Brined Roast Turkey Breast with Confit Legs

Preparation

1. ingredient info:

   Step 1

   Dried chiles de árbol are thin, red, very hot 3”-long chiles. Find them at Latin markets, specialty foods stores, and some supermarkets. Duck fat is available at specialty stores and some butchers.

2. Turkey leg and wing confit

   Step 2

   Place whole legs and wings on a baking sheet. Rub chiles, salt, and pepper all over turkey; transfer to a large resealable plastic bag. Scatter herbs and lemon zest all around turkey in bag. Seal bag and chill overnight.

   Step 3

   Preheat oven to 250°. Brush off herbs and excess salt from legs and wings.

   Step 4

   Heat duck fat in a heavy 5-qt. pot over low heat just until melted and warm. Add legs and wings to pot and submerge.

   Step 5

   Place turkey in oven and cook until legs are tender and a paring knife can be easily inserted into the thickest part of thigh, 3–3½ hours. Let turkey cool in duck fat at room temperature, about 2 hours. Cover and chill overnight. DO AHEAD: Confit can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled.

3. Brine for breast

   Step 6

   Coarsely crush allspice berries with a mortar and pestle. Alternatively, place in a resealable plastic freezer bag and crush with a rolling pin or the bottom of a skillet. Transfer to a large pot. Repeat with juniper berries, then fennel seeds. Place spices in pot.

   Step 7

   Add salt, sugar, and 2 cups hot water to pot with spices. Stir until salt and sugar dissolve. Add onion, carrot, fennel, parsley and thyme sprigs, bay leaves, chiles, and cloves. Add 3 quarts very cold water and stir to combine. Place turkey breast in brine. Place a plate on top, if necessary, to keep breast submerged. Cover and chill overnight.

4. Roast breast

   Step 8

   Preheat oven to 450°. Line a large roasting pan with foil. Set a rack inside pan. Scatter onion, sage, and thyme over rack. Remove turkey breast from brine. Pat dry with paper towels. Place turkey breast on top of herbs on rack.

   Step 9

   Brush breast with melted butter. Season with salt and pepper. Roast turkey for 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300°, cover breast loosely with foil, and continue to roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of breast registers 160°, 2½–3 hours total. Let breast rest for at least 30 minutes before carving.

   Step 10

   Meanwhile, rewarm confit legs and wings in duck fat over medium heat. Remove legs and wings from fat; transfer to a large nonstick or cast-iron skillet and cook over medium-high heat until skin is nicely browned, about 6 minutes per side. Strain fat from pan and freeze for future use.

   Step 11

   Carve breast; arrange on a platter. Place wings and legs alongside.