Foie-Gras ‘Burger’ with Candied Kumquats & Frisee with Pistachio Vinaigrette
A foie-gras burger!? What was i thinking? I feel the urge to apologize but really… it was the duck’s fault! A lonely slice of fresh duck foie gras was leftover from a dinner party and i had a little too much time on my hands and i was hungry.. and… and it just happened for chrissake!
This post is more a tutorial on how to eat this little sucker than a recipe, it’s so simple anyway. Let’s start the festivities with a buttery and slightly sweet baby brioche toasted in clarified butter on the cut side, that’s our burger bun. A slice of foie gras is criss-crossed and seasoned with salt and a couple of grinds of black pepper and seared on both sides in a hot pan until it forms a crust. When the fire alarm goes off, it’s generally overcooked.
Our ‘burger’ is then ready to go onto the bun with a sprinkle of sel de guerande. I like cheese on my burgers but in this case the ‘cheese’ is some tangy and sweet candied kumquats to cut through the richness of the foie-gras. Everybody say: mmmmmm!
I know you’re about to ask for some ketchup to go with your burger, don’t you always do? Pomegranate molasses does the trick here, just a touch of this delicious middle eastern specialty with a tart-sweet flavor will bring any foie-gras dish to new heights. How high you asked?.. err.. shit, i’m not good at this..err.. (x+17)2=x2+2x+42.. umm.. Very high!
Did you eat your green vegetable today? I went for a frisee salad on the side but since we’re going over the top i dressed it up with a rich pistachio vinaigrette – a puree of pistachios with a touch of lemon and sherry vinegar and emulsified with pistachio oil and some whole pi-stachio nuts too just because it starts like pi-ckle. I didn’t use any notorious P.I.G on this one but the idea of grilling a thin piece of pancetta to turn this into a bacon-cheeseburger did cross my mind…
Tags: Foie-Gras
March 1st, 2009 at 7:55 am
O.M.G!
March 1st, 2009 at 7:59 am
Good thing were in a recession aye? Wow pancetta, that’s gilding the Lilly!
March 1st, 2009 at 9:51 am
We are yet again reminded why they keep you around. Aside from your talent and inventive cuisine, you’re always quite humorous.
March 1st, 2009 at 10:42 am
pretty good lookin’ burger there big fella’…I think my own liver swelled at the idea!
March 1st, 2009 at 11:05 am
Saying: Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
March 1st, 2009 at 1:13 pm
What a neat idea! I love the pistachio vinaigrette here.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I LOVE YOU. Seriously. Foie-Gras Burger??? OMG.
March 1st, 2009 at 2:41 pm
You’re insane. It’s a good kind of insanity, though.
March 1st, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Candied kumquats and foie-gras? Has the Nobel team contacted you yet?
Ahah, on peut pas te laisser seul dans la cuisine cinq minutes sans que tu fasses un chef d’oeuvre, c’est fatiguant à la fin!
March 1st, 2009 at 4:18 pm
An absolutely insane dish. Not sure if I like the sound of it or not, but well done on putting in so much effort!
March 1st, 2009 at 4:23 pm
It sounds and looks absolutely delicious. But, I would have to share with someone because it appears to be somewhat indulgent too, lol. Even the bun looks perfect.
March 1st, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Ooooooooooo… We still have a bunch of foie gras left from v-day. Will have to try this one out.
March 1st, 2009 at 8:04 pm
These posts are making me go crazy…I just want to eat everything you photograph!
March 1st, 2009 at 9:15 pm
yum! yum! looking great! can I come sit in your kitchen and be the official tastetester?
March 1st, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Mmmmmmmhhhh, pure bliss! Wait, I thought this one is banned too, no?
I love frisee, but definitely tempted to use that pistachios vinaigrette. Delicious Chef!
Cheers,
Elra
March 2nd, 2009 at 12:20 am
The candied kumquats cut the richness of the foie gras. And pistachio vinaigrette…I can’t wait to make this at home.
March 2nd, 2009 at 1:57 am
Are you even human?cuz your cooking seems out of this world.:P.
Seriously,I get this urge to eat and eat and eat and so ad infinitum ..just by visiting your blog.
March 2nd, 2009 at 8:44 am
Beautfully put together.
March 2nd, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Mmmm! I’s want more than just one ‘burger’ in this case I think!
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Wow, that has to be the best burger ever made! I was shocked to see it was Foie-Gras. Very creative!
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Holy crap! I’ll take one please! That looks awesome
March 2nd, 2009 at 6:22 pm
this is officially in the running for my “death row meal”… so just know that if i am ever on death row, you’ll be called up to make this for me.
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:42 am
Yummm….. must be delicious!
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:51 am
I regret to inform you that I must cuss as a result of this post (cover your ears, sensitive ones): Holy Fucking Shit. Fucking fuck shit. Fuck!
I’ll board a plane and steal you from that girlfriend of yours. I’ll do it.
March 3rd, 2009 at 1:28 am
Wow, this looks amazing! I’ve had foie gras with kumquat before, it’s a great flavor combination.
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:03 am
I heard from a little bird (though NOT a duck or goose, depending on where your foie gras came from…) that your birthday is today!
Happy Birthday Zen Chef!!!
March 3rd, 2009 at 5:00 am
YES OMG! OMG…… my favourite foie-gras
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Foie Gras burger!!!
Wow never thought about that,
And once again,
Zen man you made me very hungry here..
March 4th, 2009 at 2:23 am
You are not only adventurous when it comes to food but humorous too. You always put a smile on my face each time I read your post
))
March 4th, 2009 at 3:08 am
I want this on our first date
March 4th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
So how long to I have to keeping saying, “mmmmmm”?
March 4th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
I think you should be locked up for putting this idea in so many people’s heads. Did you like it? I hope you did.
March 5th, 2009 at 12:03 am
Wow. Talk about indulgent. I’ve been ignoring the recession too, food-wise. Live in Chicago most of the year, and I’m thrilled foie gras is legal again.
March 5th, 2009 at 2:57 am
Hi Zen! Love the santa hat from CO. you’ve been busy toooo!
Yummy I can smell the burger!
March 5th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Yet another fancy shmancy meal
Pistachio vinaigrette sounds very intriguing!
I don’t think I’ve ever had foie-gras in my entire life!
March 5th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Damn you. This looks delicious. You’re such a fancy pants chef.
I want this burger! I bet it tasted amazing.
March 5th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Zenman, your equation gives us a value of x equals the square root of negative 8! Aiaiai! Hee hee
You totally owe me one of these when I see you next (kidding! I know it’s surplus). Even table scraps turn to gold in your kitchen!
March 6th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
ohmygosh…that looks amazing!! now if only i had a certain salmon recipe…all would be well…and no one would have to be hurt…
March 6th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Hey Baby! I just wanted to say that
March 7th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Such decadent leftovers. Brilliant.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Putain que c’est décadent…
And I know you work hard, but MAN are you lucky.
March 9th, 2009 at 4:43 am
Have i ever seen anything as creative as this? you’re a genius, marry me please.
March 11th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
I wonder what Great Auntie would tink if I did this with her homemade foie-gras? Although, on second thought, considering she thinks all sandwiches are evil, I better not XD
March 18th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Can I blame you for this bump on my head? I just fainted dead to the floor. I cannot even imagine the taste and flavor here. I guess I will have to take advantage of the good airfares these days and pop on over to your pad to see what I am missing.
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:05 pm
mmmmmmm I can’t wait to try this recipe!