Chicken Liver Pate Jewish Style Recipes

JEWISH DELI-STYLE CHOPPED CHICKEN LIVERS

Steps:

• Prepare the Schmaltz as directed in the recipe. Rinse the livers and pat them dry with paper towels.
• In a large saute pan set over meidum heat, heat 2 tablespoons of the Schmaltz and saute the livers until browned, turning once, about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes per side. They should be just barely pink inside. Don't overcook them or they will be dry. Transfer the livers to a cutting board to cool.
• Using the same pan, heat another 2 tablespoons of the Schmaltz and add the onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer the cooked onions and livers to the bowl of a food processor. Add the eggs, salt, pepper, and remaining 2 tablespoons of Schmaltz. Pulse 6 to 8 times, until coarsely chopped. Do not puree. Taste for seasoning and chill at least 2 hours before serving.
• Serve with toast, crackers, or mazto and cornichons.

CHOPPED LIVER RECIPE

Steps:

• Place the chicken livers on paper towels to drain. Place the eggs in your food processor bowl.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large 12-inch skillet. Add the chopped onion and fry until golden, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook a few more seconds, just until no longer raw. Using a spatula, transfer the skillet contents, including any remaining oil, to the food processor.
• Add 2 more tablespoons of oil to the skillet. Add the chicken livers and cook them over medium heat (not higher or they could burst) until brown on the outside and barely pink on the inside, about 3 minutes per side. Overcooked livers are dry and grainy.*
• Again, use the spatula to transfer the skillet contents, including the livers, the oil, and any tasty bits left on the bottom of the skillet, to the food processor.
• Add the salt and pepper. Process briefly, about 30 seconds, stopping once to scrape the sides and bottom with a spatula. You don't want the chopped liver to be as smooth as a liver pate. It should have a bit more texture to it.
• Transfer the chopped liver to a serving dish. Cover and keep in the fridge for at least two hours, allowing the flavors to meld. Don't eat it when still warm! It won't be very good. It needs time to develop its deep flavor. Its flavor, as well as its texture, greatly improves after a rest in the fridge.

CLASSIC JEWISH CHOPPED CHICKEN LIVER RECIPE

Steps:

• If Using a Grill for the Livers: Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread the coals evenly over half of coal grate. Alternatively, set all the burners of a gas grill to high heat. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill, and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Proceed to step 3.
• If Using a Broiler for the Livers: Preheat broiler and move oven rack to highest position. Oil a slotted broiler pan, or a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet.
• Using a paring knife, clean livers well of any fat, green spots, or large veins. Season all over with kosher salt. If using a grill, grill livers over high heat, turning frequently, until they are very lightly charred in spots and only the last traces of pink remain in their centers. If using the broiler, arrange livers on the prepared broiler pan or wire rack and broil, turning frequently, until exteriors are well-browned and only the last traces of pink remain in the centers. (If you are unsure about whether the livers are done, cut them open to check.) Remove from oven or grill and set aside.
• Scrape minced liver and egg mixture into a mixing bowl. Scrape in cooked onion, along with all of the cooking fat. Add minced gribenes, if using. Stir until thoroughly combined, seasoning with salt and pepper as you go.
• Add as much extra schmaltz as needed, 1 tablespoon at a time, to reach desired consistency. Exactly how much this is will depend on several variables, including your personal preference, though we recommend that chopped liver be spreadable and moist, not dry and crumbly.

MIRJ'S HEART-ATTACK-ON-A-PLATE CHOPPED CHICKEN LIVER

Steps:

• Cook the livers until done in any way you prefer.
• I grill them under the broiler.
• Chop the onions medium-coarsely and fry in the oil until browned, but not burnt.
• You have to babysit the onions, constantly stirring, so they don't burn.
• This can take some time, pull up and chair with a good book, or do other things but keep an eye (and nose) out for the onions.
• With the steel knife, grind the livers in a food processor.
• Add the hard-boiled eggs and give it another whirl until they are incorporated with the liver.
• Add the onions and any extra oil from the bottom of the pot.
• Scrape every last bit of onion into the food processor bowl, this is where the major flavor comes from.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• You can also add any other spices that you like, but this detracts from the traditional flavor of Jewish chopped liver.
• Whirl everything around in the food processor until it reaches the consistency you want.
• Some people prefer it coarse, some like it very fine, almost pate-like.
• Scrape the chopped liver into a serving bowl and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
• Serve with crackers or challah.
• Try to avoid the temptation to just shovel it into your mouth with a spoon directly from the bowl.

CHOPPED CHICKEN LIVER PATE (APPETIZER)

Steps:

• In a skillet, place 2 tablespoons butter and 1 small thinly sliced onion and sautè until golden brown.
• Add the 6 tablespoons of schmaltz (chicken fat) and mix real well as you crumble the onion slices.
• This is called schmaltz with grieven. I also have a separate recipe posted on RecipeZaar for Schmaltz. See that recipe.
• You can use this right away; however, it is better to make this a couple of months ahead of time and place it in the freezer to cure.
• When ready to make the patè, in a skillet sautè the onions in the peanut oil over a medium flame until golden brown and add the schmaltz with grieven.
• Boil the 4 eggs until hard boiled.
• Add the chicken livers to the pan with the onions, schmaltz with grieven& garlic and cook 2 or 3 minutes until done.
• Add the cream sherry and cook an additional minute.
• Remove from pan and allow to cool.
• In a food processor, gently PULSE the livers and hard boiled eggs into a rough chop.
• DO NOT OVERMIX!
• Add salt, pepper and sugar and adjust as necessary.

CHICKEN LIVER PATE A LA JACQUES PEPIN

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine the chicken livers, onion, garlic, bay leaf, thyme and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
• Add the water and bring to a simmer; cover, reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the livers are barely pink inside, about 3 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.
• Discard the bay leaf.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer the livers, onion and garlic to a food processor; process until coarsely pureed.
• With the machine on, add the butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, until incorporated.
• Add the Cognac, season with salt and pepper and process until completely smooth.
• Scrape the pâté into 2 or 3 large ramekins; press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pâté and refrigerate until firm.
• Serve chilled.
• Enjoy!