Alison Roman Chicken Confit Recipes

CHICKEN CONFIT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250ºF.
• Two options to heat the chicken: In the oven : Preheat the oven to 400°F. Remove the chicken from the oil and scrape off some of the congealed oil. Set them on a rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan, skin side-up. Roast for 25 minutes, until the skin is golden brown and crisp. On the stovetop : In a large non-stick skillet over medium-low heat, add the chicken skin side-down. Cook until the skin is golden brown and crisp, about 10 minutes. Flip the chicken over and cook the other side for 2 to 3 minutes to finish warming them through.

CHICKEN CONFIT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300 degrees. Put chicken in a pan just large enough to fit it comfortably and deep enough for oil to completely cover chicken. Add remaining ingredients. Place on stovetop over medium-high heat, and cook only until bubbles come up.
• Transfer pan to oven, uncovered. Cook for about two hours; oil should be bubbling, but just barely; adjust oven heat as necessary. When done, meat can be easily pierced with a thin-bladed knife. Cool slightly, then remove chicken from oil. Strain and reserve oil for another use (store in refrigerator). Meat may be refrigerated for several days before using.
• To reheat, put 2 tablespoons reserved oil into a skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook on both sides until nicely browned, 15 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature, preferably on a bed of dressed greens.

OLIVE OIL-ROASTED CHICKEN WITH CARAMELIZED CARROTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Season chicken with salt and pepper.
• If the carrots have their green tops, trim them so that the stems are about 1/2- to 1-inch long. Save the greens for garnish or for using in salsa verde or pesto. (They can be treated like parsley.)
• Arrange chicken in a large shallow baking dish or shallow braising pot - about 2 1/2 to 3 quarts - so that the legs are snug and lying flat. Scatter garlic head halves, carrots, lemon slices and oregano sprigs among the chicken pieces, nestling everything in there. (It's O.K. if the carrots stick out a bit.) Pour the olive oil over the chicken and vegetables. (Yes, you're using all that oil! Don't worry, it can be repurposed; see Tip.) Season again with salt and pepper.
• Place in the oven, uncovered, and roast until the chicken is so tender it nearly falls off the bone and the carrots and lemons are nicely caramelized, 55 to 65 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Divide chicken, vegetables and lemons among plates (or serve straight from the dish it was cooked in). Scatter with carrot tops, if you have them, and more oregano before eating. Reserve the leftover schmaltzy olive oil in the baking dish for another purpose.