Duck Confit & Lentil Cassoule

Duck Confit & Lentil Cassoulet

Classic French cassoulet with duck confit, lentils, and herbed breadcrumbs.

• Meal Type: Dinner
• Dietary: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free
• Main Ingredient: Duck Confit
• Servings: 4
• Cost per Serving: $12.00
• Prep Time: 60 min

Ingredients

Cassoulet

• 4 duck confit legs
• 1½ cups green or Puy lentils, rinsed
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium carrots, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
• 3 cups chicken or duck bone broth
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and black pepper to taste

From-Scratch Herbed Breadcrumb Topping

• 1 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
• 3 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

Crisp the Duck

1. Place duck confit legs skin-side down in a cold oven-safe skillet. Heat over medium heat for 6–8 minutes until skin is golden and crispy. Flip and warm through for 2 minutes. Remove and set aside.

Build the Cassoulet Base

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In the same skillet (with duck fat), sauté onion, garlic, carrots, and celery over medium heat for 5 minutes until softened.
3. Add diced tomatoes, bone broth, lentils, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves. Stir to combine.
4. Nestle the crisped duck legs into the lentil mixture, skin-side up.
5. Bring to a simmer on the stovetop.

Make the Herbed Breadcrumb Topping

1. Combine breadcrumbs, parsley, garlic, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Mix until crumbs are evenly coated.

Bake

1. Scatter herbed breadcrumbs over the top of the cassoulet.
2. Transfer to the oven and bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes until lentils are tender, the broth is absorbed, and the breadcrumb topping is golden and crisp.
3. Remove bay leaves. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Notes

Duck confit is rich in protein and healthy monounsaturated fats. Lentils provide plant-based protein and fiber. This cassoulet is gluten-free and dairy-free. The from-scratch herbed breadcrumb topping adds texture and fresh herb flavor without any artificial additives.