Ingredients
Method
Preparing the Duck
- Pat duck legs completely dry with paper towels. Season all over with salt and pepper, rubbing the seasonings into the skin. Place in a dish with garlic, thyme, and bay leaves. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight for best results.
- Preheat oven to 225°F. Remove duck from refrigerator and let come to room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Place duck legs in a heavy oven-safe pot or Dutch oven. Pour melted duck fat over the legs, making sure they're completely submerged. Add the garlic and herbs from the marinade.
Cooking the Confit
- Cover the pot and place in the preheated oven. Cook for 2.5 to 3 hours, until the meat is very tender and pulls away from the bone easily when tested with a fork.
- While duck cooks, make the orange glaze. In a small saucepan, combine orange juice, orange zest, honey, vinegar, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until reduced by half, about 15-20 minutes. The glaze should coat the back of a spoon. Set aside.
Finishing and Serving
- Remove duck from oven and let cool slightly in the fat. Carefully remove duck legs and pat off excess fat with paper towels.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place duck legs skin-side down and cook for 3-4 minutes until skin is golden and crispy. Flip and cook 1-2 minutes more.
- Brush duck legs generously with the orange glaze and serve immediately. Pass remaining glaze at the table.
Notes
Duck legs can be stored in their cooking fat in the refrigerator for up to one week. To reheat, remove from fat and crisp up the skin in a hot skillet. If you can't find enough duck fat, you can substitute with kosher chicken fat or neutral oil, though the flavor won't be quite as rich. The orange glaze can be made up to 3 days ahead and reheated before serving.
