Skip to content
Cook with Ipohbunny

Cook with Ipohbunny

Stories and recipes from a Malaysian home kitchen

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Cuisine
      • Chinese
      • Japanese
      • Korean
      • Malaysian
      • Middle Eastern
      • Thai
      • Vietnamese
      • Western
    • Ingredient
      • Beef & Lamb
      • Eggs
      • Noodles & Pasta
      • Poultry
      • Rice
      • Seafood
      • Vegetables
    • Meal
      • One-pot meal
      • Breakfast & Brunch
      • Cakes & Sweets
      • Condiments
      • Side dish
      • Soups & Stews
    • Other Home Cooks
  • Stories
  • Contact
  • Toggle search form
  • My Brave Banana Cake Cakes & Sweets
  • ABC Soup Chinese
  • Make Perfect Poached Eggs Breakfast & Brunch
  • Pengat Pisang Cakes & Sweets
  • Teriyaki Chicken Poke Bowl Japanese
  • Rendang Tok Mak Nik: Top 10 Stories
  • Thai Prawn Glass Noodles Noodles & Pasta
  • Breakfast pizza toast Breakfast & Brunch
  • Air-fried Dengaku Naku (Miso Eggplant) Side dish
  • Mushroom Burger (Vegetarian) Burger
  • Beef Noodles at Kuan Soo Noodle Stall, ICC Pudu Chinese
  • Pistachio Pesto Pasta Noodles & Pasta
  • Salted Egg Pumpkin Chinese
  • Chicken Nanban Japanese
  • Garlic Fried Rice Japanese

Chicken Confit

Posted on December 23, 2021January 15, 2022 By Alexandra Wong No Comments on Chicken Confit

Make chicken confit at home? No way in hell, man! Or at least – until yesterday.

Now, I’ve seen chicken or duck confit in restaurant menus a number of times, in particular fancy restaurants. The price tag is usually hefty, which gave me the impression it must be super delicious AND super difficult to make.

The former IS true, but not the latter.

How is chicken confit different from roast chicken?

The ingredients are pretty similar. From outside appearances, chicken confit looks exactly like roast chicken, and yes it has the same crispy skin. But under the skin lies a world of the difference: the meat retains much more moisture and because of this it’s unbelievably fall off bone tender. Because it’s been cooked slowly in the herb-and-spice flavoured oil for so long, the chicken acts as a sponge and absorbs their flavours as well. Unless you’re a vampire, adding garlic is a must. In the oil, it becomes meltingly soft, creamy and sweet … omg, my mouth is watering even at the memory.

Think roast chicken, but 100x more delicious.

The key lies in how the chicken is cooked.

Confit is a method of cooking food in which the meat is submerged in an oil or fat bath at a low temperature of no more than 130 C. For comparison, baking or roasting typically takes place at temperatures above 180 C and dries out the meat. By cooking meat at such a low temperature, the loss of fluids from meat is minimised and results in succulent, juicy meat that’s incredibly rich in flavour. Read more about the science of confit cooking here.

You can eat the chicken as it is when you take it out of the oven, but the skin will be meltingly soft instead of crispy. So what people do is to take the chicken out of the oil, then sear it over a frying pan until the skin is crispy. Think Peking duck crispy.

The best part? Making chicken confit is so EASY.

You literally just assemble everything in an oven-safe dish, cover it with oil and then pop it in the oven and let it do its thing while you go do your nails, wash your hair, or even watch a Netflix movie.

Just like there are many ways to skin a cat, there are variations on chicken confit. Here are some tips:

— Add whatever aromatics and spices you like to flavour the oil. Most recipes call for Italian herbs and garlic is a must.
— Add vegetables to the dish. Try carrots, mild peppers, or even potatoes. Voila, you have a one-pot meal 🙂
— Use a large enough baking tray so that you have enough room to tuck those additional vegetables etc.
— Of course the authentic recipes use duck fat or chicken fat, but I used a mix of rice bran oil and olive oil as that’s what I had. It turned out fine.
— What to do with all that oil? Just strain and reuse to saute vegetables, toss salads, etc.

Lastly, let me address an “issue” which worried me but never came up. I was terrified that the oil would bubble and splash all over my oven, but that never happened because I cooked the dish at 130 C, which is too low to evoke that kind of explosive reaction. So folks, don’t worry.

For more awesome poultry recipes, click here.

