Chicken Liver Pate: Terrine de Foies de Volaille
1 pound fresh chicken livers, cleaned
1 cup milk
1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 cup chopped yellow onions
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons green peppercorns, drained
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup Cognac or brandy
Chopped parsley leaves, for garnish
French bread croutons or toast, accompaniment
In a bowl, soak the livers in the milk for 2 hours. Drain well.
In a large saute pan or skillet, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the chicken livers, 1 tablespoon of the peppercorns, the bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring, until the livers are browned on the outside and still slightly pink on the inside, about 5 minutes. Add the Cognac and cook until most of the liquid is evaporated and the livers are cooked through but still tender.
Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Discard the bay leaves.
In a food processor, puree the liver mixture. Add the remaining butter in pieces and pulse to blend. Fold in the remaining 1 tablespoon peppercorns and adjust the seasoning, to taste.
Pack the pate into 6 individual ramekins or small molds, about 4 ounces each. Cover with plastic and refrigerate until firm, at least 6 hours.
To serve, place the ramekins on individual plates. Garnish the tops with parsley and surround with croutons.
NOTES:
- I only probably used a little more than half of the green peppercorns - and I think you could totally do without them, if you want, but they do add a nice flavor.
- How I chilled mine: I lined small ramekins with plastic wrap, placed a nice sprig of parsley in the center of the bottom, and then filled with the pate mixture. Cover and chill as specified. Before serving, lift the pate out by the plastic-wrapped lining, and turn over on small dish, so the parsley is molded into the top of the pate. This worked quite nicely! Then sprinkle some fresh parsley around the dish (just a touch!)
