Pâté de Campagne — Country Pâté
Rustic, hearty, and deeply flavourful, country pâté is a celebration of humble ingredients elevated with care. A mix of pork, chicken livers, herbs, and spices, it’s pressed and chilled into a loaf, then sliced and shared. Its roots are French, but in Canada it became especially tied to Québec, where charcuterie and rustic cooking were woven into daily life. Served with mustard, pickles, or crusty bread, this pâté carries the spirit of gathering — simple food that feels celebratory.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours + overnight chilling
Serves: 10–12 slices
Ingredients
500 g pork shoulder, finely chopped or ground
250 g pork belly, finely chopped or ground
250 g chicken livers, cleaned and roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, finely diced
2 tbsp brandy or cognac
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped
1 tsp black pepper
1 ½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground nutmeg
2 eggs, lightly beaten
100 g pistachios, shelled
10–12 slices streaky bacon (to line the terrine tin)
Method
Prepare the tin: Line a terrine dish or loaf pan with overlapping bacon slices, leaving some overhanging to fold over the top later.
Make the filling: In a large bowl, combine pork shoulder, pork belly, and chicken livers. Add garlic, onion, brandy, herbs, pepper, salt, and nutmeg. Mix until sticky and well blended. Stir in eggs and pistachios.
Assemble: Spoon mixture into the bacon-lined tin, pressing to avoid air pockets. Fold bacon ends over to enclose. Cover with foil.
Bake in bain-marie: Place terrine dish into a roasting pan. Pour hot water halfway up the sides. Bake at 160 °C (325 °F) for 1½–2 hours, until the center reaches 70 °C (160 °F).
Press & chill: Remove, place a weight on top, and refrigerate overnight to compact and develop flavour.
Serve: Slice thickly and enjoy with mustard, pickles, and crusty bread.
Variations
Québécois Style – Add a splash of maple syrup or apple brandy (Calvados) for a distinctly Canadian note.
Cottage Version – Swap pistachios for toasted walnuts or hazelnuts — easy to source locally and just as delicious.
Festive Touch – Stud with dried cranberries for colour - perfect for holiday gatherings.