Duck Liver Pate Recipe - How to Make Liver Pate | Hank Shaw (2024)

Home | Wild Game | Ducks and Geese | Duck Liver Pate

4.75 from 12 votes

By Hank Shaw

January 11, 2021 | Updated June 06, 2022

Comment

Jump to Recipe

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

I need to start this post by stating that I am not normally a liver lover. As an avid duck and goose hunter, for decades I’d searched for a duck liver pâté recipe I really, honestly enjoyed. To no avail.

Until now. I’ve finally cracked the code, and I’ll walk you through how I learned to love liver… at least in pâté.

Duck Liver Pate Recipe - How to Make Liver Pate | Hank Shaw (2)

Keep in mind this recipe works for pretty much any liver. I normally use wild duck and goose livers, but chicken livers, farmed duck livers and even the livers from larger animals will work, to a point.

If you do use mammal livers, my advice is to brine them overnight in a ratio of 1/4 cup kosher salt to 1 quart water, and/or another night’s soak in milk. This will strip some of the smell from, say, a deer or pig’s liver.

Now if you are using wild duck livers for your pâté, some are better than others.

Duck Liver Pate Recipe - How to Make Liver Pate | Hank Shaw (3)

See these? See how tan they look, compared to a normal, burgundy colored liver? This is what you want. This is the equivalent of wild foie gras, and yes, wild foie gras is real. I’ve seen similar livers in turkeys, pheasants, quail and even pigeons and doves.

You can make duck liver pâté out of any duck’s liver that is safe to eat, however. If you make it with lean livers, the color of the finished pâté will be darker, and you might want to double the amount of cream.

(Another great option for bird livers is my easy seared liver recipe.)

Now I did just use the phrase “safe to eat,” and I did because in some places, they are not. Where I live, there is a health warning against eating the livers of diver and sea ducks in the San Joaquin Valley and San Francisco Bay; it’s a mercury and selenium thing. These health warnings are rare, however, so chances are you’ll be fine. But if you are a hunter, it’s worth a check with your state health department.

Anyone using farmed bird livers is in the clear.

So, you may be asking yourself, what is so different about this duck liver pâté from all the other ones? Why is Hank so keen on this one? In a word, butter.

Yep, this is not a low fat pâté. No good one is. It requires a stick of butter, which is 1/2 cup. You’ll also want some lovely, flavorful strong wine or brandy, but that’s about it. This is very simple, and easy to make.

Duck Liver Pate Recipe - How to Make Liver Pate | Hank Shaw (4)

Once made, pack your duck liver pâté in glass jars or ramekins and they’ll keep in the fridge for a couple weeks. If you want to keep them longer, melt some butter over the top of the pâté and let it set like a cap over the pate.

And yes, you can freeze pâté. Definitely do the butter cap, and then put a lid on the jar and freeze. It will keep a few months that way, maybe 3 or 5. After that things could go downhill. When you want to eat it, thaw slowly in the fridge for a day or two first.

4.75 from 12 votes

Duck Liver Pate

This is a simple, accessible liver pate for those who normally don't like livers. See the headnotes for options and substitutions.

Save RecipePin RecipePrint Recipe

Course: Appetizer, Condiment, Snack

Cuisine: French

Servings: 12

Author: Hank Shaw

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 stick butter, divided (1/2 cup)
  • 1 large shallot or small onion, minced
  • 1/2 pound duck livers (see above for other options)
  • Salt
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 3 tablespoons Marsala or brandy (or something similar)
  • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream

Instructions

  • Sweat the shallot in a pan over medium-low heat with 1 tablespoon of the butter. You want it soft, but not browned. Add the livers and cook, stirring often, just until browned on the outside, maybe 3 minutes.

  • Sprinkle salt and the flour over everything and toss to combine. It'll get a bit gunky, but that's OK. Cook this gently over medium-low heat for about 3 to 4 minutes, just to cook out the raw flour taste. Add the brandy or Marsala and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits.

  • Move all this into a blender, along with the white pepper. Let this cool for a minute or three, then pour in the heavy cream and start to puree the pate. Once it's going, drop the rest of the stick of butter in one tablespoon at a time, waiting for it to incorporate before adding the next one.

  • Pack the pate into jars or ramekins immediately, while the pate is still hot. You will want to chill it thoroughly before serving.

Notes

This recipe makes about 1 pint.

Nutrition

Calories: 123kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 96mg | Potassium: 54mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 7850IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @huntgathercook or tag #hankshaw!

Categorized as:
Appetizers and Snacks, Ducks and Geese, Featured, French, How-To (DIY stuff), Recipe, Wild Game

You May Also Like

French

French Garlic Chicken

Classic French 40 clove garlic chicken, made with pheasant. This recipe features thighs, and works with chicken, pheasant, rabbit or partridge.

American Recipes

Corned Beef Casserole

Corned beef or venison casserole is a great use for leftovers. Add noodles, cabbage, peas, cheese and breadcrumbs and it’s a winner.

Mexican

Chacales

Chacales are roasted, dried and cracked corn typically cooked in soups. Also called chichales or chuales, it makes a great meatless soup for Lent.

Italian

Alpine Bread Soup

If you are looking for a delicious, thing to do with stale bread, you could do a whole lot worse than make a batch of bread soup: It’s quick, easy and only uses a few ingredients.

About Hank Shaw

Hey there. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet’s largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.

