Roasted duck legs coated in a bold Dukkah spice crust and finished with a rich fig glaze made with warm spices, white wine, and balsamic. Crispy, savory, and deeply satisfying.
Prep Time30 minutesmins
Cook Time1 hourhr15 minutesmins
Total Time1 hourhr45 minutesmins
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: dukkah roasted duck legs
Servings: 2servings
Author: Pat Nyswonger
Ingredients
For the Dukkah Roasted Duck Legs:
1poundduck legsthawed
1tablespoonolive oil
2tablespoonsDukkah blend
For the Fig Glaze:
2tbspextra-virgin olive oil
1shallotchopped
2garlic cloveschopped
6dried figschopped
¼cupchicken broth
1teaspoonground cumin
½teaspoonground fennel seed
⅓teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoonground white pepper
½cuphoney
¾cupwhite balsamic vinegar
1cupdry white wine
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F and set a wire rack over a medium-size rimmed baking sheet.
For the Dukkah Roasted Duck Legs:
Using paper towels, pat the duck legs dry; with an wooden skewer, prick the fattiest parts of the legs in 3-4 places.
Brush oil on the legs then sprinkle a tablespoon of dukkah on both sides of each duck leg. Arrange the duck legs on the wire rack and transfer to the oven.
Roast for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to rest 5 minutes.
For the Fig Glaze:
In a small saucepan set over medium heat, add the oil and when it is warm add the shallots and cook until soft.
Add the garlic and cook another 30 seconds until fragrant, then add the chopped figs and the chicken broth. Cook until the figs are soft and jammy. Add the spices, salt, pepper, honey, vinegar and wine. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and allow the mixture to simmer and reduce to a syrupy consistency.
Remove from the heat and pour through a fine mesh strainer into a small dish, discard the solids. Keep the sauce warm until serving time. (See notes)
To serve, spoon the fig glaze over each duck leg.
Notes
Sourcing Duck: I used frozen, all-natural duck legs from Maple Farms—nitrate- and additive-free. A vacuum-sealed pack of two weighs about 16 ounces. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for best results.Keep the sauce warm: Pour the sauce into a small pitcher or jar and set it in a simmering pan of hot water to stay warm.Store the sauce: This recipe will make about ¾ cup of glaze and will keep 2-weeks when refrigerated. This glaze is also very good with pork.No Dukkah? Substitute with 1 tablespoon za’atar mixed with 1 tablespoon sesame seeds and a pinch of salt for a quick and flavorful stand-in. It won’t have the same nutty crunch, but it still brings great texture and spice.Nutrition info is for the duck legs only. For the fig glaze, per tablespoon: Cals. 75, Fat 1.9, Sod. 54, Carbs. 14.8, Sugar 12.w