Venison, orange and fig terrine (forcemeat loaf)

serves
10
P18 Wild Venison, Orange & Fig Terrine
P18 Wild Venison, Orange & Fig Terrine
"While there's a lot of technique (that goes into this terrine), they're very simple, because we have access to such beautiful produce here."

Ingredients (19)

  • 200g chicken livers, cleaned
  • 100ml thickened cream
  • 2 tbs brandy
  • 500g venison shoulder, minced on a medium grind (ask your butcher to do this for you)
  • 600g pork belly, minced on a medium grind (ask your butcher to do this for you)
  • 300g pork back fat, minced on a medium grind (ask your butcher to do this for you)
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • 70g dried figs, quartered
  • 1/2 bunch thyme, leaves picked
  • Fig jam, to serve
  • Crusty bread, to serve
  • Cornichons, to serve
  • French mustard, to serve

Spice mix

  • 15 cloves
  • 10 juniper berries
  • 5 star anise
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns
  • 1 tsp allspice

Don't forget you can add these ingredients to your Woolworths shopping list.

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Method

  • 1.
    For the spice mix, preheat oven to 170°C.
  • 2.
    Combine all spices and place on a baking tray. Toast for 10 minutes or until fragrant, then cool completely. Whiz in a spice grinder or small food processor to a fine powder. Set aside. (Spice mix will keep in an airtight container for up to a month.)
  • 3.
    Place chicken livers, cream and brandy in a blender and whiz until smooth. Set aside. Combine minced venison, pork belly and back fat in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add 1 tbs spice mix, orange zest, dried figs, thyme and 2 tbs table salt.
  • 4.
    Mix on the lowest speed to just combine, then gradually add the liver mixture. Work the mixture until it becomes well combined and sticky – this should only take a minute. You don’t want to over-work it, as it’s nice to see the mosaic of mince in your finished terrine.
  • 5.
    Preheat oven to 110°C. Line a 28cm x 13cm (2L-capacity) terrine mould with plastic wrap, allowing enough overhang to cover the top of your terrine.
  • 6.
    Press terrine mixture into the prepared mould, making sure it reaches all corners and that there are no air bubbles. Smooth the top evenly to form the shape of a baked loaf of bread.
  • 7.
    Fold the plastic wrap over on all four sides to seal the terrine, then tightly fit a sheet of foil over the top. This will help it keep a nice shape while cooking.
  • 8.
    Place terrine in a deep roasting tray filled with enough water to come one-third of the way up the terrine mould. Transfer to oven and bake for 1 hour-1 hour 30 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 63°C on a thermometer.
  • 9.
    Carefully remove terrine from the water bath and cool for 30 minutes before chilling in the refrigerator for 12 hours or overnight.
  • 10.
    The next day, remove terrine from the mould and serve with fig jam, crusty bread, cornichons and very good French mustard alongside.
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Recipe Notes

Start this recipe a day ahead. You will need a terrine mould and a kitchen thermometer.

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