Duck Confit Sliders Banh Mi Style Food

DUCK BANH MI

Steps:

• Cut baguettes into 6-inch long pieces. Split open baguettes, giving you tops and bottoms for each piece. Spread mayonnaise on the tops and bottoms. Add 3 to 4 thin slices jalapeno to the bottom. Place the desired amount of Duck Confit on top of that, then top with Pickled Slaw. Top with 3 to 4 thin slices cucumber and a sprinkling of cilantro.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Break down the duck by removing the legs, thighs, breast and wings. Discard the carcass (or reserve for a stock). Place the duck pieces in a deep roasting pan and cover with the lard, smoothing it over the duck with a spatula or gloved hands. Add the chopped garlic, peppercorns, salt and bay leaves. Roast for 4 hours, then transfer the pan to the top shelf of your fridge. Let cool completely, 4 to 6 hours. Once cooked, pull meat from the bones, shredding it as you remove it, and discard the bones.
• Meanwhile, place vinegar, sugar, chile flakes and sliced garlic in a pan over medium heat. Let slowly boil until reduced to a third of the original amount, about 1 hour. Remove from heat.
• Warm a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the shredded duck until it is heated to approximately 145 degrees F, 6 to 8 minutes. Add 1/2 cup sweet chile sauce and cook, stirring continuously to prevent the chile sauce from burning, until the duck is heated to 165 degrees F, 2 to 3 minutes more.
• Slice the jicama, carrot, daikon and onion into thin matchsticks. Warm the rice vinegar and sugar in a pan over medium heat until it begins to boil. Remove from heat, then add the vegetables and cover. Let sit for 1 hour.

DUCK CONFIT SLIDERS

Steps:

• Add the duck fat to a heavy pot and allow it to melt over low heat. Mix the salt, brown sugar, cinnamon, cumin and paprika in a small mixing bowl. Pat the duck legs with paper towels and sprinkle all sides generously with the spice mix. Refrigerate, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
• Remove and place the legs skin-side up in the duck fat, making sure they're completely submerged. Add the peppercorns and coriander seeds. Using an instant-read thermometer, bring the duck fat to a lazy simmer, 165 to 175 degrees F. Gently confit the legs in the simmering fat until the duck is fork tender, about 2 1/2 hours. Remove and cool.
• Meanwhile, add the reserved duck trimmings to a pan and cook to render the fat over low heat. Place onto a paper-towel-lined plate and reserve until serving.
• Using a sharp knife, remove the skin from the legs. Using two forks, shred the confit following the grain of the protein. Mix with 1/4 cup of the confit fat.
• Set a flat top griddle over high heat. Sear the skin on both sides to make a crunchy, cracklin'-style texture, about 7 minutes total. Finely julienne and set aside. Add the confit to the griddle in batches and crisp until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes.
• To assemble, spread Cranberry Jam onto the tops and bottoms of each bun. Build sliders with 2 ounces (about 1/4 cup) of confit, then a layer of crispy skin. Top with 2 tablespoons Fennel and Celery Root Slaw. Replace the top bun. Serve immediately with Butternut Squash Chips.
• In a medium saucepot, bring the oil to medium heat. When the oil begins to shimmer, add the onions, season with some salt and pepper and brown for 5 to 7 minutes. Deglaze with the cranberry juice and stir to scrape up any browned bits. Add the cranberries and red wine vinegar. Simmer to completely soften the cranberries and until the jam is thickened and glossy, about 12 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in lemon juice to taste. Season again with salt and pepper as desired.
• Transfer to a serving dish and serve warm. Can be made ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container for up to a week.
• In a large mixing bowl, briskly whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, dugar, mustard and salt and pepper to taste until smooth. Toss the celery root, carrots, apples, fennel and 2 tablespoons of the reserved fennel fronds into the dressing to coat evenly.
• Cover with plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to fully integrate.
• Remove and toss again. Serve garnished with a few more fennel fronds.
• In a small mixing bowl, thoroughly combine the salt, garlic powder, paprika, brown sugar, black pepper and cayenne. Set aside.
• Using a sharp knife, cut the tubular top portion away from the globe-shaped bottoms of both squash. Using the knife or a mandoline, shave the tops into chips. Submerge the chips in a deep container with ice water for 10 minutes (this removes any extra starch and makes the chips crispy). Strain the chips and pat dry.
• Meanwhile, using an instant-read thermometer, bring 3 inches of duck fat to 325 degrees F in a heavy gauge Dutch oven over medium heat. Working in batches, fry the chips until they are golden and crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer with a fine mesh strainer to a paper-towel-lined dish. Season immediately with a sprinkle of spice mix. Repeat until all chips are fried. Transfer to a large bowl and serve.

DUCK CONFIT

Steps:

• Lay the leg portions on a platter, skin side down. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the kosher salt and the black pepper. Place the garlic cloves, bay leaves, and sprigs of thyme on each of 2 leg portions. Lay the remaining 2 leg portions, flesh to flesh, on top. Put the reserved fat from the ducks in the bottom of a glass or plastic container. Top with the sandwiched leg portions. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt. Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Remove the duck from the refrigerator. Remove the garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and duck fat and reserve. Rinse the duck with cool water, rubbing off some of the salt and pepper. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Put the reserved garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and duck fat in the bottom of an enameled cast iron pot. Sprinkle evenly with the peppercorns and table salt. Lay the duck on top, skin side down. Add the olive oil. Cover and bake for 12 to 14 hours, or until the meat pulls away from the bone.
• Remove the duck from the fat. Strain the fat and reserve. To store the duck confit, place the duck leg portions in a container, cover with the reserved cooking fat, and store in the refrigerator. Alternately, pick the meat from the bones and place it in a stoneware container. Cover the meat with a thin layer of some of the strained fat. The duck confit can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
• The excess oil can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and used like butter for cooking. The tinge of duck taste in the oil is wonderful.

DUCK CONFIT

Steps:

• Season the duck legs with kosher salt on both sides. Place them in a large resealable bag. Add the lemon zest and slices, garlic, allspice berries, juniper berries and fresh thyme. Seal, and massage the duck legs through the bag until all of the ingredients are evenly dispersed. Refrigerate for 24 hours to marinate.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (93 degrees C).
• Remove the duck legs from the marinade. Rinse them off and pat dry. Place the rest of the contents of the bag into the bottom of an oven safe dish just large enough to hold the legs in a single layer, preferably enameled cast iron or glass. Arrange the duck legs skin side down in the dish. Pour the duck fat into a small saucepan and warm over low heat until liquid. Pour over the duck legs until they are completely covered. If the legs are not covered, you can top it off with some olive oil. As the legs cook, more fat will be rendered from the skin. Cover the dish with a lid.
• Bake for 6 to 7 hours in the preheated oven, until the meat pulls easily from the bone. Remove the duck legs from the fat and place in a sealable container. You may leave the bones in or remove them. Make sure there is room at the top of the container. Strain all of the solids from the remaining fat and discard the solids. Pour the fat over the duck in the container, covering completely. Seal and allow to come to room temperature. Once the jar is cool, place in the refrigerator and let the duck meat cure for 2 months. Reserve any leftover duck fat for other uses.