Read More About Me

Duck Liver Pate Recipe - How to Make Liver Pate | Hank Shaw (2024)

FAQs

How do they make pâté? ›

Pâté is made by removing the veins, gristle and membrane. The liver is chopped and made into a paste combined with wine, salt, herbs, mushrooms and sometimes veal (which is the meat of a baby calf starved to death so that its meat turns white). This paste is pressed down to form a cake.

What do they do to ducks to make pâté? ›

To produce “foie gras” (the French term means “fatty liver”), workers ram pipes down the throats of male ducks twice each day, pumping up to 2.2 pounds of grain and fat into their stomachs, or geese three times a day, up to 4 pounds daily, in a process known as “gavage.” The force-feeding causes the birds' livers to ...

How long does duck liver pâté last in the fridge? ›

Once opened eat within 7 days. The rillettes are preserved in fat and can last much longer, use your judgement. Unopened the pate can be stored for about 2 weeks.

What's the best thing to put pâté on? ›

Pate served on toasted bread or baguette along with a large green salad makes a simple, but scrumptious lunch or small meal. Again, cornichons make a nice addition to the plate. For a special presentation, slice the cornichon lengthwise in four to six slices and fan them out, placing one on each piece of Pate.

What is the main ingredient in pâté? ›

Pâté is often made of pig meat and parts, but wild game like snipe, partridge, venison or wild boar can be cooked into a pâté, as can farm-raised duck, rabbit or pheasant. Even vegetables can be made into pâté. Lean meats might require the addition of some pork fat to keep the pâté from drying out in the oven.

How long does homemade pâté last? ›

Freshly made pâté lasts for about a week in the refrigerator and is best consumed within the first 3-4 days after making. Commercially packaged pâtés differ from manufacturer to manufacturer: their shelf life can last from as little as just 3 months up to 24, depending on the recipe and preservation method (ex.

What is the best bread for duck pate? ›

Toast and unless your paté is a “potted” version sealed under butter, that toast must be buttered. There is nothing that cannot be improved by the addition of butter. A grilled, properly spiky sourdough bread would be the ideal here, but any decent, thick-cut real white or granary bread will do.

Is duck liver pate good for you? ›

Foie gras, or fatty duck or goose liver, is a staple in French cuisine. It's typically served as a pâté with crackers or bread. It's high in fat and calories but also full of nutrients like vitamin B12, vitamin A, copper, and iron. It also contains mostly anti-inflammatory monounsaturated fat.

Is duck liver pate legal in the US? ›

Many European countries have outlawed the pâté as well due to the cruelty of its production. However, foie gras currently remains legal in America's other 49 states, and there is an ongoing debate about the California ban being unconstitutional.

How to tell if pâté has gone bad? ›

Examine its appearance - if you see any mold development or changes in color (grey or green instead of the usual pinkish/beige), it's likely spoiled. Likewise, a sour or off-putting smell is another strong indication your Pate is not safe to eat.

What cheese goes with pâté? ›

As the name suggests, hard cheese is firm and goes perfectly well with our creamy and decadent mousse pâtés. Often savory, hard cheese can be divided into two categories: hard (such as Parmesan), and semi-hard (such as Gouda). We suggest pairing the former with Black Peppercorn, and the latter with Chicken Liver.

How much pâté can I eat? ›

Liver is a very rich source of vitamin A. Do not eat liver or liver products, such as pâté, more than once a week. You should also be aware of how much vitamin A there is in any supplements you take.

What cheese goes best with duck pate? ›

- Smoked Pepper Jack complements our Duck Rillette with a very smooth flavor that's perfect with the pâtés rich duck meat. Serve with sweet fruit preserves to add some sweetness to the epic savory. - Smoked blue cheeses pack an incredible amount of flavor.

Why do you put butter on top of pâté? ›

I take the opportunity to add more booze, salt, and enjoy the tasting! “Seal the deal” with melted butter on the top of the pâté. It seals it up nicely for storing in the fridge, protecting the pâté itself from turning color and spoiling too quickly.

What is the most important meat in pâté? ›

Traditionally made with liver, and mixed with wine and spices until it's cooked down into a spreadable texture, pâté can also be created with liver or other parts of pork, venison, chicken, fish, duck and other game, and even created with veggies on occasion.

Is liverwurst the same as pâté? ›

While liver sausages are generally filled into casings, liver pâté is primarily filled into some sort of mould. As the name indicates, liver is commonly incorporated into these products while other types of pâté consist of meat and fat material only.

Does pâté always contain liver? ›

Is pâté always liver? No. Although pâté is traditionally made with liver, it can also be created with other parts of pork, venison, chicken, fish, duck and other game, and even created with vegetables on occasion.

What's the difference between meat paste and pâté? ›

Pate is French for paste. The most common types of pastes consist of offal, or meat (e.g., chicken, beef, rabbit, pork), but pate can also be made from vegetables and other ingredients; and 'all of the above'; with recipe variations too numerous to mention.

Is pâté considered processed meat? ›

Processed meat refers to any meat that has been preserved by smoking, curing, salting or using preservatives. This includes sausages, ham, bacon, salami, pate, and canned meat such as corned beef. It may also include other meats such as sliced luncheon meat made from white meat, such as chicken and turkey.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jeremiah Abshire

Last Updated:

Views: 6728

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jeremiah Abshire

Birthday: 1993-09-14

Address: Apt. 425 92748 Jannie Centers, Port Nikitaville, VT 82110

Phone: +8096210939894

Job: Lead Healthcare Manager

Hobby: Watching movies, Watching movies, Knapping, LARPing, Coffee roasting, Lacemaking, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Jeremiah Abshire, I am a outstanding, kind, clever, hilarious, curious, hilarious, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.