Silky Chicken Liver Parfait Tart Recipes

CHICKEN LIVER PARFAIT

Steps:

• Tip the wine, brandy, shallot and garlic into a saucepan, bring to the boil and simmer until most of the liquid has reduced, about 3-5 mins, then set aside to cool. Meanwhile, heat half the oil in a large frying pan. Once hot, add half of the livers and sear them for 1 min on each side so they are brown on the outside but still rosy in the middle. Tip into a colander with a bowl underneath to catch any leftover fat. Repeat with the remaining livers and oil.
• Tip the livers into a food processor along with the cooled red wine and shallot mix. Add half the thyme leaves, all the cream and melted butter. Blend to a fine purée and season generously, then pour into a jar, pot or six individual ramekins. Transfer to the fridge to set for 2 hrs.
• Once the parfait has set, sprinkle with the remaining thyme leaves and spoon over a thin layer of melted clarified butter and put back in the fridge to set the butter. Can be made up to two days ahead and chilled. To serve, toast the brioche and serve with the parfait and a separate pot of chutney for everyone to help themselves.

SILKY CHICKEN LIVER PARFAIT TART

Steps:

• At least an hour before you want to make the tart, make the pastry. Tip the flour, thyme, butter and ½ tsp salt into a food processor and pulse to the texture of breadcrumbs. Add the egg yolk and milk and pulse again until it all starts to come together. Tip out and press into a ball of pastry. Wrap, then chill for at least 1 hr. Can be prepared up to 2 days ahead.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the pastry out and line an 11 x 33cm rectangular, fluted tart tin. (The pastry may break up as you work it, so patch over any broken bits.) Keep any excess trimmings. Chill the tart case in the fridge or freezer for 20 mins.
• While the tart case is chilling, tip all the ingredients for the parfait into a clean food processor with a generous pinch of salt and a good grinding of pepper. Blitz until the mix is as smooth as it's going to get, then push through a sieve into a jug and set aside.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Line the tart case with greaseproof paper and baking beans, then bake on a baking tray for 15 mins. Remove from the oven and remove the paper and beans. Check for any small holes or cracks in the pastry and patch up with the reserved trimmings. Place back in the oven for 15 mins, until golden. Remove from the oven and lower the oven to 120C/fan 100C/ gas ½. When the oven has cooled suitably, slide the tart case back into it, then fill as far as you can with the parfait mix. Bake the tart for 20 mins until just set. Leave to cool, trim any untidy edges, then remove from tin.
• To serve, cut the tart into 6 slices. Place on plates, then place small blobs of caramelised onions and a scattering of hazelnuts around the tart. Neatly place a few salad leaves around and drizzle everything with oil and vinegar. Arrange 2 fig quarters on top of each slice and serve.

SILKY BRAISED CHICKEN WITH WILD MUSHROOMS AND PEARL ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300 degrees. Sprinkle chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Spread a third of the onion slices and all the garlic in the bottom of a 7-quart ovenproof casserole or Dutch oven. Scatter 5 sprigs thyme, 1 bay leaf, and 1 rosemary sprig over the onion layer. Lay half the chicken pieces on top of the herb layer. Repeat with another third of the onion slices, the same amounts of each of the herbs as before, and the remaining chicken pieces; finish with a layer of all the remaining onion slices. Pour Riesling and chicken stock over onions and chicken. Cover casserole, and place in the oven to cook until chicken is tender, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Remove chicken pieces from casserole, and let sit until cool enough to handle. Remove skin from chicken; cut each breast piece in half. Spread each chicken piece with 1/2 teaspoon mustard, season with salt and pepper, and top with sprigs of thyme. Set aside. With a ladle, remove about 1 cup of the chicken cooking liquid from casserole, straining it into a shallow bowl or fat separator; set aside to separate.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add pearl onions, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, shaking skillet often, until mushrooms soften and turn golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add mushrooms, and season again with salt and pepper. Cook, shaking skillet often, until mushrooms soften and release their juice, 3 to 5 minutes. Cook until juice has evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons Madeira to skillet, and cook until evaporated, about 1 minute. Transfer mixture to a bowl, and set aside.
• Return skillet to medium heat. Arrange 5 bacon strips in a single layer in skillet. Cook until bacon renders most of its fat and is golden brown. Place a piece of chicken on each piece of bacon and, using tongs, wrap chicken in bacon in a more or less haphazard way. Do not worry if chicken unwraps; it can be easily rewrapped before serving. Remove chicken from skillet, place on a platter, and cover with foil to keep warm. Drain fat from skillet. Repeat with remaining bacon and chicken.
• Add reserved cooked mushrooms and onions and all the chicken to skillet. Add remaining 2 tablespoons Madeira and the reserved chicken cooking liquid, skimmed of fat. Cook until chicken and vegetables are hot. Serve.