Duck Confit With Spicy Pickled Raisins

• 8 skin-on, bone-in duck legs
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more freshly cracked
• 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 9 sprigs thyme, divided
• 6 dried chiles de arbol, crushed, or 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes, divided
• 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons brown mustard seeds
• 1 sprig rosemary
• 1 1/2 cups golden raisins

1. Using the tip of a knife or the sharp tines of a carving fork, prick duck leg skin all over. Rub with garlic (slices should stick to skin) and season with 1 teaspoon ground pepper and 2 tablespoons salt.
2. Preheat oven to 250u0b0F. Arrange duck skin side down in a roasting pan or large Dutch oven and add 8 thyme sprigs, 4 chiles (or 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes), and 1/2 cup water. Cover pan with foil or lid and cook until fat is rendered (don't be surprised: there will be lots), about 2 hours. Turn duck skin side up and nestle it into rendered fat. Cover pan and continue to cook until meat is very tender and bones easily wiggle when pulled, 2-2 1/2 hours longer.
3. Meanwhile, bring vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds, rosemary sprig, remaining thyme sprig, 2 chiles (or 1/2 teaspoons red pepper flakes), 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Mix in raisins, remove from heat, and let cool at least 1 hour.
4. Increase oven temperature to 400u0b0F. Remove duck from fat and place, skin side up, on a rimmed baking sheet; reserve fat for another use (it will keep 3 weeks in refrigerator or 3 months in freezer; reheat and strain before using). Season duck with cracked pepper and roast until skin is brown and crisp, 30-35 minutes. Serve duck with pickled raisins.
5. DO AHEAD:

garlic, freshly ground black pepper, kosher salt, thyme, uerbol, white wine vinegar, sugar, brown mustard seeds, rosemary, golden raisins

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/duck-confit-with-spicy-pickled-raisins-51193810 (may not work)