Duck Liver Pate Food

DUCK LIVER PâTé

Steps:

• 1. Place duck fat in a skillet, and cook over medium to high heat for 4 to 5 minutes, until the fat has melted and some of it has browned.
• 2. Add the shallots, and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring occasionally. Add the liver, herbes de Provence, and garlic, and cook over medium to high heat for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the salt and pepper.
• 3. Transfer the mixture to a blender, add the Cognac, and blend until liquefied. If a finer textured pâté is desired, push the mixture through the holes of a strainer with a spoon. This will yield 1/2 cup. Let cool for at least 1 1/2 hours, then cover and and refrigerate until serving time.
• 4. Spread the pâté on the toasted baguette slices, and serve. The pâté will keep, well covered, for 3 to 4 days.

DUCK LIVER PATé

Steps:

• Hard boil the egg. Cool, peel, and set aside.
• In a medium sauté pan melt 1 tbsp of butter. Add livers, season with salt and pepper, and sauté over medium heat to medium doneness (about 5-7 minutes), continuously basting the liver with the melted butter. When done, set aside to cool.
• Melt the other tbsp of butter and add shallot and apples and cook over medium heat til soft (about 10 minutes). Add capers and cook for 2 additional minutes then add brandy to pan to deglaze. Remove from heat.
• Add all ingredients (including the hard boiled egg and red wine vinegar) to a food processor or blender and run on high until silky smooth. Timing will depend on your machine. You may need to stop and scrape the sides of your food processor from time to time. Transfer to a serving dish and chill for 2 hours before serving. Serve with crackers or sliced baguette.

DUCK LIVER "TRUFFLES"

Steps:

• Place mousse in a bowl and drizzle port over the mousse. Mash with a fork until the mixture is workable and the port is incorporated. Work in the black pepper. Do not overwork. Refrigerate for 1/2 hour or until firm.
• Remove from refrigerator and divide evenly into 24 uniform "truffles." Using your hands, quickly roll the mousse into balls. When finished roll the truffles in the miniature croutons Transfer to a storage container and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Cut the bread into the tiniest possible cubes (1/16-inch or smaller). Place all ingredients in a bowl and toss. Transfer to a baking sheet and bake until uniformly golden. Cool and set aside to use as directed.

DUCK LIVER PATE WITH CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and add the anchovies, capers and smashed garlic. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until the anchovies have dissolved.
• Add the duck livers, then turn up the heat and saute until the livers are halfway to three-quarters of the way done, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the brandy and cook until the brandy has reduced by half, 3 to 4 minutes. (It should still be pretty soupy.)
• Transfer everything to a food processor and puree until smooth. Season with a little salt, if needed, and loosen with a little olive oil if needed.
• Brush the tops of the baguette slices with olive oil. Bake on a sheet tray until golden, about 6 minutes. Rub toasted baguette with a clove of garlic, then schmear each toast with the pate.

GERMAN GANSELEBER PATE (GOOSE OR CHICKEN, OR DUCK PATE)

Steps:

• Lightly sauté the livers in the butter so that they are still pink inside.
• Add herbs, sherry, brandy, honey, salt and pepper and simmer for 2 minutes.
• Finely puree the mixture, one cupful at a time, in a food processor or blender.
• Pack into an earthenware jar and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Serve cold on small pieces of toasted rye bread. Serves 6.
• German Traditional Cooking.

VELVETY DUCK LIVER PARFAIT

Steps:

• Cut away and discard any large sinews from the livers, then set the livers aside. Heat about a third of the butter in a large frying pan, then gently fry the shallots and garlic for 3-4 mins unti l soft. Turn up the heat, add the livers, then fry until just browned on all sides. Add the brandy and port, boil down as quickly as possible - if the sauce catches light for an instant, then all the better. Remove the pan from the heat and leave to cool completely.
• Season the livers generously, then tip the contents of the pan into a food processor with the tomato purée and remaining butter, and blitz until smooth. Push the mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl, taste for seasoning, then tip into a serving dish, banging the dish down on the tabletop to smooth out the surface. Place in the fridge to set.
• Once the mixture has set, make the topping. Gently melt the butter in a small pan or in a bowl in the microwave, then leave for a min to settle and separate. Pour the yellow butter that has risen to the top into another bowl and discard the milky liquid. Leave the yellow butter to cool slightly, then mix in the thyme and peppercorns. Pour the mixture over the parfait and leave to set in the fridge. Serve with plenty of toast, sliced gherkins and chutney. Will keep for 2 days in the fridge.