What Sauce Goes Well with Duck Confit (10 Best Sauces)

There’s nothing like a delicious duck confit. The rich, fatty flavor of the meat is simply unique. But what can make it even better? Sauces!

This blog post will discuss 10 sauces that will make your duck confit even better. Each sauce brings unique flavors to the dish, so you’re sure to find one you love.

So, what are you waiting for? Start cooking!

10 Best Sauces that Go Well with Duck Confit

Duck confit with orange sauce. Credit: canva

Orange Gastrique sauce

This Orange Gastrique sauce is a flavorful and easy way to add complexity to any dish. It’s great for chicken, fish, duck, vegetables, and more.

Plus, it’s straightforward to make! Simply cook some orange juice, sugar, and vinegar together until it reaches a syrupy consistency.

Cherry Sauce

Cherry sauce is made with fresh or frozen cherries, sugar, cornstarch, and spices. It’s sweet and tart, with a thick consistency.

The key to making a good cherry sauce is using tart cherries. Sour cherries have more of a sour/tart taste than sweet cherries, and they work well in a sweet/sour sauce. You can find sour cherries in most grocery stores or get them online.

Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce is a sweet and sour condiment made from cranberries, sugar, and orange juice. Some recipes also call for cinnamon or nutmeg.

This sauce is a classic Thanksgiving dish, but it can also be enjoyed all year round. This tart and tangy sauce are easy to make and go well with poultry, pork, or even as a condiment for burgers or hot dogs.

Plum Sauce

Plum sauce is a fantastic way to add a delicious and unique flavor to your meals. It’s perfect for dipping chicken, duck, or pork, or you can use it as a condiment on rice or noodles.

The best part about the plum sauce is that it’s really easy to make. All you need is some plums, sugar, vinegar, garlic, and salt. Combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

You can store the sauce in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Apple Sauce

Apple sauce is a great way to add sweetness and flavor to dishes without adding a lot of sugar or calories. It’s also a good source of vitamins and minerals, including potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C.

You can make your apple sauce at home by cooking apples in a pot with a little water or juice until they are soft. Then use an immersion blender or food processor to puree the apples until they are smooth.

You can add cinnamon, nutmeg, or other spices for extra flavor.

Tamarind Sauce

Tamarind sauce is a popular condiment in Southeast Asia. It’s made from the pulp of the tamarind fruit, which is combined with water, sugar, and spices.

The sauce has a sour and sweet taste that goes well with savory dishes. It is an excellent way to flavor poultry, fish, and pork dishes.

It’s easy to make tamarind sauce at home by combining tamarind paste or concentrate with water, sugar, and spices. Give it a try!

Blueberry Sauce

Blueberry sauce is an excellent accompaniment because the tartness of the blueberries balances out the richness of the duck.

It is made of simple ingredients: fresh blueberries, sugar, and cornstarch. The sauce adds a beautiful color and sweetness to the dish.

Herb Sauce

Herb sauce is made with fresh herbs, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. It’s bright and flavorful, with a slightly acidic taste.

The great thing about herb sauce is that it can be tailored to your taste preferences. If you like a lot of spice, you can add hot peppers. You can stick to mild herbs like parsley or basil if you prefer a more subtle flavor.

Herb sauce is perfect for chicken, fish, pasta dishes, and even salads! Try it today and see how easy it is to add tons of flavor to any meal.

Spicy Dijon Mustard Sauce

This sauce is made with Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, honey, and cayenne pepper. It’s creamy and spicy, with a slight sweetness.

This sauce is perfect for adding a flavorful, zesty touch to any dish! It’s easy to make and calls for just a few simple ingredients.

Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

This classic sauce is made from butter, lemon juice, garlic, and spices.

This sauce is perfect for shrimp, chicken, duck, or fish. You can also use it as a topping for pasta or vegetables.

