Recipe By :
Serving Size : 1 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Appetizers Harned 1994
Poultry
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
-----CHICKEN STOCK-----
2 c -- Water
3 Chicken bouillon cubes
4 Parsley stalks
1 sm Bay leaf
6 Black peppercorns
1 pn Thyme
-----PATE-----
2 lb Chicken livers
2 c Whipping cream
1 1/2 lb Onions
1 t Freshly ground black pepper
1 tb Worcestershire sauce
1 Lemon -- juice of
1 1/2 lb Unsalted butter -- room temp.
1 tb Cognac -- or to taste
1 tb Brandy or dry sherry
-- to taste
1 tb "Fine spices" mixture
-----MADEIRA GLAZE-----
1 c Beef stock
1 tb Unflavored gelatin
-- packaged
1/3 c Madeira wine or dry sherry
-----GARNISHES-----
Carved radish or tomato
-flowers
Small parsley leaves
-----VARIATIONS-----
1 c Coarsely chopped walnuts or
1 c Coarsely chopped pistachios
The author writes: "This food processor recipe makes about 4 lbs. -
enough pate to pack into crocks for holiday gifts your friends will
enjoy. The amount of butter can be reduced for a less expensive
version, but it won't be as smooth. Do not use margarine. If you
don't have homemade chicken stock, use a bouquet garni to enhance the
instant kind. In place of prepared "fine spices," you may substitute
a pinch each of white pepper, red pepper, mace, sage, marjoram,
rosemary, cinnamon, nutmeg and tarragon."
For bouillon "stock," bring water to boil with chicken cubes. In a
cheesecloth bag, tie parsley, bay leaf, peppercorns and thyme; place
in stock. Simmer for 20 minutes. Remove bag and discard.
For pate: Marinate liver in cream for 8 hours or overnight in
refrigerator. Rinse liver in cold water several times; cover with
fresh cold water and bring to the boiling point. Immediately drain
water, fill with fresh cold water and bring to boil again. Repeat
procedure twice more. (This removes bitter taste.)
Now add chicken stock to cover liver and bring to boiling point. Turn
down to simmer and cook 20 minutes. If time allows, let liver cool
in the stock. Drain well.
Finely chop onions in food processor. Saute the onions in some of the
butter until transparent but not colored. In a very large mixing
bowl, blend all ingredients except the fine spices with liver and
remaining butter.
Place batches of this mixture in food processor and process until very
smooth. Repeat as needed. Add fine spices; taste and adjust
seasonings. Some salt may be required. (When tasting warm, the
seasonings are more acute than when cold. So add a bit more to
achieve desired taste.) Taste for cognac and brandy; adjust
accordingly.
Pack into well-buttered or oiled molds; gently tap to release any air
pockets. Cover with foil; refrigerate. To unmold, immerse to half
their depth in hot water, counting 10 seconds, then invert onto a
platter. Garnish with carved flowers of radishes or tomatoes, if
desired. Or spoon pate into a piping bag and squeeze out in swirls
onto crackers or toasted bread rounds. Garnish each with a tiny
parsley leaf.
To store several weeks, pour melted butter completely over top of
pate in mold. Cover with foil; refrigerate. To serve, remove and
discard hardened butter from top and unmold as above.
To glaze with Madeira: Heat beef stock and add packaged, unflavored
gelatin. Allow to dissolve and add Madeira wine or dry sherry. Set
aside to thicken slightly. With a pastry brush, paint glaze all over
unmolded pate. Several coats may be required for an even glaze. Or
pour glaze gently over pate by setting pate on a rack over a plate
(to catch the overflow).
To vary, fold in walnuts or pistachios after blending pate
ingredients in food processor. Then add the fine spices and taste.
Yield: About 4 lbs., or enough for a cocktail party of 16.
From _Nancy Enright's Canadian Herb Cookbook_ by Nancy Enright.
Toronto: James Lorimer & Company, 1985. Pp. 12-13. ISBN
0-88862-788-2. Posted by Cathy Harned.
