---
title: "What’s cooking today: Biltong pâté"
description: "Pâtés, or at least those that do not require any cooking, are among the easiest things to make. All you need are the ingredients, a blender and a decision: do you want it to be smooth or chunky?"
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "TGIFood"
author: "Tony Jackman"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/tony/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-08-13-whats-cooking-today-biltong-pate/"
published: "2021-08-13T15:02:43"
updated: "2021-10-13T16:38:03"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 243
---

# What’s cooking today: Biltong pâté

> Pâtés, or at least those that do not require any cooking, are among the easiest things to make. All you need are the ingredients, a blender and a decision: do you want it to be smooth or chunky?

By Tony Jackman · Published 13 August 2021, 17:02 SAST · Updated 13 October 2021, 18:38 SAST

## Content

Biltong makes a wonderful pâté. It has in-built flavours from its curing, which almost invariably includes coriander seeds. For a pâté, a squeeze of lemon juice adds a piquant lift and offsets the creaminess of the cream cheese, which in this recipe comprises two kinds, the more acidic, drier Italian mascarpone style, and a common-or-garden local version which is sweeter. I prefer a textured biltong pâté with some pleasing texture, but you can blitz it longer and finer if you prefer.

*This recipe accompanies [this column](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-08-13-biltong-you-beauty/).*

**Ingredients**

130 g soft, lean beef biltong, sliced thinly and then chopped roughly

230 g plain cream cheese

250 g mascarpone

Juice of half a lemon

Ground black pepper to taste

Salt to taste (optional, depending on how salty your biltong is)

**Method**

Blend all ingredients together in a food processor until you have the desired consistency. You can make it chunkier or smoother, as you like it. Smear on toast or serve with savoury crackers. You could also use it as the pâté layer on a [Beef Wellington](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-06-17-throwback-thursday-beef-wellington/), instead of the usual *pâté de foie gras* or chicken liver pâté.**DM/TGIFood**

*To enquire about Tony Jackman’s book, foodSTUFF (Human & Rousseau) please email him at**tony@dailymaverick.co.za*

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