the reserved fat from the ducks in the bottom of a glass or plastic container. Top with the sandwiched leg portions. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt. Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
  • Remove the duck from the refrigerator. Remove the garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and duck fat and reserve. Rinse the duck with cool water, rubbing off some of the salt and pepper. Pat dry with paper towels.
  • Put the reserved garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and duck fat in the bottom of an enameled cast iron pot. Sprinkle evenly with the peppercorns and table salt. Lay the duck on top, skin side down. Add the olive oil. Cover and bake for 12 to 14 hours, or until the meat pulls away from the bone.
  • Remove the duck from the fat. Strain the fat and reserve. To store the duck confit, place the duck leg portions in a container, cover with the reserved cooking fat, and store in the refrigerator. Alternately, pick the meat from the bones and place it in a stoneware container. Cover the meat with a thin layer of some of the strained fat. The duck confit can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
  • The excess oil can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and used like butter for cooking. The tinge of duck taste in the oil is wonderful.

DUCK CONFIT



Duck Confit image

Provided by Florence Fabricant

Categories     condiments, project, appetizer

Time 3h15m

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 tablespoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground sage
1/2 teaspoon dried lavender
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon crushed juniper berries
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon canela or cinnamon
2 tablespoons cracked black pepper
4 duck legs and thighs (see note)
1/4 cup mild chili powder
8 garlic cloves, peeled
2 cups, approximately, rendered duck fat (see note)

Steps:

  • Combine salt, sage, lavender, allspice, juniper berries, coriander, canela or cinnamon and pepper. Spread over the duck legs, and allow to cure, uncovered, in the refrigerator for 3 days.
  • After removing the duck legs from the refrigerator, brush off the excess spices, and place the duck in an oven-proof pottery or ceramic casserole that holds them snugly. If necessary, separate the legs from the thighs. Add the chili powder and garlic.
  • Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Warm the duck fat in a saucepan, and pour enough into the casserole to cover the duck legs. Place in the oven, and bake about 3 hours, until the duck is very tender. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool. Cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 10 days in the casserole.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 319, UnsaturatedFat 20 grams, Carbohydrate 2 grams, Fat 32 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 7 grams, SaturatedFat 10 grams, Sodium 157 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams

AN EASY DUCK CONFIT



An Easy Duck Confit image

Duck Confit is a French dish made with the duck leg which preserved in natural duck fat. Confit is a term for various kinds of food that have been immersed in a substance for both flavour and preservation. Sealed and stored in a cool place, confit can last for several months to an year. Confit is one of the oldest ways to preserve food, and is a speciality of southwestern France.

Provided by chang2301

Categories     Duck

Time P2DT2h

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 4

6 duck legs
1 kg duck fat
36 unpeeled garlic
salt

Steps:

  • 1. Wash the duck legs and dry them with paper towel. Sprinkle the salt evenly on the legs and rub on the meat and skin. Wrap them with the food wrap and place in the refrigerator for 2 days.
  • 2. After 2 days when the legs are ready. Render the duck fat with low heat.
  • 3. Cool the rendered duck fat to around room temperature. Place the duck legs into the fat. Make sure that every leg is soaked into the fat. Add the unpeeled garlic into the pot and cook with very low heat for 2 hours. After 2 hour, turn off the heat. When the pot is cooled, place the pot into the refrigerator.
  • 4. When you want to eat the leg, remove the leg from the fat. Take a pan and saute the leg with medium fire until the skin turns gold. The meat should be done since it is cooked in the duck fat for 2 hours. Spread some fresh parsley for serving.
  • P.S. Welcome to our blog for a detailed photo-based recipe: http://flamboinc.blogspot.tw/2010/04/confit-de-canard.html, or like our facebook: http://tinyurl.com/flambofacebook.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 3009.6, Fat 252.2, SaturatedFat 83.5, Cholesterol 250, Sodium 91.8, Carbohydrate 178.5, Fiber 11.3, Sugar 5.4, Protein 34.3

DUCK QUARTER CONFIT



Duck Quarter Confit image

This is easy and it was quite tasty. Nothing fancy, but a nice way to have a simple duck meal. The duck first cooks in it's own fat, then is baked to crisp up the outside. I didn't make a sauce I just served it with mashed "caulitatoes" with cheese.

Provided by A la Carte

Categories     Duck

Time 3h35m

Yield 2 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 duck quarters
1/2 cup kosher salt
3 fresh thyme sprigs
1/2 cup dry white wine
3 garlic cloves, chopped

Steps:

  • Rub the duck with salt (you don't have to use all of it), and let sit in the fridge for an hour. After an hour, brush as much of the salt off the duck.
  • Pour the wine, into a dutch oven. Add the thyme and garlic, and then the duck, skin side down.
  • Heat the wine to a boil, cover and reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook at a simmer for 2 hours.
  • Remove from the liquid (and fat that has rendered), and put on a baking tray. Bake at 425 F for 30 minutes, turning half way though.
  • (You could skim the fat off the wine and make a sauce from the wine if you wanted).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 55.5, Sodium 28297, Carbohydrate 3, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 0.6, Protein 0.3

Tips for Making Perfect Duck Confit

Use high-quality duck legs. Look for legs that are plump and have a good amount of fat. This will ensure that the confit is moist and flavorful. Cure the duck legs properly. The curing process helps to preserve the duck legs and develop their flavor. Be sure to follow the recipe's instructions carefully. Cook the duck legs slowly and at a low temperature. This will allow the fat to render out and the meat to become tender. Use a heavy-bottomed pot. This will help to distribute the heat evenly and prevent the duck legs from sticking. Skim off the fat as it renders out. This will help to keep the confit from becoming too greasy. Let the duck legs cool completely before serving. This will allow the meat to set and the flavors to develop.

Conclusion

Duck confit is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in many different ways. It can be served as an appetizer, main course, or even as a sandwich filling. The rich, flavorful meat and crispy skin are sure to please everyone at the table. With a little planning and effort, you can easily make duck confit at home. Just follow the tips above and you'll be sure to end up with a dish that is both delicious and impressive. Note: Please keep in mind that cooking times and temperatures may vary depending on the size and type of duck legs you are using.

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