Beer Bites: Duck Carnitas Nachos

• 1 dried New Mexico chile
• 3 pound duck legs, rinsed
• 2 pieces fresh orange peel, each about 3/4 inch wide and 2 inches long
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt
• 1 12-ounce bottle Vienna lager
• 1 pound thick corn tortilla chips
• 1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 1/2 pounds shredded Mexican-style four-cheese blend
• 2 jalapeno chilies, thinly sliced
• 4 green onions, white and green parts, thinly sliced
• 2 cups loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves
• 6 thinly sliced radishes
• Salsa, Mexican crema or sour cream and lime wedges for serving

1. Heat a small, heavy, dry skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add the chile and toast, turning occasionally, until puffy and deep brownish-red but not black, 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Stem and halve the chile, discard the seeds, and chop finely.
4. Set aside.
5. Nestle the duck legs in a heavy pot just large enough to fit them snugly in a single, slightly overlapping layer.
6. Add the toasted chile, orange peel, garlic, and salt.
7. Pour in the lager, then add enough water to barely cover (its okay if a few points protrude).
8. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then turn the heat to medium-low and partially cover the pot.
9. Simmer gently until the meat is tender enough to shred with a fork, about 1 1/2 hours.
10. Transfer the duck legs to a cutting board using tongs.
11. Discard the orange peels from the braising liquid.
12. Raise the heat to high and boil until the liquid is almost completely evaporated and about all thats left is the duck fat, about 10 minutes.
13. (First the bubbles will become large and foamy, and then the foam will begin to subside.)
14. Meanwhile, shred the meat into bite-size chunks and finely chop the skin.
15. Discard any excess fat and the bones.
16. Return the duck meat and skin to the pot and fry over medium heat until the meat is browned and crisp on the outside but still moist and tender inside, about 20 minutes.
17. Stir often, being sure to scrape the bottom of the pot.
18. Drain the meat in a colander (or lift it from the fat with a slotted spoon).
19. (The carnitas can be made up to 1 week in advance and stored in the refrigerator, covered in the fat.
20. When you are ready to assemble the nachos, reheat the meat in a small saucepan, and then drain off the fat.)
21. Preheat the oven to 350F/180C.
22. Spread about half of the tortilla chips in an even layer on a large rimmed baking sheet.
23. Top with about half each of the duck, the beans, and the cheese.
24. Repeat to create a second layer.
25. Scatter the jalapenos on top.
26. Bake the nachos until the cheese is melted and just beginning to brown in spots, 15 to 20 minutes.
27. Remove from the oven and top with the green onions, then the cilantro, and then the radishes.
28. Serve immediately with the salsa, crema, and lime wedges on the side.

mexico, duck legs, orange peel, garlic, kosher, vienna, corn tortilla chips, black beans, jalapeno chilies, green onions, cilantro, radishes, salsa

Taken from www.foodrepublic.com/recipes/beer-bites-duck-carnitas-nachos/ (may not work)