Lafitte Duck Pâté with Orange

The orange gives this pâté a cheerful change of direction. Duck meat and liver provide the savoury base, then candied orange brings a gentle fruit sweetness through the richness. Orange-peel extract adds another fragrant citrus layer, so the flavour has more to it than sweetness alone.

The recipe contains 2.5% candied orange, supported by onion, garlic and seasoned stock. The balance is delicate: the duck remains the reason for the mouthful, with orange giving the finish a little lift. If you enjoy fruit beside a pâté, this offers that relationship already worked into the recipe.

Serve it cool on plain toast to begin with. The dry crunch of the bread sets off the supple pâté, and the citrus keeps the savoury bite interesting. You can add something fresh or sharp alongside, but there is no need to bury it under another sweet preserve. Choose the 80g or 180g jar for your table and let that small orange accent do its work.

• Plain baguette first: Serve with lightly toasted TPK&B Classic Sourdough Baguette. Taste the pâté without another garnish so the duck and orange have room to meet. It is a particularly easy choice for an apéritif toast.
• Fennel and bitter leaves: Add finely sliced fennel and a few bitter salad leaves with a light vinaigrette. Their fresh crunch and slightly bitter edge make an appealing counterpoint to the candied citrus in the pâté.
• A bright white alongside: Pour a dry white wine with lively acidity and set out a small plate of radishes or cornichons. The sharper accompaniments refresh the palate without asking you to add more sweetness to the recipe.

Duck and orange have an easy familiarity in French cooking: rich meat welcomes the brightness and aroma of citrus. Here, that relationship takes the shape of a pâté rather than a roast with a sauce. Candied fruit and orange-peel extract bring the idea into a jar you can open for lunch.

It is a small shift with a practical charm. You get the pleasure of savoury duck and fragrant orange on a piece of toast, without having to build a separate fruit accompaniment. Keep the rest of the plate fresh and crisp, and the recipe has its own point of view. A familiar combination can feel rather new when it arrives at the table this way.

Store unopened jars at room temperature, away from heat. Serve cool. Follow the pack’s storage instructions after opening and its printed date.