Country Duck Pate

Ingredients: (Serves 6)

For the duck marinade:

• ¼ cup ruby port
• 1 tablespoon cognac
• 1 fresh thyme sprig
• 1/8 teaspoon Four-Spice Mix (see Notes)
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon pink salt
• Pinch of ground juniper berries
• 11 ounces foie gras, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 10 ounces boneless skinless duck breast, cut into ¼-inch-thick slices

For the pork and veal marinade:

• 1 pound pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 pound veal neck, cut into 1-inch pieces
• ¾ cup dry white wine
• 2 small shallots, thinly sliced
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh curly parsley
• 1 tablespoon pink salt
• 1½ teaspoons cognac
• 1 teaspoon fresh leaves thyme
• ¾ teaspoon finely chopped garlic
• ¼ teaspoon Four-Spice Mix (see Notes)
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the chicken livers:

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 7 ounces chicken livers
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 small shallot, finely diced
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 2½ tablespoons cognac

For the pate:

• 1 large egg, beaten
• 5 tablespoons pistachios, toasted
• 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
• 1½ pounds thinly sliced bacon

Accompaniments:

• Toasted sliced country bread, cornichons, pickled onions, and Dijon mustard

Special equipment:

• Meat grinder
• 12 2/3 x 4-inch terrine mold

Directions:

To marinate the duck:
The day before proceeding with the recipe, stir the port, cognac, thyme, four-spice mix, black pepper, pink salt, and juniper berries in a large bowl. Add the foie gras and duck to the marinade and refrigerate for at least 12 hours.

To marinate the pork and veal:
Combine the pork, veal, wine, shallots, bay leaves, parsley, pink salt, cognac, thyme, garlic, four-spice mix, and pepper in a large bowl. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 3 hours.

To prepare the chicken livers:
While the meats are marinating, heat the olive oil in a small sauté pan over medium-high heat. Season the chicken livers with salt and pepper and then sear them in the hot oil. Add the shallot and thyme. Deglaze the pan with the cognac and simmer until the livers are medium-rare, about 2 minutes. Scrape the liver mixture onto a large plate and cool completely.
Stir the cooled chicken liver mixture into the marinated veal and pork. Remove the bay leaves. Using a meat grinder fitted with the largest die, grind the meat mixture. Place the ground meat mixture in a large bowl and mix in the beaten egg, pistachios, flour, and salt to taste; mix until well incorporated. Refrigerate until ready to use.

To bake the pate:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Stir the marinated duck and foie gras into the ground meat mixture.
Line the bottom and the sides of a 12 2/3 x 4-inch terrine mold with plastic wrap and then line the mold with the bacon slices, overlapping the edges of the bacon slightly and leaving a 3-inch overhang on the long sides. Gently spread the meat mixture over the bacon in the terrine. Using the plastic wrap, fold the overhanging bacon to cover the top completely. Then cover the terrine with a double layer of foil. Place the terrine in a large roasting pan and add enough hot water to the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the terrine. Bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the pate registers 150° to 160° F, about 1 hour. Remove the terrine from the water bath and let it cool completely on a rack. Refrigerate overnight.

To serve:
Leaving the pate in the terrine, cut it into six 1-inch-thick slices and arrange the slices on a serving platter. Serve with the toasted sliced country bread, cornichons, pickled onions, and Dijon mustard. Any leftover pate can be tightly wrapped and stored in the refrigerator for 1 week.

Notes:

Four-Spice Mix:
Four-spice mix, or quatre epices, is a European blend of spices that can be found at many specialty markets. If you would like to make your own, the recipe is: 1 teaspoon ground white pepper; ½ teaspoon ground cloves; ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon; ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg.