Home Duck Confit
Ingredients
- Sea Salt - Handful
- Bay Leaf - 4
- Garlic - 4 cloves
- Thyme - Handful
- Duck Legs - 4
- White Wine - 100ml
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Instructions
- 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.