Chicken Confit

Now you can make restaurant-style chicken confit - slow-cooked in an oil bath - at home!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Western
Servings 2

Equipment

  • Oven-safe dish, oven

Ingredients
  

  • 2 chicken legs
  • Dry or fresh Italian herbs of your choice
  • 1 carrot, quartered
  • 1 bulb garlic, cut in half
  • Salt & black pepper
  • Enough oil to cover chicken halfway

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 125 deg C.
  • Make cuts in chicken so that it can absorb more flavours. Rub salt and pepper into chicken.
  • Place chicken legs in a oven-proof dish.
  • Tuck carrots, herbs and garlic in the nooks.
  • Pour enough oil until it covers chicken HALFWAY. A lot of recipes call for you to fully cover the chicken, but I didn't have the heart to use so much oil, and my chicken turned out ok.
  • Cook in oven for 1.5-2 hours. Remove chicken and vegetables from the oil.
  • Press the chicken meat from the side so that it detaches from the bone, in order to get a "flatter" piece of meat and bone, meaning all the skin is now mostly on one side.
  • Now, in a saucepan, add back 2 tbs of the confit oil and heat to medium high. Fry the chicken legs, skin side down, for a few minutes until the skin turns golden brown and crispy.
Keyword chicken
Post Views: 2,679
One-pot meal, Poultry Tags:chicken, poultry

Post navigation

Previous Post: Stir-fried Cabbage with Miso
Next Post: Mum’s Fried Beehoon

Related Posts

  • Loh Mai Fan Chinese
  • Juicy Chicken Burger Poultry
  • Chicken Nanban Japanese
  • Kimchi Fried Rice Korean
  • Best Shakshuka Ever Breakfast & Brunch
  • Dried Shrimp Fried Beehoon Chinese

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Who’s Ipohbunny, lah?

Welcome!

I’m Alexandra Wong, a self-taught Malaysian home cook on a mission to simplify and healthify recipes using affordable quality ingredients. I am a writer by profession, mostly known for my feelgood stories about people, travel and food.

ipohbunny

My first Ig live, Omg! My first Ig live, Omg!
When I met Paige at @hinmarket, her booth stopped When I met Paige at @hinmarket, her booth stopped me in my tracks immediately.Who knew cement could be turned into such beautiful and functional art pieces? If you're still there, PLEASE do yourself a favour and mosey over to her booth (near the entrance) and get a piece of her instant classics.

The market closes at 5pm, so hurry up!!
Alternatively, you can get in touch with her after the event @wanjiarts
...

I am so excited about this first live interview video I did, thanks to encouragement by the inspiring @lohjiyuan 

I had to really level up to make this video. I only found out after I left that I was too close to the phone and as a result, her voice was too soft. I had to figure out how to increase her volume, which was really hard because we were both talking fast. Then I figured, hey, why not I slowwwww down the speed and then I can split the clips and increase her section ...you will know if you use video editing tools. I was racing against time too because I wanted this to be up before the bazaar closes. 

There were a bunch of other things I had to learn, and I'm glad I did. Here's a toast to more upskilling!

I'll be posting this also on my other account @heroesofmalaysia So if you'd like to see other awesome people doing awesome things in Malaysia, do follow me there too :)

#hinmarket #wanjiarts #concreteart #handmadegifts #giftideas #cement #diycrafts #hinbusdepot #popup #popupstore #popupshop
So. The Star article is finally out, that big thin So. The Star article is finally out, that big thing that I was both excited and nervous about and honestly was worried would cause me sleepless nights but I slept like a baby last night - rather snored like a train, according to my husband. Hearing that makes me happy these days haha!

I'd like to highlight some lines from the article: 

“It’s real and it’s not something that you call tell yourself to snap out of, so never say this to someone who is going through it." THIS. PLEASE DO NOT EVER SAY THIS.

“I did a test at a clinic for the stress hormone cortisol and discovered that my levels were over the roof! I was diagnosed and put on a bunch of medications ..." Clarification: high cortisol levels do not indicate that you have mental health conditions.  It did tell me under I was under a lot of stress and motivated me to finally seek psychiatric help.

"I still talk to my therapist because he is my safe space." Getting a therapist was one of the best decisions I made and he is, indeed, my lifesaver, especially when I face a potentially stressful situation. Thank you JC, who first sparked the idea of talking to a therapist because it helped him a lot. Hugs J!

"The most important pillar in her mental health journey was her husband whose unflagging support was crucial. “One day, I giggled at a joke he cracked and he almost cried tears of joy because I had gone so long without smiling." I love you so much, darling, and I'm glad we're growing together through this journey. And a huge thanks too to my in laws who offered me a safe haven during that critical first week when I was like a zombie. 

Lastly, I'd like to thank all of you who have been with me on this journey since I opened up a month ago. There are ups and downs and it's all part of progress and growth, and it will just make us stronger.

Lastly, thank you @Ming_Teoh for doing such a beautiful job with this sensitively and compassionately written article. I hope it helps as many people as possible.

#mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalwellbeing #wellbeing @thestaronline #mentalhealthadvocate
You don't have to be an expert in mental health to You don't have to be an expert in mental health to support friends struggling with theirs. Compassion and empathy can go a long way. 

Yesterday, the @thestaronline published an article about mental health based on an interview I did with @Ming_Teoh a few weeks ago. 

One of the stories is about a beautiful relationship that was destroyed because one of the friends lacked empathy. Happily, the other friendship was brought to a new level because one of them demonstrated empathy, kindness and compassion. Love you, Von (even though you don't have IG).

It all started when Ming saw my mental toolkit a few weeks ago and asked me if I'd be willing to talk about my experiences. 

I said yes without hesitation. I'd just come out of hell and I was going to do whatever it takes to spare other people from the pain, even if it means talking openly about my personal struggles. 

Ming and I spoke so long and so much that she told me she would be writing TWO not one articles from it! OMG!

A few days later, I started getting cold feet. I started wondering ... could I be anonymous? How would she write it? What would people think of me?

I wanted to call her but before I could take action, Ming texted me. "Your articles will be out next week."

So soon?!

I immediately rang her up.  Ming was very kind, telling me that she had done her best to leave out the parts that were sensitive, and from what she described to me in detail, without showing me the actual text of course, I felt reassured that she would do a good job.

The first of the two articles were published yesterday, "How mental health and friends affect each other". It was well written with compassion and clear intention to spread awareness without sensationalising. 

This article is only available online (link in bio), so I decided to get creative. We're living in the age of new media, so why not convert it into an IG carousel using @canva? 

The main article will be published today and focusses on my mental health toolkit. It will be in the print version as well. Can't wait to get a copy!!!

#mentalhealth @thestaronline #mentalhealthawareness #friendship #kindness #empathy #mentalhealthadvocate
Not often does one get to meet the original person Not often does one get to meet the original person who inspired them to pursue their passion but  today I did.... I met @andrewmatthews.author in the flesh!!! 

For some reason I cannot fathom and which I can only thank the divine powers for, Andrew is in Penang to launch his new book, Bouncing Back. And it was held just minutes away from my home, so come hail or high water, I made sure I was there.

He blew my expectations out of the water. His "speech" involved him giving a life affirming motivational talk WHILE drawing his iconic cartoons on the fly on the easel to illustrate his points. Holy moly. Everybody's jaw was on the floor.

The crowd was rapturous, as was I, except maybe I had one extra reason to be over the moon.

You see, years ago, I read Folllow Your Heart and was utterly charmed by his storytelling style. They had humour, so much heart and they were real stories of real people who overcame adversity and great obstacles to bounce back. Healing stories.

Looking back, I can see now that those are the same qualities that I unconsciously weave into my stories esp for my Star column. 

So - despite feeling damn thick skinned, I just had to give him a copy of my own book, Made in Malaysa: Hometown Heroes and Hidden Gems - the book he inspired. 

Thank you Andrew for making time to be here and a huge round of appreciation to @psdcpenang for organising this event. You have no wonder how much this event meant to me!

#andrewmatthews #bouncingback #meetandgreet #psdcpenang
Aaargh, again breaking my rule of not reviewing a Aaargh, again breaking my rule of not reviewing a place after just one visit because...

Just look at this place, only open since May, in a quieter section of the Kong Heng neighbourhood.

The wooden charm!

The gorgeous greenery! 

All the French vibes!

And the most exquisite chocolate lava cake hubs and I have eaten in our lives, it's good it makes me want to cry.

The food took a while to arrive and we can understand why.

The pastry was baked to perfection and the lava, utterly decadent and made from very high quality chocolate.

J'adore 😍😍😍

@cestsibonipoh 

#ipohcafe #ipohcafehopping #ipohdessert #chocolatelavacake #ipoholdtown #cestsibon #dessertipoh
This. Makes so feel so tickled and tearful and jo This.

Makes so feel so tickled and tearful and joyful at the same time.

I walked out of the room with my mat to see Dad doing his exercise. A wave of emotion came over me, relief and joy that he continues including movement in his life despite his long struggle with osteoarthritis ( and pls don't give tips here tq as its been a LONGGGG saga).

Then I became aware of more memories.

The tshirt was given by a loved one just before my meltdown in KL in April. He's been a rock for me al these months, from photo bombing me with cute photos of his family outings, to bringing me my favourite (and bloody expensive) brownies all the way to Penang from KL on a work trip.

The Pilates mat is one of three we own. Yes, three. When I realised how important Pilates had become to my wellbeing, I wanted to have a spare in Ipoh house so I can be active here too.

As I followed my coach's @refine.me.nt moves on my little phone, I thought, hey this is a precious moment.

So I paused the video, ran into the room and called  out hubby. "Dear, please come out and video me and my dad. Quick."
Journalling. "Just pour all your emotions and tho Journalling.

