Christmas

Duck confit, pear, and fennel bites

by:
December  4, 2011
3.3
3 Ratings
  • Makes 24 bites
Author Notes

These are ingredients I generally have in my refrigerator. I just made a big batch of duck confit legs - using Emeril's recipe - which was amazing, but you can certainly buy duck legs pre-made (I like D'artagnan). These flavors are everything that is wonderful about fall. The pears accentuate the natural sweetness of the fennel when its roasted, the duck is sinfully savory and the cheese sets the balance. And who doesn't like a bite of duck in puff pastry? —meganvt01

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 sheet puff pastry - defrosted
  • 1 duck leg confit - skin removed, meat chopped
  • 1 small bulb fennel, chopped
  • 1 large firm pear, peeled and chopped
  • 1 teaspoon thyme leaves, minced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 5 ounces brie cheese, rinds included, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
Directions
  1. Mix on a baking sheet the fennel, pear, thyme, garlic, and olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 30 minutes in a 400 degree, preheated oven. Stir 2-3 times. Remove.
  2. Add chopped duck confit and sherry vinegar to hot cookie sheet. Stir to combine. Taste and season again with salt and pepper if necessary.
  3. Roll out your thawed puff pastry on a floured work surface to a 12 inch square. Cut the puff pastry sheet into 24 equal pieces. Press each piece into a mini-muffin tin (you'll need more than 1 muffin tin), making a small cup.
  4. Place 1 square brie cheese in each mini-muffin cup. Add 1.5 teaspoons of the duck, sherry, pear, fennel mixture. Bake in a pre-heated 375 degree oven for 25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving. garnish with fresh thyme leaves if desired.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Franca
    Franca
  • meganvt01
    meganvt01
  • lorigoldsby
    lorigoldsby
  • fiveandspice
    fiveandspice
  • aargersi
    aargersi
meganvt01

Recipe by: meganvt01

Attorney

7 Reviews

Franca October 15, 2019
We really wanted to love this, but unfortunately no one in my household did. Between the puff pastry and the brie they were far too heavy and greasy. A waste of expensive ingredients on our end.
 
Tarragon December 6, 2011
All of my favorites, consolidated. Can't wait for an occasion to make these!
 
meganvt01 December 6, 2011
Thank you all for your very kind words!
 
lorigoldsby December 5, 2011
If this isn't one of the finalists, then I'm going to claim it as a CP! Can not wait to try this! Heading to Goose the Market tomorrow morning!
 
fiveandspice December 5, 2011
Oh yum! I want to come to your parties!
 
aargersi December 5, 2011
This truly looks like a perfect little bite. Love it!
 
boulangere December 5, 2011
Love it!