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Crispy Tender Duck Confit Recipe Easy Slow Cooked to Perfection

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A classic French duck confit slow cooked to tender perfection with crispy skin, using simple ingredients and a patient cooking method for melt-in-your-mouth results.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large duck legs (about 2 pounds/900 grams), skin-on and bone-in
  • 2 cups (480 ml) duck fat
  • 6 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Optional: 1 teaspoon juniper berries or a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Pat the duck legs dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Let them rest uncovered in the fridge for 8 to 12 hours or overnight.
  2. Melt the duck fat gently in a saucepan over low heat until liquid, being careful not to burn it.
  3. Preheat the oven to 225°F (110°C).
  4. Place the duck legs skin-side down in a heavy ovenproof dish or Dutch oven. Add smashed garlic cloves, fresh thyme sprigs, and bay leaves around and on top of the duck.
  5. Pour the melted duck fat over the duck legs until fully submerged. If short on duck fat, top off with a neutral oil like grapeseed oil.
  6. Cover the pot with a lid or foil and slow cook in the oven for 2.5 to 3 hours, or until the duck is fork-tender and meat pulls away easily from the bone.
  7. Optional: Let the duck cool in the fat, then refrigerate overnight to meld flavors and make skin easier to crisp.
  8. To serve, remove duck from fat and blot excess fat. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the legs skin-side down until golden and crispy, about 3 to 5 minutes.
  9. Serve immediately with your favorite sides.

Notes

Dry the duck skin thoroughly before cooking for best crispiness. Slow cook at low temperature (225°F) to render fat and tenderize meat. Letting the duck rest in fat overnight improves flavor and texture. When crisping skin, avoid overcrowding the pan and watch heat carefully to prevent burning.

Nutrition

Keywords: duck confit, crispy duck, slow cooked duck, French recipe, duck legs, comfort food, easy duck recipe

Find it online: https://flurpchef.com/crispy-tender-duck-confit-recipe-easy-slow-cooked-to-perfection/