Duck Liver Pate With Crostini Recipes

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.

CROSTINI OF CHICKEN LIVER PATE WITH BALSAMIC ONIONS

Steps:

• To make the onions: Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and add the onions. Season the onions with salt and bring the pan to a medium-high heat. Cover and sweat the onions for 15 to 20 minutes. Add the balsamic and cook for another 20 to 25 minutes or until the balsamic is syrupy. Use right away, or place in airtight jar and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• To make the chicken liver pate: Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and add the anchovies, capers and garlic. Bring to medium heat and saute until the anchovies have dissolved.
• Add the chicken livers, turn up the heat and saute for 3 to 5 minutes and cook until the livers are about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way done. Add the wine and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until the wine has reduced by half, the mix 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.
• Schmear each toast with the pate and top with balsamic onions.

DUCK RILLETTE WITH CROSTINI

Steps:

• Pull duck meat from the bones and shred. Discard skin and bones.
• Combine the pulled meat, and all of the remaining ingredients, except for the crostini, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook. Beat at medium speed for about 1 minute, or until everything is well mixed. Or use a food processor, taking care not to puree the mixture or let it turn into a paste. The texture should be like finely chopped meat.
• Serve rillette with crostini.
• If not using immediately, spoon rillette into ramekins and cover with reserved fat from the duck confit. Store in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Lay the leg portions on a platter, skin side down. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the kosher salt and the black pepper. Place the garlic cloves, bay leaves, and sprigs of thyme on each of 2 leg portions. Lay the remaining 2 leg portions, flesh to flesh, on top. Put the reserved fat from the ducks in the bottom of a glass or plastic container. Top with the sandwiched leg portions. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt. Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Remove the duck from the refrigerator. Remove the garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and duck fat and reserve. Rinse the duck with cool water, rubbing off some of the salt and pepper. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Put the reserved garlic, bay leaves, thyme, and duck fat in the bottom of an enameled cast iron pot. Sprinkle evenly with the peppercorns and table salt. Lay the duck on top, skin side down. Add the olive oil. Cover and bake for 12 to 14 hours, or until the meat pulls away from the bone.
• Remove the duck from the fat. Strain the fat and reserve. To store the duck confit, place the duck leg portions in a container, cover with the reserved cooking fat, and store in the refrigerator. Alternately, pick the meat from the bones and place it in a stoneware container. Cover the meat with a thin layer of some of the strained fat. The duck confit can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one month.
• The excess oil can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and used like butter for cooking. The tinge of duck taste in the oil is wonderful.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet and brush generously with olive oil on both sides. Sprinkle lightly with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Bake for 2 to 4 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. (Watch carefully while they are baking to make sure they don't burn.)

FRESH DUCK LIVER, SHALLOTS AND BRIOCHE

Steps:

• Heat the canola oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Season the duck livers with salt and pepper and add the livers to the hot oil. Saute over medium high heat to brown the liver well before adding the shallots to the pan. Saute the shallots until translucent. Add the honey to the pan, allowing it to melt and begin to bubble. Add the vinegar carefully so that the hot honey does not splash. Add the port and cook for 2 minutes before adding the veal stock. Allow the sauce to come to a boil, reduce to a simmer and braise the livers for 2 minutes while the sauce simmers.
• Toast the slices of brioche and wash and quarter the fresh figs. Serve the duck livers, along with sauce, over the brioche and garnish each plate with several slices of fig.

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.