Vegetarian Pate / Faux Gras (Pate Chay)

This delicious Vegetarian Pate (Pate Chay) recipe has all the flavors and texture of pate but is completely meat-free. Made of roasted Portobello mushrooms, assorted beans and tofu, this Vegetarian Pate or Faux Gras is full of savory flavor and meaty texture. The recipe is really straightforward and easy to adjust depending on your preference for a softer, creamier pate or grainier, more meat-like texture. Enjoy scrumptious vegan foie gras with crusty French bread, spread on crackers, as a dip with chips or in a Vietnamese sandwich with this easy Vegetarian Pate recipe.

Vegetarian Pate / Faux Gras / Vegan Pate / Pate Chay - served with slices of crusty French bread | recipe from runawayrice.com
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Notes on the Vegetarian Pate / Faux Gras (Pate Chay) Recipe, Tips and Tricks

I use fully cooked, canned garbanzo and white beans in this recipe. The canned beans are a great shortcut. You can certainly boil the beans if you have the time. Use any type of bean or lentil you like, such as black, navy or soy beans. I don’t recommend using kidney beans because the skin is a thicker and a bit fibrous.

Avoid adding excess liquid to this recipe which will make the pate soft. Drain the mushrooms and beans well after washing. Also if there is some liquid from roasting the mushrooms, do not add to the mixture.

For a denser pate with a meatloaf-like texture, add 2 Tbsp almond flour during processing.

The recipe yields about 4 cups pate. Use 4 (8 oz) ramekins or a loaf pan to bake or steam the Vegetarian Pate.

Add the clarified butter layer by melting 1 Tbsp salted butter per ramekin. Pour on top of the pate (after cooking) and chill until firm.

The Vegetarian Pate is best served chilled or at room temperature. Store any remaining portions in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Vegetarian Pate / Faux Gras / Vegan Pate / Pate Chay - served with assorted crackers | recipe from runawayrice.com

Watch the video for instructions.

 

If you enjoy this Vegetarian Pate / Faux Gras (Pate Chay) recipe, you may also like:

 

Vegetarian Pate / Faux Gras / Vegan Foie Gras / Pate Chay

Vegetarian Pate / Faux Gras / Vegan Pate / Pate Chay - Easy Recipe: Bake or steam in ramekins | recipe from runawayrice.com

Ingredients

1 lb baby Portobello mushrooms
1/2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1/8 tsp salt and ground black pepper
1 Tbsp chopped shallots
4 sprigs thyme, washed
8 oz medium firm tofu
1/2 cup canned garbanzo beans
1/2 cup canned white beans
1/3 cup bread crumbs
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp vegetable oil for oiling the ramekins

Directions

Preparing the Pate

Preheat the oven to 400 F (204 C).

Transfer the Portobello mushrooms into a large colander. Gently rinse with cold water and drain well. Cut the mushrooms into chunks or simply quarter each one.

Transfer the mushrooms into a large baking pan. Spread everything out, making an even layer. Drizzle with vegetable oil. Sprinkle with 1/8 tsp salt and ground black pepper and the chopped shallots.

Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes.

Remove the leaves from the fresh thyme.

Cut the tofu into small cubes.

Transfer the garbanzo beans and white beans into a small colander. Wash off the canning liquid by rinsing with cold water. Toss the beans in the colander a few times to remove the excess water.

In a large food processor, add the beans, tofu cubes, roasted mushrooms, bread crumbs, thyme leaves, soy sauce, 1/4 tsp ground black pepper and 1/2 tsp salt.

Process for 30 seconds. Stir the mixture. Process for another 30 seconds. Repeat this cycle again for pate with medium texture. The total processing time is 2 minutes.

For pate with silkier more mousse-like texture, process at intervals for a total of 3 minutes or more.

Brush vegetable oil into 4 (8 oz) ramekins, coating the inside completely. Spoon the pate into the ramekins filling each about 3/4 full. Use a spoon or spatula to smooth out the top.

Baking Method

Transfer the ramekins into a medium baking pan. Cover the ramekins with foil.

Bake at 400 F (204 C) for 20 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes.

Steaming Method

Fill a steamer basin 2/3 full with water and bring to a rapid boil.

Steam over Medium High heat for 20 minutes.

Remove from the steamer and let cool for 10 minutes.

