Duck Confit

Name: Duck Confit
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 240 min
Total time: 255 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 4 duck legs; 2 tablespoons coarse sea salt; 4 cloves garlic, crushed; 4 sprigs fresh thyme; 2 bay leaves, crumbled; 1 teaspoon black peppercorns, cracked; Enough duck fat to submerge the legs (about 3 cups)

Published: June 14, 2026 | French Cuisine | ⏱ 4h 15min

Crispy duck confit legs resting on a bed of white beans with fresh herbs

Duck Confit (Confit de Canard) is a jewel of French southwestern cuisine. Duck legs are cured in salt and herbs, then slowly poached in their own rendered fat until impossibly tender. The final step—crisping the skin to a shattering golden crust—creates one of the most magnificent textural contrasts in the culinary world. Traditionally a preservation method, it's now a luxurious staple of French bistros.

Recipe Info

Prep Time15 min

Cook Time4h 0min

Total Time4h 15min

Servings4

DifficultyMedium

CuisineFrench

4 duck legs
2 tablespoons coarse sea salt
4 cloves garlic, crushed
4 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves, crumbled
1 teaspoon black peppercorns, cracked
Enough duck fat to submerge the legs (about 3 cups)

2 Instructions

Cure the duck

Rub the duck legs with salt, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, and pepper. Place in a dish, cover, and refrigerate for 24 hours.

Rinse and submerge

Rinse the salt mixture off the duck legs and pat completely dry. Place them in a deep oven-safe pot and pour the duck fat over them until fully submerged.

Slow cook

Cook in the oven at 130°C (275°F) for 3 to 4 hours, until the meat pulls easily from the bone.

Crisp the skin

Remove the legs from the fat. To serve, place skin-side down in a hot skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes until the skin is deeply golden and crispy.

Pro Tips

You can store the cooked duck legs submerged in the fat in the refrigerator for up to a month, which is the traditional method.
Save the leftover duck fat for roasting potatoes—it's liquid gold.

Nutrition Information

Calories	620 kcal
Protein	35g
Fat	48g
Saturated Fat	16g
Carbohydrates	0g
Fiber	0g
Sugar	0g
Sodium	720mg

* Nutritional values are approximate and based on per-serving calculations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Duck fat is available in jars at specialty grocery stores, high-end butchers, or online. You can also render your own from duck skin and trimmings.

Rating

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.9 (124 votes)

About the Author

Stephanie Grine

Recipe Developer & Food Enthusiast

I am a passionate home cook who believes that great food brings people together. Every recipe on TodayFoodsMenu is developed, tested, and photographed in my home kitchen — not a professional test...

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