Duck Pâté Recipe prepared by UpRooted host Sarah Sharratt and her local butcher Benoit Chevallier.

Benoit's Duck Pate

Recipe courtesy of Benoit Chevallier

Watch how to make this recipe.

Benoit's Duck Pate

Name: Benoit's Duck Pate
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H40M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT3H40M0.000S
Yield: One 12- to 13-inch terrine
Cuisine: french
Ingredients: 2 duck breasts; 2 duck legs; 10 ounces bacon; 10 ounces ground pork; 1 tablespoon cognac; 2 1/4 teaspoons fine salt; 1 teaspoon white pepper; 2 shallots, finely chopped; 1 egg; Handful flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped; Fatback, thinly sliced, or uncured bacon strips, for covering the base of the terrine; 2 bay leaves; 1 large piece caul fat (enough to cover the top of the terrine; see Cook's Note), optional; Serving suggestions: cornichons and crusty bread

Getting reviews...

This duck pate recipe comes direct from my French butcher, so don't be surprised if there are a couple of ingredients you are not accustomed to using--particularly the caul fat. I have yet to come across a non-French recipe that calls for this ingredient. I find the best pate is the one you make yourself. You control the quality of meat that goes into it as well as the ratio of meat to fat. It is worth stopping by a proper butcher shop to source the ingredients for this recipe.

Level: Intermediate

Total: 3 hr 40 min (includes cooling time)
Active: 40 min

Yield: One 12- to 13-inch terrine

Level: Intermediate

Total: 3 hr 40 min (includes cooling time)
Active: 40 min

Yield: One 12- to 13-inch terrine

Ingredients

2 duck breasts

2 duck legs

10 ounces bacon

10 ounces ground pork

1 tablespoon cognac

2 1/4 teaspoons fine salt

1 teaspoon white pepper

2 shallots, finely chopped

1 egg

Handful flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

Fatback, thinly sliced, or uncured bacon strips, for covering the base of the terrine

2 bay leaves

1 large piece caul fat (enough to cover the top of the terrine; see Cook's Note), optional

Serving suggestions: cornichons and crusty bread

Directions

Special equipment:

a 32 cm (12- to 13-inch) terrine mold

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Remove the meat from the duck breasts and legs (you should have about 20 ounces). Place the duck meat, bacon and ground pork in a food processor; process until all the meat is cut into small pieces. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the cognac, salt, pepper, shallots, egg and parsley to the bowl and mix until evenly combined.
Line the bottom of a 12- to 13-inch terrine mold with a layer of fatback. Fill the terrine with the meat mixture, lightly pressing down to ensure there are no air pockets. Place the bay leaves on top and cover with the caul fat if using, tucking the edges into the sides of the terrine.
Place the terrine in a large roasting pan and transfer to the oven. Carefully fill the roasting pan with water until it reaches halfway up the terrine. Bake, uncovered, for 2 hours.
Carefully remove the terrine from the water bath and cover with a lid or aluminum foil. Weight down the lid with weights or a foil-wrapped brick and let cool for about 1 hour. Remove the weights and lid and turn the pate out of the terrine. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
To serve, cut the pate into slices and serve with cornichons and crusty bread.

Cook’s Note

Caul fat is a thin membrane that surrounds the internal organs in some animals, such as cows, sheep and pigs. It is often used as a casing for sausages or roulades, or as a top layer for pates. It does not have much flavor, so its primary purpose is either to hold something together or to provide some fat/moisture as the food cooks. If you cannot find caul fat, you can make the terrine without it.

This recipe was provided by a chef, restaurant or culinary professional. It has not been tested for home use.

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