Duck Leg Confit Hash Recipes

DUCK LEG CONFIT HASH

Steps:

• Cook duck legs, skin sides down, in a 12-inch cast-iron or heavy nonstick skillet over moderate heat, turning over once, until skin is golden and some of fat is rendered, about 8 minutes total. Transfer duck to a cutting board, reserving fat in skillet. When duck legs are cool enough to handle, remove skin with any visible fat, then chop skin and fat into 1/2-inch pieces and return to skillet (reserve meat). Cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally and pressing down on larger pieces, until fat is rendered and skin is deep golden and crisp all over, about 5 minutes. Remove skin with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• Pour off all but 3 tablespoons fat from skillet, then add onion and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Add squash, carrots, parsnips and potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are browned, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, coarsely shred duck meat, discarding bones and any gristle.
• Stir duck into vegetables along with cream, port, parsley, fried duck skin, and remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and stir until combined. Reduce heat to moderately low, then smooth top of mixture and cook, undisturbed, until bottom of hash is golden when lifted with a spatula, 4 to 8 minutes.

DUCK CONFIT HASH

Steps:

• Cook duck legs, skin sides down, in a 12-inch cast-iron or heavy nonstick skillet over moderate heat, turning over once, until skin is golden and some of fat is rendered, about 8 minutes total. Transfer duck to a cutting board, reserving fat in skillet. When duck legs are cool enough to handle, remove skin with any visible fat, then chop skin and fat into 1/2-inch pieces and return to skillet (reserve meat). Cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally and pressing down on larger pieces, until fat is rendered and skin is deep golden and crisp all over, about 5 minutes. Remove skin with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• Pour off all but 3 tablespoons fat from skillet, then add onion and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Add carrots, potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are browned, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, coarsely shred duck meat, discarding bones and any gristle.
• Stir duck into vegetables along with cream, Madeira, parsley, fried duck skin, and remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and stir until combined. Reduce heat to moderately low, then smooth top of mixture and cook, undisturbed, until bottom of hash is golden when lifted with a spatula, 4 to 8 minutes.

DUCK CONFIT

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.

BLUE POTATO AND DUCK CONFIT HASH

Steps:

• In a stock pot over extremely low heat, cook the duck legs with the thyme and garlic in 3 cups of the olive oil, or enough to cover the duck legs, for 3 hours.
• Remove the duck legs from the pot and set aside to cool for 2 hours. Peel the skin off the duck legs and then pull the meat off the bone. Discard the bones and skin. The duck meat can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated until ready to use.
• To make the potato hash, heat a pan with the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil on medium heat. Add the potatoes, shallots, and red peppers and sauté until cooked through, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, for about 20 minutes. Cook for an additional 5 minutes on low heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

ANNE'S CONFIT OF DUCK LEGS

Steps:

• Rub duck legs with 1 tablespoon salt, and place in a bowl. Sprinkle with pepper and remaining salt. Add thyme and bay leaves. Refrigerate covered, turning duck occasionally, for 10 to 12 hours, depending on how strong a salt cure is desired.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Rinse duck under cool running water, and pat dry. In a skillet over medium heat, place duck skin side down; cook until fat renders and skin browns, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Transfer meat and reduced fat to a small casserole, placing duck skin side up in one layer. Add enough lard to cover. Cover casserole with a lid, and place it in the oven. Cook until duck has rendered all of its fat and the meat is falling from the bone, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• To preserve duck, pour a layer of fat from the casserole into the bottom of a small terrine. Pack duck on top, and strain the remaining fat from the casserole over the meat. Add additional melted lard, if necessary to cover. Be sure there are no air bubbles in the fat, or the duck will not be properly preserved. Cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 week to allow flavors to mellow.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place terrine in warm water to melt fat. Remove duck from fat; wiping off excess fat and reserving it for other uses (it makes a wonderful substitute for butter in savory dishes). Place duck in a shallow baking dish, and bake for 5 minutes. Pour off fat, and add to reserved fat. Continue baking until duck is very hot and the skin is crisp, 10 to 15 minutes more.
• Divide greens between four plates. Drizzle with vinaigrette, and top each bed of greens with a crispy duck leg.