Chicken Confit Emeril Lagasse 2005 Recipes

Steps:

• PREP: Lay the leg portions on a platter, skin side down. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the kosher salt and 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 chicken in the bottom of a glass or plastic container. Top with the sandwiched leg portions. Sprinkle with the 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt. Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours.
• BAKE: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator. Remove the garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and chicken fat and reserve. Rinse the chicken with cool water, rubbing off some of the salt and pepper. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Put the reserved garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and chicken fat in the bottom of an enameled cast iron pot. Sprinkle evenly with the peppercorns and salt. Lay the chicken 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.
• STORING THE MEAT: Remove the chicken from the fat. Strain the fat and reserve. Pick the meat from the bones and place it in a stoneware container. Cover the meat with some of the strained fat so that there is a 1/4-inch layer of fat on top. The chicken confit can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. (Epicurious.com states up to 6 months).
• STORING THE OIL: The excess oil can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and used like butter for cooking. The tinge of chicken taste in the oil is wonderful and Emeril uses the oil to roast potatoes, cook green beans, and pan-fry veal.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Cut the garlic bulb in half and put it in a small mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, put the cleaned gizzard and rub in some salt, then rub it with the garlic followed by the thyme. Let the gizzards sit in the refrigerator for approximately 3 hours.
• After this time take them out of the fridge and the marinade and rinse under cold water.
• In a heavy-bottomed pan over a medium-high heat with a slick of duck fat, roast the gizzards for a couple of minutes. Meanwhile, in another saucepan gently heat the remaining duck fat over a medium heat. Slide the gizzards into the duck fat and move the pan to the oven to cook for 2 hours.
• Lift the gizzards from the fat with a slotted spoon and drain any excess fat on paper towels. Slice the gizzards and use them for canapés, garnish on rice or even as a spread on toast.