Chicken Liver PÂtÉ With Sage Apple And Thyme Recipes

CHICKEN LIVER PÂTÉ WITH SAGE, APPLE AND THYME

Steps:

• Trim the livers of any excess fat and tough connective tissue. Set aside in the refrigerator. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until edges are just beginning to brown. Add the shallots and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until shallots are soft and browning at the edges. Add the livers, apple, sage and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, until the livers are just barely pink inside when cut and the apple pieces are soft. Transfer the liver mixture to the bowl of a food processor. Pour the brandy into the skillet and bring to a boil over low heat, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Boil for about 1 minute to reduce slightly, then pour over the liver mixture. Add the salt. Process until mixture is very smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Transfer mixture to a bowl and mix thoroughly with the remaining 4 tablespoons of softened butter. Add pepper to taste. Pack into small jars or ramekins and smooth tops with a spatula or knife. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing wrap against the surface of pâté. For longer storage, pour enough clarified butter to cover the top of each ramekin and add a decorative herb sprig. Chill until butter is firm and cover with plastic wrap or a lid. For best flavor, refrigerate at least overnight before serving. Let soften at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving with crackers or baguette slices. Pâté will keep refrigerated for up to one week, or up to two weeks with the clarified butter seal. Additional Notes: • To give the livers a milder flavor, place in a bowl and cover with milk. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight, drain and proceed with recipe. • For a very smooth pâté, press the mixture through a medium sieve before mixing with the softened butter.

CHICKEN LIVER PATE WITH VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Clean the chicken livers carefully, cutting away any green or brown spots, then wash them quickly under cold running water and pat them dry with paper towels. Now cut them in half.
• In a large heavy frying pan, melt the first 3 T butter. Add the onions and cook over moderate heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions and soft and lightly colored.
• Mix in the chopped apple and cook 3 or 4 minutes longer. When soft enough to mash with a spoon, transfer to the bowl of a food processor.
• In the same pan, melt the second 3 T butter, this time over rather high heat. As the butter foam subsides, add the livers. Over high heat, turn them in the sputtering butter with a wooden spoon for about 3 or 4 minutes. When the livers are quite brown on the outside and still pink within.
• Now add the livers and all their juices to the onion-apple mixture. Moisten with 2 T cream and process. Add more cream if necessary. Process until very smooth.
• Cream the remaining 10 T of butter. When creamed, beat the cool liver paste, little by little into the butter. Stir in the teaspoon of lemon juice and the salt and pepper. Don't be sparing with the salt, since chilling deadens flavor, the pate will be surprisingly less salty than you thought.
• Pack the pate into small terrines or any attravtive quart-size container. Smooth the top witha spatula and pour over it enough clarified butter to cover it completely. This will not only prevent the pate from changing color as it chills, but will make an almost airtight covering that lessens the possibility of spoilage. (If you do not use the clarified butter, cover the crocks with plastic wrap.) Refrigerate at least 3 hours.
• May be frozen.

CHICKEN LIVER PATE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in garlic, onion and chicken livers. Reduce heat to low, and simmer approximately 10 minutes, until chicken livers are tender and no longer pink.
• Place chicken liver mixture in a blender with dry sherry, cream cheese, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl, cover and chill in the refrigerator approximately 2 hours before serving.

CHICKEN LIVER PATE WITH APPLE

Steps:

• Melt 4 tablespoons butter in large skillet over medium heat.
• Add onions and saute until soft, about 5 minutes.
• Add chopped apple and saute until soft, about 4 minutes; transfer mixture to processor or blended.
• Melt 4 tablespoons butter in same skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add livers and saute until brown on outside but still slightly pink in center, turning occasionally, about 6 minutes.
• Add livers to onion mixture.
• Add port to skillet and boil over high heat until reduced to 2 tablespoons, scraping up any browned bits, about 2 minutes.
• Add Port and cream to livers and puree until smooth;cool.
• Beat 3/4 cup butter in bowl until smooth; beat in liver mixture 1 tablespoon at a time.
• Stir in lemon juice and season with cayenne, salt and pepper.
• Pack pate into a crock or serving bowl.
• Cover with plastic and refrigerate until chilled.

CHICKEN LIVER PâTé

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp of the butter in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. When the butter is foaming, add the chicken livers and fry for 2 mins each side.
• Stir the crushed garlic, some of the thyme and Madeira into the pan with the livers. Fry for 2 mins, letting the Madeira simmer. Transfer the mixture to a food processor, reserve 200g of the butter and add the rest to the processor. Blend everything to a smooth paste. Season to taste, then spoon into 4 x 70ml clip-top jars.
• Melt the reserved butter in a medium frying pan and add the sliced garlic. Turn the garlic in the butter until slightly golden. Pour into the 4 jars of pâté, ensuring a few slices of garlic and the remaining thyme leaves go in each jar, and chill in the fridge for at least 4 hrs, or until set. Can be made up to 2 days in advance.
• Before serving, toast the brioche, then cut into triangular quarters for serving. Stir the diced apple through the chutney. Serve the pâté on small wooden boards with the toasted brioche, cornichons and chutney.