Best 3 Crispy Braised Duck Legs From Foodcom Recipes

BRAISED DUCK LEGS

Steps:

• heat a heavy kettle big enough to hold legs in 1 layer over medium high heat.
• add duck legs, skin side down and cook 15-20 minutes until dark browne.
• remove fat with a bulb baster as it renders.
• turn legs over and cook for 2 more minutes.
• remove to a plate.
• pour most of the fat out.
• add garlic, onions, celery, carrot, cook until softened.
• add red wine, turn heat to high, deglaze the pan.
• add 1/2 c fruit and add legs back to pan, skin side up.
• add duck stock, thyme, bring to simmer, uncovered, cook for 1 1/2 hrs.
• transfer legs to a platter.
• skim fat off the top of the braising liquid.
• heat to boil and cook until reduced by half.
• add remaining fruit, cook until thickened.
• season with salt and pepper, serve over legs.

CRISP-BRAISED DUCK LEGS WITH AROMATIC VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Put duck legs, skin side down, in a skillet large enough to accommodate all ingredients comfortably; turn heat to medium. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Brown duck legs carefully and evenly, sprinkling them with salt and pepper as they cook. Meanwhile, peel and dice vegetables.
• When legs are nicely browned, turn them over and sear for just a minute or two. Remove to a plate; remove all but enough fat to moisten vegetables. Add vegetables to skillet along with some salt and pepper. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until they begin to brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Return duck legs to pan, skin side up, and add stock; it should come about halfway up duck legs but should not cover them. Turn heat to high, bring to a boil, and transfer to oven.
• Cook for 30 minutes, then lower heat to 350 degrees. Continue to cook, undisturbed, until duck is tender and liquid reduced, at least another half hour. The duck is done when a thin-bladed knife pierces the meat with little resistance. When done, duck will hold nicely in a warm oven for another hour. Serve hot.

BRAISED CHILE-MARMALADE DUCK LEGS WITH BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Steps:

• Place duck legs on a rimmed baking sheet; season all over with 2 tsp. salt. Chill, uncovered, at least 8 hours and up to 2 days.
• Place rack in middle of oven; preheat to 325°F. Heat oil in a large ovenproof high-sided skillet over medium. Arrange duck legs in pan, skin side down, and cook until light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Turn over and cook until browned on the other side, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat and transfer duck legs to a 2-qt. baking dish (any size or shape will work as long as the legs don't overlap more than slightly). Tuck orange wedges around duck. Pour duck fat from pan into a heatproof container and set aside. Reserve skillet.
• Set reserved skillet over medium heat and pour in wine, scraping up any browned bits from bottom with a wooden spoon. Add marmalade and stir until melted and combined. Add chiles, stock, 1 Tbsp. rosemary, and 1½ tsp. salt. Cook just until mixture begins to steam, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Pour half of marmalade mixture (about 1½ cups) over duck legs, then pour the rest into a heatproof measuring glass and set aside. Reserve skillet. Cover baking dish with foil or an ovenproof lid and bake 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine brussels sprouts, 2 Tbsp. reserved duck fat (if you don't have enough, make up the difference with oil), remaining 1 Tbsp. rosemary, remaining ½ tsp. salt, and 1 Tbsp. water in reserved skillet. Toss sprouts to coat.
• When duck had cooked 1 hour 15 minutes, slide brussels sprouts onto rack alongside duck and uncover baking dish. Roast brussels sprouts and duck legs 30 minutes.
• Increase oven temperature to 425°F and shake skillet with brussels sprouts to turn them. Continue to roast until duck skin is deep golden brown and meat is very tender and brussels sprouts are charred in spots and tender, about 15 minutes longer.
• Transfer duck legs to a platter. Using a slotted spoon, transfer brussels sprouts and oranges (they're delicious and we highly recommend eating them, peel and all, but you can discard if you prefer) to platter, arranging around duck legs.
• Combine braising liquid from duck and remaining reserved marmalade mixture in skillet and bring to a boil over high heat (be careful; the handle will be hot!), whisking occasionally, until sauce is glossy and reduced to about 1¼ cups, about 10 minutes.
• Spoon some sauce over duck and brussels sprouts. Pour remaining sauce into a small bowl and serve alongside.