Confit Turkey Legs
Confit turkey legs slow-cooked in duck fat until tender, then crisped for golden skin. A make-ahead turkey recipe perfect for small holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
- 2 turkey drumsticks (1½ - 2 lb)
- 2 heads garlic
- 4 cups duck fat
- 4 sprigs fresh oregano
- 8 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 tsp Kosher salt
Instructions
Make the Confit Turkey Legs
- Pat the turkey drumsticks dry and season generously with a teaspoon of salt per leg. Nestle them snugly into a small baking dish or Dutch oven.
- Slice each garlic head in half crosswise and tuck the halves around the turkey along with the oregano and thyme sprigs.
- Gently warm the duck fat in the microwave or on the stovetop until pourable, then pour it over the turkey legs until just covered. You may need more or less, depending on the size of your baking dish.
- Transfer to a 275° oven and cook, uncovered, for 3 to 4 hours, until the meat is very tender and pulls easily from the bone. Mind the oven temperature; the fat should gently bubble but never simmer or boil.
- Remove the dish from the oven and allow the turkey to cool submerged in the fat for an hour.
- When ready to serve, heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of the duck fat in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the turkey drumsticks on all sides until the skin is crisp and golden brown.
Serve the garlic confit
- Scoop the roasted garlic cloves out of the husks and serve alongside the turkey.
- Refrigerate leftover garlic and use within a week, or freeze for up to a few months.
Reserve the duck fat and drippings
- After cooking, pour the duck fat and turkey juices into a heat-safe container and refrigerate. The fat will solidify on top, creating a cap over the drippings.
- Separate the fat from the drippings once solidified. The drippings can be used to make a gravy, or freeze for your next batch of stock. The fat can be reused for cooking for up to one week, or frozen for up to a year.
Notes
To make ahead, store the cooked turkey fully submerged in fat for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Reheat in a 275° oven until warmed through, about 40 minutes, then sear just before serving.