After Cooling

Cover the ramekins with plastic wrap and place into the refrigerator. Chill for at least 2 hours.

Serving the Pate

For casual serving, garnish the Vegetarian Pate with thyme and serve from the ramekins.

For fancier serving, unmold the Vegetarian pate onto a plate. Smooth out the pate using a butter knife. Garnish with more thyme.

Spread the Vegetarian Pate on French bread or crackers. Enjoy as a vegetarian dip with chips. Make into an awesome vegetarian sandwich by adding fresh cucumbers, carrot and radish pickles, jalapenos, and cilantro in a crusty roll.

Store any remaining portions in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Yields: 8 servings

 

Vegetarian Pate Sandwich / Banh Mi Pate Chay - delicious vegetarian pate enjoyed with fresh cucumbers, jalapenos, carrot and radish pickles and cilantro on a crusty baguette roll | recipe from runawayrice.com

Vegan Pate / Vegetarian Pate / Faux Gras / Pate Chay - served as a dip for tortilla chips | recipe from runawayrice.com

 
Vegetarian Pate / Faux Gras / Vegan Pate / Pate Chay - delicious meat-free pate served with crusty French bread | recipe from runawayrice.com
Print

Vegetarian Pate / Faux Gras / Vegan Foie Gras / Pate Chay

Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: Asian, French, Vietnamese
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 80 kcal
Author: Trang

This delicious Vegetarian Pate recipe has all the flavors and texture of pate but is completely meat-free. Made of roasted Portobello mushrooms, assorted beans and tofu, this Vegetarian Pate or Faux Gras is full of savory flavor and meaty texture. The recipe is really straightforward and easy to adjust depending on your preference for a softer, creamier pate or grainier, more meat-like texture. Enjoy scrumptious vegan foie gras with crusty French bread, spread on crackers, as a dip with chips or in a Vietnamese sandwich with this easy Vegetarian Pate recipe.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb baby Portobello mushrooms
  • 1/2 Tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1/8 tsp salt and ground black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp chopped shallots
  • 4 sprigs thyme , washed
  • 8 oz medium firm tofu
  • 1/2 cup canned garbanzo beans
  • 1/2 cup canned white beans
  • 1/3 cup bread crumbs
  • 1 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp vegetable oil , for oiling the ramekins

Instructions

Preparing the Pate

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 F (204 C).
  2. Transfer the Portobello mushrooms into a large colander. Gently rinse with cold water and drain well. Cut the mushrooms into chunks or simply quarter each one.
  3. Transfer the mushrooms into a large baking pan. Spread everything out, making an even layer. Drizzle with vegetable oil. Sprinkle with 1/8 tsp salt and ground black pepper and the chopped shallots.
  4. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes.
  5. Remove the leaves from the fresh thyme.
  6. Cut the tofu into small cubes.
  7. Transfer the garbanzo beans and white beans into a small colander. Wash off the canning liquid by rinsing with cold water. Toss the beans in the colander a few times to remove the excess water.
  8. In a large food processor, add the beans, tofu cubes, roasted mushrooms, bread crumbs, thyme leaves, soy sauce, 1/4 tsp ground black pepper and 1/2 tsp salt.
  9. Process for 30 seconds. Stir the mixture. Process for another 30 seconds. Repeat this cycle again for pate with medium texture. The total processing time is 2 minutes.
  10. For pate with silkier more mousse-like texture, process at intervals for a total of 3 minutes or more.
  11. Brush vegetable oil into 4 (8 oz) ramekins, coating the inside completely. Spoon the pate into the ramekins filling each about 3/4 full. Use a spoon or spatula to smooth out the top.

Baking Method

  1. Transfer the ramekins into a medium baking pan. Cover the ramekins with foil.
  2. Bake at 400 F (204 C) for 20 minutes.

  3. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes.

Steaming Method

  1. Fill a steamer basin 2/3 full with water and bring to a rapid boil.
  2. Steam over Medium High heat for 20 minutes.
  3. Remove from the steamer and let cool for 10 minutes.

