Chicken Liver Parfait With Green Peppercorns Gravetye Manor 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.

CHICKEN LIVER PARFAIT WITH GREEN PEPPERCORNS (GRAVETYE MANOR)

Steps:

• Melt butter over very low heat. Remove from heat and allow to sit until sediment settles on the bottom. Strain carefully through several thicknesses of cheesecloth, discarding sediment.
• Line a 10-inch by 3-inch terrine with thin slices of the pork fat.
• Drain the raisins, reserving the liquid. Pat raisins dry on paper towel.
• Strain the milk from the livers. Place the livers in blender and with the power on slowly add warm clarified butter, processing until livers are pureed. Add the soaking liquid and process until smooth.
• Stir in all the remaining ingredients. Adjust seasonings.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared terrine; place the sprig of thyme on top and cover with pork fat.
• Place in a pan containing boiling water and place in 350-degree oven. Cook until the top is quite firm when pressed, about an hour to an hour and 10 minutes.
• Remove from hot water bath and cool. Refrigerate and chill completely.
• Slice when cold and serve. It is excellent with brioche toast.

CHICKEN LIVER PATE WITH GREEN PEPPERCORNS

Steps:

• Rinse chicken livers and pat dry.
• Place livers in large bowl and pour over 3/4 cup Madeira and macerate for 1 hour.
• Drain and puree in blender.
• Pour in large bowl and add salt, pepper, nutmeg, thyme, marjoram and eggs.
• Set aside.
• Melt 1 T.
• butter in skillet and cook shallots and garlic until soft.
• Add wine, cognac, port and remaining madeira.
• Flame and reduce to 1/2.
• Remove from heat and cool slightly.
• Add clarified butter slowly while beating vigorously with wooden spoon.
• Sir in raisins and peppercorns.
• Place in buttered 1 1/2 quart pate mold or souffle.
• Place bay leaves atop.
• Cover with double layer of foil and lid.
• Place in boiling water bath.
• Bake 325 degrees 3 hours.
• Add water as needed.
• Remove and cool on rack.
• Chill in fridge 1 day before serving.

CHICKEN LIVER PARFAIT WITH APPLE & SAFFRON CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Soak the livers overnight in milk to remove any bitterness. Drain well in a colander. To make the reduction, heat the oil in a sauté pan and fry shallots, herbs and peppercorns for 3-5 mins until the shallots are starting to soften. Add the Cognac and carefully flambé by tipping the pan towards the flame, or use a match.
• Once the flames have subsided, boil the Cognac for a few secs until it reduces down to a couple of tbsp. Add the port and madeira together and boil again for about 10 mins, or until reduced by two thirds. Leave to cool slightly so it's not piping hot.
• Add the livers, eggs, egg yolks and butter into the reduction and stir gently. Once the butter has almost melted, add the salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Transfer to a blender and blitz for 2 mins or until smooth, scraping the sides down. Strain into a jug; rub the mix against the sieve with the back of a ladle. Discard any sinewy bits left behind.
• Check seasoning, then pour into eight 100ml ovenproof ramekins. Heat the oven to 110C/fan 90C/gas ¼. Line a heatproof pan with four layers of kitchen towel and sit the ramekins on top. Pour very hot, but not boiling, water into the pan
• Test if the parfaits are ready by tilting one of them to the side - the parfait mix should just bulge slightly at the edge of the ramekin and gently wobble in the middle when shaken gently. (Don't forget that it will keep on cooking as it cools.) Remove the ramekins from the pan, cool then chill for at least 4 hrs or until set.
• Seal the parfaits with butter. Melt the butter in a pan but do not let boil. Whisk in the nutmeg, rosemary and half the thyme leaves. Taste butter for seasoning, then spoon over the parfait tops, sprinkle with the reserved thyme to decorate and return to the fridge to set. Will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the shallots, ginger and a good pinch of sea salt, then fry for 3 mins. Crumble in the saffron, sprinkle in the sugar and carry on cooking for few mins until the sugar melts and starts to caramelise, stirring all the time.
• Tip in the vinegar and apples, then cook for 5 mins until the apples are just softened and coated in a syrupy sauce. Cool and serve. Can be spooned into an airtight container and kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

CHICKEN LIVERS, WITH GREEN PEPPERCORNS

Steps:

• Dust the livers with flour and brown them in the safflower oil. Set aside.
• Add the port, peppercorns, ginger, stock. Bring to boil, turn down heat and reduct to one-half cup.
• Return the livers to the pan. Add the cream, salt and pepper and cook until the sauce has thickened and the livers are heated through. Whisk in the butter and serve.

CHICKEN LIVER PATE WITH GREEN PEPPERCORNS AND SHERRY

Steps:

• Soak the chicken livers in the milk overnight, and before using, drain off the milk and rinse the livers in cold water.
• Melt half the butter in a saucepan and sauté the onion gently until soft and golden but not dark brown.
• Add the chicken livers and the rest of the ingredients EXCEPT for the crushed green peppercorns and the rest of the butter. Cook the mixture until the livers become firm and change colour, about 10 minutes.
• Blend the liver mixture in the blender or a food processor and once smooth, stir in the crushed green peppercorns. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
• Transfer to a serving dish, the mixture should "not quite" fill it up. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Melt the remaining butter, and carefully spoon it over the pate, refrigerate until set (approx 1 hour) garnish with whole green peppercorns and coriander.