Perfect Pairings: 8 BEST Side Dishes for Duck Confit

Duck confit is a delicious dish that is made from duck legs.

Duck confit has the same ingredients as other confit dishes but has a duck leg instead of chicken or fish.

Duck confit is well known for both its unique flavor and its difficulty in making.

Salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, and other spices are mixed together and rubbed all over the duck legs before being placed in large containers with salt and left to sit there overnight.

The next day the duck legs are drained and rinsed, placed in a pan with other seasonings like onion, celery, and carrots, covered with duck fat (or another cooking oil), and cooked.

The flavor of the duck confit is compared to both ham and bacon because the meat has an ever so slightly salty taste that many people love.

The meat is also very soft and full of flavor.

Duck confit is truly an amazing dish with both its unique taste and arduous preparation, but it’s quite expensive to make, so many people may never get the chance to try it.

When served, duck confit can be eaten with other dishes or alone.

It is often served warm atop salad or potatoes, with the duck fat acting as a sauce for the meat.

In this article, we will provide ideas on what to serve with duck confit, as well as what are the eight best side dishes.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Duck Confit?

First and foremost, the flavors of Duck Confit and Side Dishes can vary greatly.

Therefore, make sure to find side dishes that complement this flavor perfectly.

One reason for the side accompaniments is to balance important flavors, such as saltiness and fat.

You might want a dish that can cut through this richness. Secondly, Duck Confit itself consists of different parts.

When you take a closer look at its taste and texture, it can change from section to section on the duck.

For example, the leg of the duck might be fattier than leaner parts.

As a result, it is important to select side dishes that complement these variations based on their taste and texture.

Lastly, serving side dishes may give you more variety when working with Duck Confit for an appetizer or entrée.

The general rule is to serve Duck Confit with a starchy side dish, such as potatoes.

However, you can also consider serving it with vegetables or fruit to add variety to all of the meat you are already prepared to serve.

What to Serve with Duck Confit? 8 BEST Side Dishes

Once you have determined the reasons for serving side dishes, you can begin to think about best.

In general, Duck Confit is served with a starchy side dish.

This could either be a carbohydrate, such as potatoes or pasta, or a fruit or vegetable with a starchy component in its preparation.

1 – French Fries

French fries are a popular side dish that can be served with a variety of dishes.

In fact, they can even stand on their own as an appetizer for those who enjoy them with ketchup.

They also go nicely with hot dogs and hamburgers.

Depending on how you like your French fries, there are different ways to prepare them.

If you like soft, skinny fries, cut the potatoes at a slant or lengthwise and soak them in cold water for one hour before frying them.

If you like crispy fries (and who doesn’t?), soak them in water for 10 minutes and dry them thoroughly before frying.

Fry until they are lightly browned, and let rest on a paper towel to absorb the grease.

For taste, you can add salt and pepper or fry them with onion, garlic, or other spices.

2 – Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions

Mashed potatoes are a great starch to serve with many dishes, including Duck Confit.

They also taste great on their own with melted butter and parsley for flavor.

Try serving mashed potatoes with caramelized onions for a nice twist on the classic.

As usual, prepare your mashed potatoes, allowing them to cook until they are soft enough to mash.

While this is cooking, heat oil in a skillet and sautee onion until it turns brown.

Add salt and pepper if desired. Place the cooked mashed potatoes in a large bowl and combine with the caramelized onion.

You can also add sour cream for extra flavor if desired.

If you want to be adventurous, you could fry the onions in duck fat or butter instead of oil for an even richer taste.

3 – Scalloped Potatoes

This is another variation of mashed potatoes, with the added benefit of cheese.

Scalloped potatoes are best when served hot, with plenty of steam rising off of them.

Prepare your scalloped potatoes by spooning the cooked mixture into a casserole dish and baking for 15 to 20 minutes in an oven or toaster oven.

Add salt and pepper or other seasonings if desired, then top with bread crumbs that have been fried in butter or duck fat.

Finally, bake for another 10 minutes until the bread crumbs are golden brown.

You can add cheese on top as desired.

4 – Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce goes well with Duck Confit because it adds a sweet accent to the savory meat.

It is also versatile enough to be served with other meats, such as turkey or ham.

You can prepare cranberry sauce using fresh or frozen cranberries, white sugar, and water.

Add all of these ingredients to a pot and cook over medium heat for around 15 minutes, stirring frequently.

Once the cranberries start to pop and it resembles a smooth sauce, remove from heat.

You can add orange juice to the mixture before cooking or red wine after cooking (but before cooling) for extra flavor.

Additionally, if you like nuts in your cranberry sauce, now is the time to add them.

5 – Green Beans Casserole

Green beans casserole is another perfect side dish for Duck Confit because it is a great complement to the carbohydrates that will typically be served with the meal.

The green beans provide a crisp, fresh, and somewhat bitter flavor, and the cream sauce adds richness and tanginess (especially when combined with the salty fried onions).

Prepare your green beans casserole by first blanching fresh green beans to soften them.

Then, sautee diced onion in butter until it begins to turn brown (or cook it in duck fat if you prefer).

Combine the cooked green beans and onions in a dish with cream of mushroom soup and some breadcrumbs.

Bake for 15 minutes or until the top is lightly browned.

6 – Broccoli Salad

Broccoli salad is a sweet, tangy twist on the pickled vegetables usually served with Duck Confit dishes.

It can be served as a side dish on its own or used as a delicious topping for baked potatoes or rice.

Prepare your broccoli salad by combining fresh minced garlic with mayonnaise, sugar, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.

Next, chop the broccoli florets into bite-sized pieces and stir them in with raisins or pickled onions (or both) and chopped pecans.

If desired, you can add a few slices of fried or baked bacon on top.

7 – Cauliflower Gratin

Cauliflower gratin is another delicious way to transform classic vegetables into a tasty new side dish for Duck Confit.

It also makes a great alternative to mashed potatoes because cauliflower has a similar texture and flavor but with more texture.

To prepare cauliflower gratin, you first need to steam the cauliflower florets until soft (about 10 minutes).

Add it to a casserole dish with bread crumbs and some garlic or onion powder along with milk, cream, or cheese (your choice).

Bake for about 30 minutes in an oven at 350 degrees, or until the top has turned golden brown and is bubbling.

8 – Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce

Asparagus is a good side dish because it provides a nice crunchy texture to offset the smooth, rich flavors of Duck Confit.

It can be steamed and served with a simple pat of butter or a drizzle of olive oil, or it can be sauteed in some duck fat or pork lard for extra flavor.

To prepare asparagus with hollandaise sauce, first, blanch the asparagus in boiling water for around 5 minutes or until tender.

Next, fry it in some butter in a skillet over medium heat until the tips turn golden brown.

Finally, make your hollandaise sauce by combining egg yolks, lemon juice, and melted butter with seasoning to taste.

Drizzle it over the finished dish before serving.

Conclusion

Duck confit is a delicious meal that can be served as a main dish or in addition to other meats and sides.

The best side dishes for duck confit are those that complement the meat, not fight against it.

Try serving green bean casserole with Duck Confit or asparagus with hollandaise sauce for best results.

If you have a favorite- go ahead and try it. Chances are, it’s delicious.

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