CRISP-BRAISED DUCK LEGS WITH AROMATIC VEGETABLES

Crisp-Braised Duck Legs with Aromatic Vegetables image

Crisp braised duck legs with vegetables is a simple, luxurious dish. You brown the duck until the skin is crackly and golden. You cook the vegetables in some of the rendered fat until they start to soften, then you add chicken stock and cook everything together in the oven until the duck is tender and super-crisp and the vegetables are melting and unctuous. Do not feel bound to the carrots, celery and onion called for in the recipe. Any number of root vegetables - infused with the rendered fat - would be incredible here.

Provided by Mark Bittman

Categories dinner, lunch, roasts, main course

Time 2h

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 6

Previous Next

Ingredients

2 duck legs, trimmed of excess fat
Salt and pepper to taste
2 large onion
1 pound carrots
6 celery stalks
2 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade

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.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 589, UnsaturatedFat 28 grams, Carbohydrate 25 grams, Fat 46 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 18 grams, SaturatedFat 15 grams, Sodium 1123 milligrams, Sugar 11 grams