Best Recipe for Duck Confit with Potato Leek Ragout
Ingredients
- 2 large leeks (white and pale green parts only), halved lengthwise, then cut into 1-inch pieces (4 cups)
- 4 Confit Duck Legs at room temperature
- 3/4 cup pitted prunes, coarsely chopped
- 1/4 cup Armagnac or Cognac
- 2 tablespoons rendered duck fat or extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, trimmed and halved lengthwise
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 Turkish or 1/2 California bay leaf
- 3 large thyme sprigs
- 2 whole cloves
- 6 strips (3- by 1-inch) lemon zest
- 4 strips (4- by 1-inch) orange zest
- 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups water, divided
- 1 pound (1- to 1 1/2-inch) Yukon Gold potatoes, quartered
Instructions
- Wash sliced leeks and pat dry. Remove duck meat (with skin) from bones in large pieces, reserving meat and bones separately.
- Simmer prunes and Armagnac in a small saucepan until Armagnac is absorbed, about 3 minutes.
- Heat rendered duck fat in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers, then cook mushrooms with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
- Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then cook leeks with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper, stirring once or twice, until beginning to soften and brown on edges, about 6 minutes. Transfer to bowl with mushrooms.
- Bring wine, bay leaf, thyme, cloves, and zests to a boil in skillet, scraping up any brown bits. Add reserved bones, then broth and 1 cup water and simmer, covered, 15 minutes. Add potatoes, leeks, and mushrooms (with any juices) and simmer, covered, 10 minutes. Add prunes (with any juices), remaining cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender and liquid is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. (If liquid hasn't thickened, remove lid and boil.)
- Meanwhile, cook duck meat, skin side down, covered, in a large heavy nonstick skillet over medium-low heat until skin is well browned and crisp and meat is heated through, about 15 minutes.
- Discard bones and bay leaf from ragout, then season with salt and pepper and serve topped with duck confit.
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