I love the flavor of the lemon and garlic combined with the richness of the butter. It’s a delicious and easy way to add extra flavor to your meals.

About Duck Confit

Beautiful duck confit on a wooden board. Credit: canva

Duck Confit is a French dish that consists of the legs and thighs of duck that have been salt-cured and slowly cooked in their own fat. The result is melt-in-your-mouth tender meat with crispy skin.

It’s usually served with some starch (e.g., potatoes) and a green vegetable.

Confit means “to preserve” in French, and the method has been used for centuries to keep meat from spoiling.

The duck dish is popular because it’s delicious and very economical. You can make a large batch and store it in the fridge or freezer for future meals.

There you have it! Ten unique sauces to pair with duck confit. Each sauce brings its unique flavor to complement the dish in its way.

So whether you’re looking for something sweet or sour, spicy or mild—there’s a sauce on this list!

How to Make Duck Confit

Before cooking the duck, you must cure the meat in a salt and spice mixture for at least 12 hours.

There are several ways to cook this dish. Some prefer to cook it in the oven, while others like a slow cooker.

In either case, the basic steps involve searing the meat, seasoning it with salt and spices, and then cooking it slowly.

Curing the Duck

The basic steps are as follows:

Mix salt, pepper, spices, and herbs in a large container to hold the whole duck.
Add the duck and rub the mixture into the skin until it is completely coated.
Cover the container with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 12 hours or up to 24 hours.
Remove the duck from the salt mixture and rinse it thoroughly under cold water. Make sure to pat it dry with a paper towel before proceeding with cooking.

Cooking in the Oven (Traditional Method)

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Season the duck legs with salt and spices, then sear in a skillet over medium heat for about five minutes per side.
Transfer the duck legs to a baking dish, cover them with foil, and bake for three hours or until tender.
To serve, slice the duck legs into smaller pieces and drizzle with your favorite sauce.

Cooking in a Slow Cooker

Heat your oven or slow cooker to 275 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place the duck legs in a baking dish or slow cooker, and season them with salt and pepper.
Cook the legs for about 4 hours until they are tender and easily come apart when shredded.
Remove the cooked meat from the oven or slow cooker, and let it cool to room temperature before refrigerating.
To serve, heat the meat in a sauté pan until it is crispy and browned on all sides.

What to Serve with Duck Confit

There are so many possibilities when it comes to what to serve with this dish.

Our favorites include creamy mashed potatoes, wild rice pilaf, or risotto.

If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, we also love serving ours with figs and prosciutto, braised lentils and bacon, or a simple green salad with shaved fennel and citrus vinaigrette.

No matter what you choose, we promise it will be delicious!

FAQs

How is duck confit prepared and cooked?

Traditionally, it is made by curing the duck legs in salt, herbs, and seasonings for several days before slowly cooking them in duck fat.

Some modern versions may use oil instead of rendered duck fat for cooking.

What are some typical side dishes or accompaniments for duck confit?

Common accompaniments include roasted or mashed potatoes, green beans, or other vegetables, and a salad or frisée aux lardons (a salad with bacon and croutons).

It can also be served over a bed of risotto or other grains.

What is the difference between duck confit and Peking duck?

While both dishes feature cooked duck, Peking duck is traditionally roasted whole until the skin is crisp while the meat remains tender and moist. On the other hand, this dish uses only leg meat cured in salt and herbs before being simmered in fat.

Can you make duck confit at home?

It is possible to make it at home if you have access to good-quality duck legs and rendered duck fat (or another cooking oil).

However, it does take several days for the curing process, and special equipment like a heavyweight may be necessary to ensure proper cooking.

Is there a vegetarian alternative to traditional duck confit?

Yes, there are a few options for vegetarian “confits.” One option is to use tempeh or seitan as a substitute for the meat, which can then be marinated and cooked in oil or vegetable broth.

Another option is to use root vegetables such as parsnips or carrots marinated in herbs and spices before being cooked in oil.