How to Use Foie Gras: Tips, Recipes, and More

In recent years, foie gras has risen to prominence in several types of elite cuisine, specifically at Michelin-star restaurants. But if this is your first time coming across the delicacy, you might be wondering just how you are supposed to use it.

We’ve had lots of experience cooking with foie gras in many types of recipes, and we are ready to share that knowledge with you. Read on to discover the best ways to use foie gras in items you can cook at home. 

What is Foie Gras?

Before we begin, let’s discuss a bit about foie gras. Foie gras is the liver of a duck or goose that has been fattened by overfeeding. While foie gras originated in France (hence the French name), it can now be found in many specialty food shops and recipes around the world. 

Foie gras is famous for its rich and savory flavor, which can be used as a spread for crackers or bread or added to a recipe. It also melts slightly when warmed, making it an excellent topping on steaks and roasts. 

8 Best Recipes to Use Foie Gras

If you aren’t too keen on eating foie gras as is, here are some recipes that can benefit from the additional flavor when adding foie gras.

1. Beef Wellington

Beef Wellington is a decadent pastry stuffed with an entire filet mignon tenderloin, prosciutto, and reduced mushrooms. The result is a decadent meal fit for a king. While it might not seem like you can upgrade this meal much more—we have found you can, by brushing foie gras on the filet prior to cooking. 

Simply brush the filet on all sides with foie gras prior to adding the mushrooms and wrapping in the prosciutto. You can also brush the prosciutto with foie gras before topping with mushrooms, but we find this makes the filet harder to wrap. Either way, the result will be delicious, just ensure you have a few hours to spare (4-5) before embarking on a Beef Wellington adventure! 

2. Filet Mignon Topping

Of course, a Beef Wellington takes hours of work, so if you are looking for a quicker (and smaller way) to use foie gras, you can use it as a steak topping. We recommend pairing it with a decadent filet mignon, though it will also taste delicious on any type of Wagyu steak.

3. In a Meat Pie

Meat pies have fallen a bit out of fashion, and we aren’t sure why because they are delicious—especially when you add foie gras into the mix. Whether you like beef, pork, or lamb, foie gras will take your meat pie to the next level.

If you don’t have the time or energy to cook your own meat pie, you can enjoy the same taste of meat combined with foie gras in a pie shell when you order Kolikof’s pork and duck tourtiere which just needs to be heated in the oven prior to consumption!

4. Foie Gras Terrine

Foie gras terrine is a decadent appetizer perfect for any upscale event. Made by combining foie gras with fig jam, vinegar, and sugar, this delicious paste can simply be spread on bread or crackers and served. 

5. With Duck Recipes

One of our favorite ways to serve foie gras is with duck recipes. Duck confit is the most famous recipe to make with foie gras, but this tasty fat can also just be seared and served as a topping for roast duck breast.

Duck isn’t as common in American cooking, so if you aren’t familiar with how to make it, consider ordering a meal kit instead. These meal kits come with everything you need to make the dish, as well as step-by-step instructions to ensure its success. Below are all the duck meal kits offered by Kolikof’s.

• Peking Duck Dinner Meal Kit
• Duck Confit and Caviar Dinner for 2
• Roasted Large Whole Duck

6. Foie Gras Burger

Yes, you read that right: foie gras can be eaten between two pieces of bread in burger form. We recommend searing the foie gras, then adding it to the bread with some grilled onions and balsamic vinegar to help break up the rich taste. You can also add a little olive oil and arugula if you please!

7. In Desserts

Foie gras is often used in desserts to make them more decadent while also making them more savory and less sweet. Some of the most common desserts to use foie gras in are crème brulee, peach melba, and tarts. 

For most of these recipes, the foie gras is used as a topping, though with tarts the foie gras is first made into a terrine then placed in small pastry shells. 

8. In Upscale Pastas

The last, and one of our favorite ways to use foie gras, is with pasta recipes. No matter what type of pasta you use or what meat and vegetables you add, foie gras goes great with everything!

Start by making your favorite pasta and draining it before adding the other ingredients (such as beef bits and mushrooms) in an empty pan. Then, toward the end of sautéing, add in the foie gras cubes giving them a quick sear before adding in the already cooked pasta. Add your favorite glaze or butter, allowing it to melt before serving. Just like that, you have pasta with foie gras!

Where Can You Buy Foie Gras?

Ready to dive into cooking with foie gras? Foie gras is usually available for purchase at specialty grocery stores and butchers. If you can find some at your favorite store, then head online to a premium butcher like Kolikof Caviar and Gourmet, which offers several of the decadent pantry items you need to make your next meal a success! 

Whether you want to make Beef Wellington, steak, or a duck meal kit, Kolikof’s has you covered, and all orders arrive at your door in just 2-3 days—that’s the Kolikof difference!