"Just pour all your emotions and thoughts into your journal. Don't filter them. Whatever negative thoughts you have, just pour it out and release them on paper."

Although every doctor, therapist and professional online and in real life that I met recommended this, it didn't work for me. 

I tried it for a week or so and realised it wasn't working.

Something to do with the fact that I'm a writer, maybe, and I already tend to overanalyse and overthink? 

In fact, by recapping what happened, I ended up reliving my trauma and felt even worse.

Then, I had an idea. I could still journal - but in a different way.

I recorded lessons from every day and experience. 

.. and it worked!

Every individual is different, so there is no one-solution-fits-all. 

You have to experiment and find out what works for YOU. 

Good luck, and positive vibes to you today. 

#mentalhealth #wellbeing #journalling #mentalwellbeing
Any talk about Nasi Melayu in Penang will surely b Any talk about Nasi Melayu in Penang will surely be incomplete without mentioning this institution in Tmn Tun Sardon called Restaurant Minah.

When I first came here over 20 years ago as a student, it looked very different. Very simple furniture. No air con (ok still no aircon). What I remember most of course was the delicious and huge variety of food, from all kinds of masak lemak dishes (my weakness) to their legendary kerabu.

When we came back here again last year after moving back to Penang, I had to do a double take. Wah! Look at all those plants and greenery! The lacquered hardwood (and expensive) furniture. The decor can rival any hipster cafe in Georgetown, wei!

Most importantly, the food is as good as I remember it. I discovered they do a killer lamb shank (only available on certain days, don't ask me which one just gotta try your luck) and a slew of other delicious items such as a tiny long skinny fried salted fish.

Today, we were served by a young man who happened to be the cicit (great-grandson) of the original founder. Minah Restaurant was set up in 1957, holy moly! I didn't know that it's the grand daddy of all nasi campur and probably one of the original ones still standing tall.

Wish I had a bit more time to talk to the young man but the crowds are ever streaming in.

Keep going strong, Minah. May you prosper into your 5th, 6th, 7th generation and onwards!

#RestoranMinah #MinahRestaurant #Penangfood #foodreels #Penangfood #Penanginstitution #nasimelayu #curries #kerabu #masaklemak #ulam #nasicampur #heritagefood #Penangheritage #eatwithipohbunny #igers #Malaysianfoodbloggers
Load More… Follow on Instagram

Latest recipes

  • Pad Kra Pow
  • Hyderabad Mutton Masala
  • 10 cool Ipoh cafes that opened in the last 6 months
  • Nyonya & Hainanese Comfort Food at D North Star, Ipoh
  • Home-style Nyonya Cooking at Jason Nyonya House, Penang
  • Falafel (No Deep-Frying Involved)
  • Pistachio Pesto Pasta
  • Nyonya Heritage Food at KUEH by Bibik’s Kitchen, Penang
  • Beef Noodles at Kuan Soo Noodle Stall, ICC Pudu
  • Mum’s Fried Beehoon

Categories

Tags

Asian cookingbakerbananasbest Ipoh cafesbreadbreakfastbreakfast ideasbuild your own websiteburgercakecasserolecheat recipechef storieschickenChinese cookingcooking classeggsF & B entrepreneurfishfood artfried beehoonfried chickenfried ricefruitfusiongranolaICC PuduIpoh cafesIpoh foodJapanese cuisine
  • Pad Kra Pow Recipes
  • Nyonya Heritage Food at KUEH by Bibik’s Kitchen, Penang Food review
  • Hyderabad Mutton Masala Beef & Lamb
  • 10 cool Ipoh cafes that opened in the last 6 months Food review
  • Home-style Nyonya Cooking at Jason Nyonya House, Penang Food review
  • Nyonya & Hainanese Comfort Food at D North Star, Ipoh Food review
  • Falafel (No Deep-Frying Involved) Middle Eastern
  • Braised Fuchuk Fish Head Chinese
  • Gulai Labu (Pumpkin Curry) Malay
  • Pistachio Pesto Pasta Noodles & Pasta
  • Stir-fried Cabbage with Miso Chinese
  • Parmesan-Crusted French Toast Breakfast & Brunch
  • Mum’s Fried Beehoon Noodles & Pasta
  • Lead
    Claypot Chicken Rice Chinese
  • Beef Noodles at Kuan Soo Noodle Stall, ICC Pudu Chinese

Most Viewed Posts

  • Braised Yee Mee (49,671)
  • Sang Har Meen (13,609)
  • Pengat Pisang (11,418)
  • Claypot Chicken Rice (11,165)
  • Braised Fuchuk Fish Head (9,161)

Copyright © 2023 Cook with Ipohbunny.

Powered by PressBook News WordPress theme