Ingredients for the Known Ground reconstruction
Ingredient amounts shown for 8 servings.
Known Ground reconstruction
- 1whole pheasant, boned except for the legs, skin intact
- 3 1/2 ozveal, finely ground
- 3 1/2 ozfresh pork fat, finely ground
- 3 1/2 ozgame-liver pâté or gratin forcemeat
- 1egg yolk
- 2 tbspbrandy
- 2 tbsptruffle juice or essence
- 4 ozraw foie gras, halved
- 1 ozfresh black truffle, quartered
- 8thin bacon slices
- 1 cupMadeira
- 1 cupgame stock
- 2 cupsprepared clear aspic
- kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
Known Ground reconstruction
Prepared game-liver pâté and aspic reduce the foundational work, but the foie-gras-and-truffle centre, reconstructed bird, Madeira cooking liquor, and cold jellied service remain. This version has not been personally tested by Known Ground. Cook the bird and any poultry forcemeat to 165°F (74°C) in its thickest portion.
Instructions
1. Mix the veal, pork fat, game-liver pâté, yolk, brandy, truffle juice, salt, and pepper. Spread it inside the boned pheasant, placing foie gras and quartered truffle through the centre; reconstruct and secure the bird.
2. Wrap the pheasant in bacon and set it in a snug covered Dutch oven with Madeira and stock. Cook at 325°F until the centre of the stuffing reaches 165°F (74°C), about 75 to 100 minutes.
3. Let the bird half-cool in its liquor. Remove the bacon and transfer the bird to a terrine just large enough to hold it. Strain the cooking liquor without aggressively removing its fat, combine with enough aspic to cover, and pour it over the pheasant.
4. Refrigerate for at least 24 hours. Remove the surface fat, wipe the terrine clean, and serve the cold pheasant in its jelly.
Historical formula
Method
Proceed as for “Terrine de Poularde à la gelée” (No. 1701), making due allowance, in the cooking, for the difference between the sizes of the two birds.
Source
A Guide to Modern Cookery — Recipe no. 1856.
Updated since publication
Last revised 8/21/2026. Evidence and limitations should be interpreted as described in the article.
Discussion
Comments are moderated before appearing here. Keep it useful, specific, and civil.
No approved comments yet. Be the first to add something useful.