What to Serve with Duck Confit? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Ever stared at a plate of duck confit, wondering what on earth goes well with it? We’ve all been there.

It’s like trying to pick the perfect outfit for a first date. Stressful, right?

Well, we’ve crashed and burned, so you don’t have to. Once, we tried serving it with a bowl of cereal. Spoiler alert: bad idea.

Now, we’re basically duck confit side dish sommeliers. We know our stuff.

Think of this as your cheat sheet. No fluff, just the good stuff. Trust us, these pairings are about to make your culinary life a whole lot easier.

And hey, you might just impress someone with your pairing prowess.

What to Serve with Duck Confit? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Duck confit is an extraordinary dish that has a very specific flavor.

The meat itself, prepared in this way, is unique- it’s salty, tender, and intensely flavored.

It deserves to be served with equally flavorful side dishes to complete your meal.

Each of the following side dishes will pair well with duck confit.

Therefore, for this dish, you should consider including one or more of them when planning your entrée.

Each has its unique flavor, texture, and appearance that perfectly complements your main course.

1 – Roasted Carrots and Fennel

The carrots and fennel in this simple side dish add wonderful color and provide an interesting texture and great flavor.

Roasting the vegetables brings out their natural sweetness, which is balanced by the saltiness of the feta cheese.

This side dish is simple, but it can be dressed up with some walnuts or pecans for added crunch.

It is wonderful served with any seafood – the sweetness of the carrots pairs perfectly with lobster or shrimp.

This quick and easy side dish will complement your next fish entrée delightfully.

2 – Green Salad with Strawberries

This simple salad is a great way to bring color and sweetness to your meal.

The combination of strawberries, spinach, and creamy goat cheese makes for an interesting flavor offset by the tartness of balsamic vinegar.

Tossing the spinach with some candied walnuts or pecans adds a nice crunchiness to this salad.

You can also dress it up with some sunflower seeds or dried cranberries for added color and flavor.

This side dish is best served cold, so it’s perfect for serving alongside some duck confit with apricots.

It would be great on the menu of a spring picnic or barbecue as well.

3 – Creamy Pasta Salad

This salad is creamy, cheesy, and flavorful.

The pasta itself is wonderful with some fresh vegetables like zucchini or peas.

You can even add cooked chicken for some extra protein.

Since this meal pairs perfectly with so many different main courses, you should feel free to adjust the veggies based on what you’re serving.

The creamy dressing makes the salad special, so be sure to use quality mayonnaise and extra-sharp cheddar cheese in this dish.

The whole-wheat pasta adds a nice chewy texture that will go well with roasted duck or pork chops.

It also keeps the meal balanced by adding some fiber to your plate.

4 – Pairing Wines (Pinor Noir, Bordeaux)

Duck confit is an excellent entrée for pairing with your favorite red wine.

To complement the savory flavors of this dish, you should serve a Pinot Noir or Bordeaux that has been aged for at least five years.

They can range in price from quite expensive to only slightly more than regular reds.

These wines are complex and full-bodied without being too heavy.

Pinot Noirs that have been aged for at least five years can be very expensive, but they are perfect with duck confit.

This age also provides a fruitier taste to the wine, which pairs nicely with the dish’s flavor profile.

Bordeaux from this year typically cost less than a Pinot Noir.

However, they are still quite expensive and should be reserved for special occasions.

5 – Sicilian-Style Skillet Brown Rice

The rice in this dish is flavored with plenty of herbs, such as rosemary and oregano.

The tomatoes add a nice sweetness that pairs perfectly with duck confit, providing another layer of flavor to your meal.

Because it’s so flavorful, you can pair this side dish with pretty much any fish or meat entrée.

It would taste great with some sautéed shrimp, pan-seared chicken, or even a piece of well-seasoned swordfish.

This hearty side dish is flavorful enough to be served as an entrée for lunch.

It’s also great at dinner when paired with a salad and will provide much-needed fuel to help your family stay active throughout the day.

6 – Balsamic Roasted Squash

This recipe is very easy to prepare and requires only a few ingredients.

It’s also simple enough for even young children to help you cook, so it makes a perfect side dish for family dinners.

As the name suggests, the squash is cooked in a balsamic vinegar mixture.

This adds a nice tanginess to the dish and works well with duck confit’s savory flavor profile.

The ingredients list is also very flexible, so you can add whatever vegetables you prefer or have on hand.

This recipe would work best with veggies that roast quickly, such as cherry tomatoes and zucchini.

This roasted balsamic squash is a quick and easy side dish made with any number of different vegetables.

It would go well with any fish or meat entrée, especially duck confit.

7 – Braised French Green Lentils

The French invented this dish to use up the leftover duck legs from making their traditional version.

Duck confit is a duck salted and slowly cooked in its fat until it becomes tender.

Since the lentils are braised, they have a great creamy texture which pairs well with meaty proteins like duck confit.

This dish would be perfect for a family dinner or large party.

Although duck confit will provide most of the flavor in this dish, the braised lentils are enhanced by several different spices.

This includes fresh thyme, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder.

Conclusion

Duck confit is an excellent meal to serve alongside red wine.

Pinot Noir or Bordeaux are both great choices that will complement the flavors in this dish.

This flavorful entrée also pairs well with whole wheat pasta, which has a nice chewy texture that compliments roasted meats and duck confit.

It is important to remember that when pairing wines with foods, it’s best to go for wines that complement the flavors in the dish, not overwhelm them.

If this is your first time trying duck confit, serve it with mashed potatoes to help you get used to the different textures and flavors.

This side dish is also great alongside any protein or pasta entrée that can be served at room temperature.