A duck liver pate which pairs superbly with Christmas cranberry sauce
I recently had the opportunity to re-shoot and improve an old favourite duck liver pâté recipe for a Guest Post for Gressingham Duck, I was so pleased with the photos, as well as the recipe itself, it seemed a waste not to repost it for you all to enjoy. It seems I have a much better idea how to write a user friendly recipe and flavour properly with salt these days. Chef training must have worked.
I served this pâté on some chestnut & flax crackers and with a dollop of my special cranberry sauce at the high tea I catered for Wonder Woman Workshops last weekend. I was delighted that so many ladies claimed this to be their favourite savoury item! Ladies – now you can all make your own pâté!
With apple on toast
- 50g butter, ghee or coconut oil and a little extra for frying.
- tsp olive oil
- ½ onion diced
- 3 cloves sliced garlic
- Celtic salt
- 400g Gressingham duck liver
- Herbs – tsp fresh thyme, tsp dried rosemary, 1 bay leaf (use as much or as little as taste-buds desire or sub for 1 tsp dried mixed herbs)
- 1 tsp grainy or dijon mustard
- 2 Tbs organic raw apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp orange essence
- ¼ lemon, juiced
- Fresh black pepper or whole peppercorns
- Take a large frying pan and sauté the onion with a tsp of salt in a knob of butter and a tsp of olive oil (the oil stops the butter from burning), for 3- 5 minutes until translucent. Next add the garlic and fry for a further 30 seconds,
- Add the duck liver to the pan and sauté for 5 more minutes, until browned.
- Add in the herbs, mustard, vinegar, orange essence and lemon juice, deglazing the the pan with the juices a allow the vinegar to evaporate.
- Take the pan off the heat, remove the bay leaf and pour the mixture into a food processor, layering up with cubes of the butter. As the duck mixture is hot, it will melt the butter, so no need to melt it before hand.
- Pulse until the pâté reaches the desired consistency and there are no lumps of un-blended liver.
- Spoon into a ceramic container, and top with fresh cracked black pepper or whole peppercorns. Cover and chill in the fridge.
- Serve with gluten free toast, apple slices or vegetable crudités.
- Will keep in the fridge for a few days / freeze up to 1 month.
I’ll have to try this pate, bet it tastes great!
Go for it!! Thanks 🙂
Aghhhhh
How much butter?
Ah yeah, quite a lot. But it’s required for flavour and for the pate to set – you’re welcome 🙂
Can I use fresh orange rather than essence? Would I use the juice or the zest?
Also how long will it keep for in the fridge?
Thanks
Hey, it’s been a long while since I made this but yes, leave out the essence and use the zest of an orange instead, don’t use the juice (you can drink that separately!). Anything fresh will keep in the fridge for 3 days after making. If you don’t think you’ll eat it up, freeze in portions on day of making, although its best eaten fresh.