Recipes

Brined Roast Turkey Breast with Confit Legs

1 Mins read
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Introduction

Welcome to the world of indulgent, yet healthy cooking! Our Brined Roast Turkey Breast with Confit Legs recipe is a culinary delight that promises an unforgettable dining experience. Succulent turkey thighs and drumsticks brined in a herb-infused solution offer incredible flavor, while the confit legs cooked to perfection provide a decadently rich texture.

Tips for this recipe

Brining your turkey thighs and drumsticks is key to achieving that juicy tenderness. Ensure you let the brine sit in the refrigerator, not at room temperature, as safety first! Additionally, don’t rush the confit process—allowing for slow cooking will result in deeper flavor development.

Why you will love this recipe

This Brined Roast Turkey Breast with Confit Legs is more than just a meal; it’s an experience. The balance of spices and herbs in the brine, combined with the richness of duck fat-rendered legs, offers a symphony of flavors that will make every bite memorable. Pair this dish with roasted root vegetables for a holistic feast.

Ingredients

  • 1 14-pound turkey, legs and thighs cut from carcass
  • 2 dried chiles de árbol, crumbled
  • 1/4 cup kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper

Adviced equipments

  • Digital Instant-Read Thermometer (e.g., OMELETTE PRO)
  • Meat Brining Bag or Airtight Container

History of the recipe

The art of confit, a technique often associated with French cuisine, is believed to have originated during medieval times. This method was developed as a way to preserve meats for long periods without refrigeration. Our modern interpretation combines this historical practice with innovative flavors and techniques to create an extraordinary culinary experience.

Fun facts about this recipe

Did you know? The term ‘confit’ in cooking comes from the French word for ‘to preserve’. This technique is not only steeped in history but also offers a unique way to elevate everyday ingredients like turkey into gourmet classics. Embracing this recipe allows us to appreciate and enjoy the rich culinary traditions passed down through generations.

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Brined Roast Turkey Breast with Confit Legs

Brined Roast Turkey Breast with Confit Legs

amanda

Equipment

  • - Digital Instant-Read Thermometer (e.g., OMELETTE PRO)

  • - Meat Brining Bag or Large, Airtight Container

  • - Non-Stick Frying Pan with Lid (e.g., All-Clad Stainless Steel Fry Pan)

  • - Large Roasting Pan (e.g., Nordic Ware 18 Inch Aluminum Roasting Pan)

  • - Poultry Shears or Large Kitchen Scissors (e.g., OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Scissors)

  • - Silicone Turkey Fryer or Deep Fry Rack (e.g., Big John's 15 Gallon Turkeys Deep Fry)

  • - Aluminum Foil or Butcher Block

  • - Large Zip-Lock Freezer Bags (e.g., AmazonBasics Food Safe Reusable Storage Bag)

  • - Cooling Rack (e.g., Wilton Finish N Sip 6 Inch Square Copper Cookie Sheet Stand)

  • - Precision Measuring Spoons (e.g., OXO Good Grips Kitchen Cookie Scoop)

Ingredients

  • 1 14-pound turkey, legs and thighs cut from carcass, keeping drumsticks and thighs attached, wings cut from breast

  • 2 dried chiles de árbol, crumbled

  • 1/4 cup kosher salt

  • 1 tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper

  • 6 sprigs thyme

  • 3 sprigs sage

  • 2 4" sprigs rosemary

  • 2 bay leaves

  • 4 2x1/2" strips lemon zest (yellow part only; from about 1/2 lemon)

  • 9 cups duck fat

  • 2 tablespoons allspice berries

  • 2 tablespoons juniper berries

  • 1 tablespoon fennel seeds

  • 1/2 cup kosher salt

  • 1/3 cup sugar

  • 1 onion, sliced

  • 1 carrot, peeled, cut on a diagonal

  • 1/2 fennel bulb, sliced

  • 8 sprigs flat-leaf parsley

  • 8 sprigs thyme

  • 2 bay leaves

  • 2 dried chiles de árbol

  • 2 whole cloves

  • 1 sliced yellow onion

  • 1/2 bunch sage sprigs

  • 1/2 bunch thyme sprigs

  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted

  • Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

  • Ingredient info: Dried chiles de árbol are thin, red, very hot 3"-long chiles. Find them at Latin markets, specialty foods stores, and some supermarkets. Duck fat is available at hudsonvalleyfoiegras.com. Juniper berries are available at thespicehouse.com.

Instructions

1

Instruction 1

Place whole legs and wings on a baking sheet. Rub chiles, salt, and pepper all over turkey; transfer to a large resealable plastic bag. Scatter herbs and lemon zest all around turkey in bag. Seal bag and chill overnight.
2

Instruction 2

Preheat oven to 250°F. Brush off herbs and excess salt from legs and wings.
3

Instruction 3

Heat duck fat in a heavy 5-quart pot over low heat just until melted and warm. Add legs and wings to pot and submerge.
4

Instruction 4

Place turkey in oven and cook until legs are tender and a paring knife can be easily inserted into the thickest part of thigh, 3-3 1/2 hours. Let turkey cool in duck fat at room temperature, about 2 hours. Cover and chill overnight. DO AHEAD: Confit can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled.
5

Instruction 5

Coarsely crush allspice berries with a mortar and pestle. Alternatively, place in a resealable plastic freezer bag and crush with a rolling pin or the bottom of a skillet. Transfer to a large pot. Repeat with juniper berries, then fennel seeds. Place spices in pot.
6

Instruction 6

Add salt, sugar, and 2 cups hot water to pot with spices. Stir until salt and sugar dissolve. Add onion, carrot, fennel, parsley and thyme sprigs, bay leaves, chiles, and cloves. Add 3 quarts very cold water and stir to combine. Place turkey breast in brine. Place a plate on top, if necessary, to keep breast submerged. Cover and chill overnight.
7

Instruction 7

Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a large roasting pan with foil. Set a rack inside pan. Scatter onion, sage, and thyme over rack. Remove turkey breast from brine. Pat dry with paper towels. Place turkey breast on top of herbs on rack.
8

Instruction 8

Brush breast with melted butter. Season with salt and pepper. Roast turkey for 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F, cover breast loosely with foil, and continue to roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of breast registers 160°F, 2 1/2-3 hours total. Let breast rest for at least 30 minutes before carving.
9

Instruction 9

Meanwhile, rewarm confit legs and wings in duck fat over medium heat. Remove legs and wings from fat; transfer to a large nonstick or cast-iron skillet and cook over medium-high heat until skin is nicely browned, about 6 minutes per side. Strain fat from pan and freeze for future use.
10

Instruction 10

Carve breast; arrange on a platter. Place wings and legs alongside.
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