Apple Calvados Chicken Liver Pate Recipes

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.

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 PATE CROCK WITH APPLES AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Place chicken livers in a bowl and pour the milk over them. Allow to stand at room temperature for at least two hours. Drain and rinse.
• Melt 4 tbl. butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add livers and cook, stirring, for about 4 minutes, or until livers are brown all over and still pink in the center. Remove livers with a slotted spoon to a food processor.
• Return pan to the heat and stir in onions. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes, or until softened. Stir in apples and cook for 3 minutes longer, until slightly soft. Remove from heat and scrape into the workbowl with the livers.
• Return pan to low heat; deglaze pan with Calvados and pour over livers.
• Add cream, salt, pepper and hot pepper sauce and process mixture until smooth. Add remaining butter in pieces with the motor running and process until very smooth.
• Pour mixture into decorative crock(s). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
• Note: the first time I made this was for a bridal shower. I had failed to notice the chilling period, and ended up putting the pate warm from the processor on the table. The ladies wolfed it down in record time, so be guided.
• Note2: Do not under ANY circumstances use margarine in place of butter.
• Note3: I sometimes add about 1/4 teaspoons ground allspice.

BOURBON CHICKEN LIVER PâTé

Steps:

• Melt 1 stick butter in a large nonstick skillet over moderately low heat, then cook onion and garlic, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add herbs, salt, pepper, allspice, and livers and cook, stirring, until livers are cooked outside but still pink when cut open, about 8 minutes. Stir in bourbon and remove from heat. Purée mixture in a food processor until smooth, then transfer pâté to crock and smooth top.
• Melt remaining 1/2 stick butter in a very small heavy saucepan over low heat, then remove pan from heat and let butter stand 3 minutes. If using herb garnish, put sprig on top of pâté. Skim froth from butter, then spoon enough clarified butter over pâté to cover its surface, leaving milky solids in bottom of pan.
• Chill pâté until butter is firm, about 30 minutes, then cover with plastic wrap and chill at least 2 hours more.

CHICKEN LIVER PATE WITH APPLES AND BRANDY

Steps:

• FOR THE CHICKEN LIVERS: Remove any connective membranes. Salt and pepper to taste.
• Saute chicken livers, apples, shallots and onions in butter over high heat until livers lose their pinkness. Heat cognac in a brandy warmer, ignite and carefully pour over the chicken livers. When flames die down, put this mixture into a blender container. Add sour cream and cream and blend at high speed until the livers are pureed and very smooth. Allow mixture to come to room temperature.
• In your electric mixer, beat 3/4 cup butter until it is creamy. Beat in the cooled pate until it is thoroughly blended. Place mixture in a large crock or several small ramekins and refrigerate until firm.
• When cold, baste with some melted butter. Serve with crackers, wafer thin black bread or thinly sliced cocktail rye bread.
• Love of Eating.

APPLE & CALVADOS CHICKEN LIVER PATE

Steps:

• Melt half the margarine in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Mix together the apples and sugar and place them in the skillet. Allow the apples to begin caramelizing - do not stir for the first few minutes Once the apples are soft and brown, place them in a bowl and set aside. Melt the other half of the margarine in the skillet and add the shallots, with a pinch of salt and pepper - cook until they are soft and translucent. Add the chicken livers, season with salt and pepper and allow them to cook for a few minutes until the outside is firm but the interior is still red. Remove the skillet from the heat and add the Calvados (please be very careful and keep the skillet away from your face as the alcohol may flame up). Return the skillet to the stove and scrape the bottom of the pan to lift the flavor from any brown bits. Add the cayenne and lemon juice and continue to cook the livers through until the liquid reduces and the interior of the livers is slightly pink (use a scissor or knife to cut a piece open to check). Pour all the contents of the skillet into a blender, allow to cool. Add the apples to the blender and puree the mixture until it is completely smooth. Taste the mixture and, if needed, adjust the seasonings (i.e. add salt and pepper, add cayenne if you like it spicier, add more Calvados if you'd like it a little sweeter and add more lemon juice to balance the acidity). Store the mixture in your serving bowl and place in the refrigerator overnight to allow the mixture to firm up and develop its flavors. Serve at room temperature with toasted slices of baguette or crackers.