French Chopped Liver Pâté Recipes

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!

SUR LE GRIL CHOPPED CALF LIVER PATE

Steps:

• With a sharp knife, remove the tough outer membranes from liver.
• In a heavy skillet, heat oil and add chopped onions.
• Cook over medium high heat until translucent and golden brown.
• Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Add butter to skillet.
• Heat until melted.
• Add liver pieces.
• Over medium heat, fry liver until just done - 3 minutes on each side.
• Alternatively, liver can be brushed with butter and broiled.
• To test for doneness, cut a piece from liver slice.
• If still pink, continue cooking for 30 - 60 seconds.
• Overcooking causes the liver to be dry and tough.
• For finely mashed egg that disappears in the liver mixture, force egg through a wire strainer.
• For best results, separate the hard cooked whites from yolks and sieve them separately.
• Set aside.
• Fit meat grinder with a medium blade and place cooked liver and cooked onions in the grinder.
• Grind, then regrind the ground mixture.
• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the twice ground meat and onions mixture with the sieved eggs.
• Add salt and pepper.
• Taste and adjust seasoning.
• If desired, add a few drops of commercial gravy browning liquid to heighten color.
• Refrigerate for 24 hours before serving.
• Serve with slices of tomato, cucumber and dark rye bread.

FRENCH CHOPPED LIVER PâTé

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Broil the livers on a rack 4 inches from the heat for about 1 1/2 minutes on each side, or until there is no more blood. Drain the livers, and lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees.
• Heat the chicken fat or oil in a sauté pan, and sauté the onion or shallots slowly for 10 to 15 minutes, or until very soft and lightly colored. Add the livers, and cook until still lightly pink inside, just a minute or two.
• Place the livers, onion or shallots, eggs, and Cognac or port in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Process until smooth.
• Decorate the bottom of a 9-inch loaf pan with the bay leaves, placed shiny side down. Spoon the liver mixture on top of them, tapping gently to get rid of any air bubbles. Set the pan into a bain-marie, and bake for 20 minutes. Cool, then unmold. Serve with rye bread.

FRENCH LIVER PATE

Steps:

• Oven: 325 deg C/160 deg F.
• Line a pate mold or a small bread tin (bread tin is easiest to use) with with the bacon strips, then sprinkle with a little brandy.
• In a processor, mince the cleaned (membranes removed) calf and pork livers with the eggs, cream, lemon juice, garlic, pepper and salt.
• Do not process too finely. Add the brandy.
• Half-fill the lined mold with this mixture, and chop the chicken livers coarsely.
• Place the chicken livers (and truffle if you have it!) in a row down the centre. Season with salt and pepper.
• Cover with rest of processed pate, then fold bacon which line the tin (if any strips are hanging over the sides) over the filling. If not, take extra bacon and cover top of pate.
• Cover with foil, then stand the mold in a pan with water halfway up sides, and bake in the preheated oven for 2 hours.
• Remove and cool. Put a weight on top to press down firmly.
• Chill overnight in refrigerator. Turn out of mold before serving, and garnish to taste.
• (I find that the average building brick, well scrubbed and covered in a double piece of foil, is a great weight to use when using a bread tin).

FRENCH CHOPPED CHICKEN LIVER PATE

Steps:

• Heat chicken fat or vegetable oil in sauté pan over medium heat for 1 minute, and sauté onion in it 20 to 25 minutes, or until very soft and lightly golden. add uncooked liver, and cook until just pink inside, a few minutes.
• Place onions and liver in food processor with eggs, brandy and starch, and process until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Arrange bay leaves shiny side down in loaf pan, and spoon liver mixture on top, pressing gently with spoon to get rid of any air bubbles. Set pan in a larger pan two-thirds filled with warm water, and bake 20 minutes. Cool, and unmold. Serve with rye bread.