Duck Carnitas Tacos with Radish Escabèche

Makes: 12 Servings

Ingredients:

Duck:

4 duck legs (thigh and drumstick; about 3½ lb. total)

6 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 3 Tbsp. Morton kosher salt

1 lb. lard

4 morita chiles, halved lengthwise

1 bay leaf

1 3″ cinnamon stick

5 whole cloves

1 Tbsp. achiote (annatto) seeds

1 Tbsp. black peppercorns

1 Tbsp. dried oregano, preferably Mexican

1 large navel orange, quartered

1 head of garlic, halved crosswise

ESCABÈCHE AND ASSEMBLY:

⅓ cup fresh lime juice

1 Tbsp. honey

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 bunch radishes, trimmed, halved, thinly sliced

½ small white onion, thinly sliced

¼ cup torn mint leaves

3 Tbsp. torn tarragon leaves

1–3 Fresno chiles, thinly sliced

12 6″-diameter flour tortillas, preferably Sonoran style, warmed

Preparation:

DUCK:

Step 1

Prick skin on duck legs in several places with the tip of a paring knife. Rub legs with salt, working into flesh and skin. Transfer to a medium bowl or airtight container. Cover and chill at least 12 hours and up to 1 day.

Step 2

Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 250°. Heat lard in a large saucepan over medium-high until an instant-read thermometer register 250°.

Step 3

Scatter chiles, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cloves, achiote seeds, peppercorns, and oregano across the bottom of a large baking dish. Remove duck legs from bowl and brush off excess salt. Arrange legs, skin side down, over aromatics in baking dish. Nestle orange and garlic around legs, then pour warm lard over. Cover baking dish tightly with foil and bake legs 2 hours.

Step 4

Turn duck legs skin side up and nestle back into fat. Re-cover dish and continue to bake until meat is very tender and begins to pull away from the bones, 2–2½ hours longer.

Step 5

Let duck legs sit in fat until cool enough to handle (30–40 minutes), then transfer to a plate. Reserve 3 Tbsp. fat for frying duck skin and strain remaining fat through a fine-mesh sieve into an airtight container and let cool. Cover and reserve for another use (see recipe intro for ideas!).

Step 6

Remove skin from legs and set aside. Pull meat from bones, tearing into 1″ pieces; discard bones and cartilage. Heat reserved 3 Tbsp. fat in a large nonstick skillet over medium and cook reserved duck skin, turning halfway through, until deep golden brown and crisp on both sides, 12–15 minutes total. Transfer chicharrones to paper towels to drain and let cool 5 minutes; crumble into small pieces.

Step 7

Do Ahead: Duck legs can be baked 3 weeks ahead. Transfer whole legs to a large nonreactive container; strain fat through a fine-mesh sieve over meat. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before removing skin and shredding meat.

ESCABÈCHE AND ASSEMBLY:

Step 8

Whisk lime juice, honey, and salt in a medium bowl until salt and honey are dissolved. Add radishes, onion, mint, tarragon, and 1 chile and toss to coat. Add remaining chiles as desired (depending on their heat and how spicy you like things).

Step 9

Top warm tortillas with some reserved meat, then radish escabèche and reserved chicharrones.