Chicken Liver Pâté

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Chicken Liver Pâté.jpg

This pâté is made in the style of pâté de foie gras with rich and sinful infusions of butter and cream. To give it an even more foie gras-like quality, I’ve included a slightly sweet gelée sauce for it. It will keep for 5 to 7 days as long as it is well sealed. Serve in slices as a first course or spoon onto toasted brioche with the gelée.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • 1 tsp chopped garlic
  • 1 lb (500 g) chicken livers, cleaned and cut in half
  • 1½ tsp fresh thyme, or ½ tsp dried
  • 1 star anise (optional)
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 tbsp sherry vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Cognac
  • ¼ cup (whipping cream


Topping:

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted


Gelée:

  • ¼ cup redcurrant jelly
  • 2 tbsp sweet wine
  • 2 tbsp chopped dried cherries

Method

Heat ¼ cup butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté for 1 minute then add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add chicken livers, thyme, star anise, salt and pepper and sauté for about 4 to 6 minutes or until chicken livers are still pink in the centre. Add sherry vinegar and Cognac and bring to a boil. Remove star anise, if desired, and transfer contents of skillet to a food processor.

Add cream and remaining butter and process until smooth, adding more salt and pepper as needed. Line a small loaf pan with plastic wrap. Spoon in mixture and smooth top. If there is any mixture leftover, spoon into a small container and reserve for another occasion. Pour melted butter overtop and chill for 4 hours or until set. Keep refrigerated until needed.

Combine redcurrant jelly, sweet wine and cherries in a small pot over medium heat and stir until melted. Cool. Remove pâté from pan, cut into slices or spoon onto brioche and serve with a drizzle of gelée.