This lovely pan-seared foie gras recipe is a little luxuriant. And not just in terms of it being made from rich foie gras. See, it calls for splashing some relatively pricey and perfectly sippable late-harvest wine into a pan and reducing it to a shimmery sauce. We gotta confess, this sauce makes an inspired complement to pan-seared foie gras on toasted brioche with mildly nutty mache and a tart Granny smith purée. We think you’ll go just as wobbly in the knees as we did when we first experienced this luxe little ensemble. Here’s how to make it.–David Leite

Wine Pairing Note

Chef Laurent Tourondel suggests you serve this pan-seared foie gras with a sweetish wine that boasts aromas of dried peaches and candied citrus, such as Seyval Late Harvest “Romance,” Clinton Vineyards out of Hudson Valley, New York.

A plate with a large piece of seared foie gras topped with watercress and apple puree on the side.

Pan Seared Foie Gras

4.73 / 11 votes
Pan-seared foie gras is an elegant appetizer made with foie gras, a grapefruit-Chardonnay sauce, and apple purée. Superb for when you feel like going fancy schmancy. And it’s easier than you think to make.
David Leite
CourseAppetizers
CuisineFrench
Servings6 servings
Calories500 kcal
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time45 minutes

Ingredients 

For the apple purée

  • 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 oz) unsalted butter
  • 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
  • 3/4 cup dry white wine
  • 3 tablespoons quince jelly or quince paste

For the pan-seared foie gras and wine sauce

  • Six (4-oz) pieces grade A foie gras, preferably Hudson Valley foie gras
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup fresh grapefruit juice
  • 1/2 cup late-harvest Chardonnay
  • Zest from 1/2 orange, preferably organic
  • 1/4 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary leaves
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons unsalted butter

For the assembly

  • Six (1/2-inch-thick) slices brioche
  • 1/2 cup mâche, (optional)

Instructions 

Make the apple purée

  • Melt the butter in a medium sauté pan over medium heat. When the butter begins to foam, add the apples, wine, and jelly. Cook, stirring frequently, until the apples are tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a blender and purée until smooth. Set aside at room temperature.

Cook the pan-seared foie gras and wine sauce

  • Place a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Using a paring a knife, gently score the foie gras slices with a diagonal pattern on 1 side. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place 3 slices in the pan and sear until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Reduce the heat slightly, turn the foie gras over, and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside to rest. Wipe the pan clean and repeat with the remaining 3 slices of foie gras.
  • Pour the excess pan drippings out of the pan, leaving just a thin film in the pan and reserving 3 tablespoons of drippings to add to the reduction. Deglaze the pan with the grapefruit juice over medium-high heat, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Simmer until the juice is reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add the Chardonnay, orange zest, rosemary, and the reserved pan drippings and simmer for 1 minute. Add the butter, remove from the heat, and whisk until well combined. Season the reduction to taste with salt and pepper.

Assemble and serve

  • Preheat the broiler.
  • Using a 3-inch round cookie cutter, cut the brioche into rounds and place them on a baking sheet. Toast the brioche rounds under the broiler until golden brown, about 1 minute per side.
  • Place the brioche toasts in the center of 6 serving plates. Lay the foie gras slices on top of the brioche. Spoon the apple purée around the foie gras, drizzle with the grapefruit reduction, and, if desired, scatter the mâche leaves over the top.

Notes

Where To Buy Foie Gras

Chef Laurent Tourondel, the mastermind behind this recipe, asserts that Hudson Valley Foie Gras provides some of the best foie gras in all the United States—and perhaps the world. Located in the lush Hudson Valley just a few hours north of Manhattan, the company specializes in Moulard duck livers.
Fresh From The Market

Adapted From

Fresh From The Market

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Nutrition

Serving: 1 portionCalories: 500 kcalCarbohydrates: 49 gProtein: 23 gFat: 20 gSaturated Fat: 11 gMonounsaturated Fat: 3 gTrans Fat: 1 gCholesterol: 662 mgSodium: 328 mgFiber: 2 gSugar: 19 g

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

Tried this recipe?Mention @leitesculinaria or tag #leitesculinaria!
Recipe © 2010 Laurent Tourondel. Photo © 2010 Quentin Bacon. All rights reserved.




About David Leite

I count myself lucky to have received three James Beard Awards for my writing as well as for Leite’s Culinaria. My work has also appeared in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and more.


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