Foie Gras Toasts With Greens And Verjus Port Glaze Food

PAN-SEARED FOIE GRAS WITH FIGS AND PORT WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Carefully pull apart the 2 lobes of the foie gras with your hands and remove the veins that are lodged between them. Using a sharp knife dipped in boiling water, cut each lobe into 1-inch medallions, approximately 6 (4-ounce) slices. Score the top of each medallion in a diamond pattern and season with salt and pepper. Sear the medallions in a hot, dry pan for 30 seconds per side, seasoned side down first. Remove to a warmed platter lined with paper towels to drain.
• Lower heat to medium and pour out a bit of the rendered duck fat. Fry the bread rounds until brown, about 2 minutes each side, set aside. Wipe out the pan and coat with olive oil. Brown the figs, cut side down, then add the shallots and tarragon. Cook for 2 minutes. Deglaze the pan with port, juice of 1/2 orange and balsamic vinegar, cook down, about 3 minutes. Finish off the sauce with butter, a pinch of sugar, orange zest, salt and pepper.
• Combine the endive, arugula and chives together in a small bowl. Toss with remaining orange juice, lemon juice and olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Arrange a handful of salad on each plate and lay the toast on top. Carefully place a foie gras medallion on each toast round. Top with figs, drizzle with port wine sauce. Garnish with chives and serve at once.

SOTTHA KHUNN'S ROASTED FOIE GRAS WITH FIGS AND GRAPES

Steps:

• Season the foie gras on both sides and place in a 1-gallon zip-lock bag. Add the port and the Cognac, seal the bag and marinate in the refrigerator for 4 hours, turning occasionally.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Heat a large, shallow ovenproof skillet in the oven for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, remove the foie gras from the bag, reserve the marinade and pat the liver dry with paper towels. Place the foie gras, smooth side down, in the hot pan and roast 10 minutes. Turn carefully and roast for 10 minutes more. Remove the foie gras to a warm plate. Cover.
• In the same pan, add the figs and roast 5 minutes. Add the grapes and roast another 5 minutes. Remove the fruit and drain.
• Discard the fat from the pan, add the marinade and heat over medium-high heat, stirring until the mixture boils. Lower the heat and simmer until the sauce is thick and syrupy, about 15 minutes. Add the duck stock and continue to simmer until the mixture is reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 25 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a small saucepan. Season with salt.
• To serve, add the fruit to the sauce and warm over medium heat. Slice the foie gras into 12 pieces. Arrange them on 6 plates and spoon the fruit sauce over the slices.

CLASSIC TERRINE OF FOIE GRAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200°F and line a small roasting pan with a folded kitchen towel or 6 layers of paper towels (this provides insulation so bottom of foie gras won't cook too quickly).
• Sprinkle each lobe and any loose pieces of foie gras on both sides with kosher salt and white pepper. Sprinkle one third of Sauternes in terrine and firmly press large lobe of foie gras, smooth side down, into bottom. (Wedge any loose pieces of foie gras into terrine to make lobe fit snugly.) Sprinkle with another third of Sauternes. Put smaller lobe of foie gras, smooth side up, into terrine and firmly press down to create a flat surface and snug fit. Sprinkle with remaining Sauternes. Cover surface of foie gras with plastic wrap, then cover terrine with lid or foil.
• Put terrine (with plastic wrap and lid) in roasting pan and fill roasting pan with enough hot water to reach halfway up side of terrine. Bake in middle of oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted diagonally into center of foie gras registers 120°F, 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or 160°F (for USDA standards), about 3 1/2 hours.
• Remove terrine from pan. Discard water and remove towel. Return terrine to roasting pan and remove lid. Put wrapped cardboard directly on surface of foie gras and set weight on cardboard (this will force fat to surface; don't worry if fat overflows). Let stand at room temperature 20 minutes.
• Remove weight and cardboard and spoon any fat that has dripped over side of terrine back onto top (fat will seal terrine). Chill, covered, until solid, at least 1 day.
• Unmold foie gras by running a hot knife around edge. Invert onto a plate and reinvert, fat side up, onto serving dish. Cut into slices with a heated sharp knife.

FOIE GRAS ON A BED OF PEARS

Steps:

• Srinkle salt and pepper on both sides of the foie gras and keep at room temperature.
• Melt the butter in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add pear slices and brown sugar. Caramelize, turning often. Place the caramelized pears on two warm plates.
• Sear the foie gras on each side over medium-high heat in the frying pan (cooking time is delicate as it can vary from 15 seconds to 1 minute per side, depending on the thickness of the foie gras).
• Place the foie gras on the pears.
• Deglaze the frying pan with the balsamic vinegar, then add the cider (or apple juice) and the rosemary. Let it reduce a little, then pour over the foie gras. Decorate with a sprig of fresh rosemary.
• Try serving with a little green salad, using any remaining sauce as the dressing.

FOIE GRAS TOASTS WITH GREENS AND VERJUS PORT GLAZE

Steps:

• Bring verjus, Port, and sugar to a boil in a 1-quart heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then boil until syrupy and reduced to about 1/3 cup, 8 to 12 minutes.
• Whisk together vinegar, salt, and pepper in a bowl, then add walnut oil in a slow stream, whisking.
• Just before serving, toss frisée, endives, and radicchio in a bowl with just enough vinaigrette to coat.
• Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 400°F.
• Toast bread slices on a baking sheet, turning over once, until pale golden, about 8 minutes. Cut foie gras terrine into 12 slices (about 1/4 inch thick) and put 1 on each toast (trim toasts to size of foie gras if desired). Sprinkle lightly with fleur de sel, then halve toasts diagonally. Let toasts stand, loosely covered with plastic wrap, 5 to 10 minutes, to bring foie gras to room temperature.
• Put 1 foie gras toast on each of 12 plates and drizzle with Port glaze, then divide salad among plates.