After Cooling

  1. Cover the ramekins with plastic wrap and place into the refrigerator. Chill for at least 2 hours.

Serving the Pate

  1. For casual serving, garnish the Vegetarian Pate with thyme and serve from the ramekins.
  2. For fancier serving, unmold the Vegetarian pate onto a plate. Smooth out the pate using a butter knife. Garnish with more thyme.
  3. Spread the Vegetarian Pate on French bread or crackers. Enjoy as a vegetarian dip with chips. Make into an awesome vegetarian sandwich by adding fresh cucumbers, carrot and radish pickles, jalapenos, and cilantro in a crusty roll.
  4. Store any remaining portions in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Recipe Video

Notes, Tips & Tricks

  • I use fully cooked, canned garbanzo and white beans in this recipe. The canned beans are a great shortcut. You can certainly boil the beans if you have the time. Use any type of bean or lentil you like, such as black, navy or soy beans. I don't recommend using kidney beans because the skin is a thicker and a bit fibrous.
  • Avoid adding excess liquid to this recipe which will make the pate soft. Drain the mushrooms and beans well after washing. Also if there is some liquid from roasting the mushrooms, do not add to the mixture.
  • For a denser pate with a meatloaf-like texture, add 2 Tbsp almond flour during processing.
  • The recipe yields about 4 cups pate. Use 4 (8 oz) ramekins or a loaf pan to bake or steam the pate.
  • Add the clarified butter layer by melting 1 Tbsp salted butter per ramekin. Pour on top of the pate (after cooking) and chill until firm.
  • The Vegetarian Pate is best served chilled or at room temperature. Store any remaining portions in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Facts
Vegetarian Pate / Faux Gras / Vegan Foie Gras / Pate Chay
Amount Per Serving
Calories 80 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 384mg17%
Potassium 340mg10%
Carbohydrates 10g3%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 25IU1%
Vitamin C 0.8mg1%
Calcium 33mg3%
Iron 1.3mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

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9 Responses to Vegetarian Pate / Faux Gras (Pate Chay)

  1. Tammi June 23, 2020 at 7:03 pm #

    Hi

    Thanks for this recipe. I’m going to make it this weekend. Could you please advise if I should use the same amount if I substitute breadcrumbs with corn starch? Thanks!

  2. Luu Tran September 11, 2019 at 10:57 am #

    I have one comment: 384mg of Sodium is a little bit high. Can it be made with a lower level of sodium, say, just about 100mg to 150mg. It’s preferable for a person with high blood pressure.
    And one question: where/how to buy it for a trial?
    Thank you.
    -Uncle Luu-

    • Trang September 13, 2019 at 9:34 pm #

      Hi Uncle Luu,
      Yes, you can control the sodium by reducing the amount of soy sauce and salt or omitting them entirely. I don’t know of a place to buy this vegetarian pate so that’s why I make it. The best part of making at home is you can make it healthy and to your preference. Enjoy the recipe!

  3. Bao T. Vu December 5, 2018 at 8:00 pm #

    Hi Trang,
    I don’t have almond flour handy. What do you suggest me to use in its place to make the vegetarian pate firmer?
    Thank you.
    Bao

    • Trang December 6, 2018 at 2:59 pm #

      Hi Bao,
      You can use corn starch, all-purpose flour or more bread crumbs. Good Luck!

      • Bao T. Vu December 7, 2018 at 7:59 am #

        Hi Trang, Thank you for your reply. I think corn starch or all purpose flour would be better than bread crumbs. I try to imagine that bread crumbs would give less of a silky texture than the other 2 flour.

        • Trang December 7, 2018 at 5:33 pm #

          Hi Bao,
          I agree, it depends on the texture you like, corn starch would yield a creamy and smooth texture, all-purpose flour is a good thickener but often results in a noticeable flour aroma. Bread crumbs would be a good option if you wanted a more rustic and mealy texture. Enjoy! 🙂

  4. Stacey Hien January 30, 2018 at 3:17 pm #

    Hi Trang,
    As a fairly new vegetarian, I really miss goose liver pate and was so excited to see your recipe. This vegetarian pate is really delicious–great savory taste with a creamy texture. The banh mi pic made me drool so I had to make one! Really appreciate you sharing vegetarian recipes.

    • Trang January 31, 2018 at 4:43 pm #

      Hi Stacey Hien,
      I am thrilled you like the Vegetarian Pate. It’s not goose liver pate but still a very tasty meat-free option. Thanks for trying my recipe and sharing your results. 🙂

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