GAME TERRINE
Ingredients
- selection of lean game meat
- about 1kg/2¼lb in all
- which could include:
- breasts of pheasant (hung about 5 days)
- breasts of pigeon
- breasts of duck or other wild fowl
- saddle and hindquarters of 1 rabbit
- boned
- saddle and hindquarters of hare
- boned
- lean strips of venison (from the leg or fillet)
- oil or fat
- for frying
- 500g/1lb2oz sausage meat
- livers from all the game
- finely chopped
- 2 handfuls fresh white breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp parsley
- finely chopped
- few sprigs of thyme
- leaves removed and chopped
- 5-6 juniper berries
- crushed in pestle and mortar
- 2 cloves garlic
- finely chopped
- splash of brandy
- splash of red wine
- salt and pepper
- 300g/10½oz streaky bacon
- flattened with the back of a knife
Directions
- In a large mixing bowl combine the sausage meat and the chopped livers from the game.
- Next add the breadcrumbs
- egg
- parsley
- thyme
- juniper berries and garlic. Then the wine and brandy
- season with the salt and pepper and mix everything together thoroughly
- preferably with your hands.
- Cut the game meat into roughly same-size strips
- about 2 fingers thick.
- In a heavy-based frying pan heat the fat or oil and fry the game pieces for 2 minutes until nicely browned.
- Line a loaf tin or ceramic terrine dish with the stretched rashers of streaky bacon. Add a layer of forcemeat followed by a layer of game meat
- then a layer of forcemeat followed by another layer of game meat. (If you like
- you can put the same kind of meat in each layer
- ie a layer of rabbit
- a layer of pigeon and then a layer of pheasant). However many layers you make (I usually go for three) be sure to finish with a layer of the forcemeat.
- Fold the exposed strips of bacon over the top of the terrine and cover well with kitchen foil. If your terrine dish has a lid on it so much the better.
- Place the terrine dish in a roasting tin half-filled with hot water. Cook in the oven at 160C/325F/Gas 3 for approximately 1½-2 hours. Test with a skewer to see if it is cooked
- if the skewer does not come out of the terrine piping hot then it is not ready.
- For the best possible texture and easy slicing
- your terrine should be pressed as it cools. Find a piece of wood or plastic that fits snugly inside the terrine dish and weigh it down with a brick or two. (Another similar size dish or loaf tin with a brick inside often does the trick
- but wrap it in cling film if you're using a tin.) Leave the terrine until completely cold for several hours or overnight.
- To serve the terrine
- slice it thickly with a very sharp knife
- put on a plate with a small salad of lightly dressed green leaves and a blob of good fruit chutney. Serve with hot toast.

