Chicken Liver And Fig Terrine Food

CHICKEN LIVER PâTé WITH FIG PRESERVES

Steps:

• In a large skillet cook the onions in 2 tablespoons of the butter over moderate heat, stirring, until they are softened and transfer them to a food processor. In the skillet melt 2 tablespoons of the remaining butter over moderately high heat until the foam subsides and in it sauté the chicken livers, patted dry and seasoned with salt and pepper, stirring, for 2 minutes, or until they are browned on the outside but still pink within. Transfer the livers to the food processor. Add the Port to the skillet, bring it to a boil, and deglaze the skillet, scraping up the brown bits, for 1 minute. Add the Port to the food processor with the remaining 4 tablespoons butter, softened, the allspice, the lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste, purée the mixture until it is smooth, and force it through a fine sieve into a bowl. Line an oiled 1 1/2-quart terrine or straight-sided dish with plastic wrap and pour the pâté, covered, for 5 hours, or until it is firm. The pâté may be made 4 days in advance and kept covered and chilled. Invert the pâté onto a plate, discarding the plastic wrap, and smooth the top and sides. Spread the preserves on the top and serve the pâté with the toast points or water biscuits.

CHICKEN LIVER PATE: TERRINE DE FOIES DE VOLAILLE

Steps:

• 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. Serve with cornichons on the side.

CHICKEN LIVER AND FIG TERRINE

Steps:

• Rinse the livers under cold water, drain, and remove any white strands. Pat dry with paper towels. Combine the livers and port in a small salad bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Set a fine-mesh sieve over a second bowl and pour the livers and marinade into the sieve, reserving the marinade.
• Wash the first bowl you used. Put the figs in the bowl, cover with hot water, and let stand as you go on with the recipe.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook for 3 minutes, until soft and fragrant. Add the livers, thyme, bay leaves, salt, and pepper, and cook for 4 minutes, flipping the livers halfway through, until the livers are browned on the outside, but still pink inside. Add the reserved marinade, turn the heat up to medium-high, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until most of the liquids have evaporated and the livers are browned all over but still tender. Remove from heat, discard the bay leaves, and let cool for 5 minutes.
• Transfer the liver mixture to a food processor and process until pureed. Add the remaining butter and pulse until smooth. Drain the figs, pat dry with paper towels, cut in 1/4 inch pieces, and fold into the liver mixture. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Pack into two 1-cup glass jars, making sure there are no pockets of air. Place a small piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the terrine, close the jars tightly, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, and preferably overnight.
• Bring to just under room temperature and serve. The terrine will keep for up to 4 days, chilled, its surface covered with plastic wrap.

CHICKEN TERRINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Cut chicken breasts into very thin strips and set aside.
• Remove meat from chicken legs and chop very finely.
• Combine meat from chicken legs with pork and veal.
• Sauté onion in butter until soft but not brown.
• Add onion, parsley, salt, thyme, allspice, lots of pepper, and egg to meat mixture and stir well.
• Pack half of the meat mixture into an 8 x 4 inch loaf pan, top with the strips of chicken and then cover with the remaining meat mixture.
• Arrange lemon slices on top and cover with foil.
• Place loaf pan in a large baking dish with once inch water.
• Bake for 1-1/2 hours.
• When done baking, remove foil and pour off fat.
• Remove lemon slices.
• Cover with fresh foil and place a weight on top.
• Chill over night in refrigerator.

COUNTRY TERRINE

Steps:

• Clean the chicken livers - cut away any sinew, blood or green bits, then set enough aside to run along the length of your terrine dish or loaf tin. Chop the rest into small cubes. Tip all the ingredients - except the prosciutto, whole livers and cornichons, etc, to serve - into a large bowl. Season and mix well with your hands. If you have time, you can cover and set aside in the fridge for the flavours to mingle for a few hours or overnight.
• Line the base and sides of a 1kg terrine dish or small loaf tin with baking parchment. Then carefully line the base and sides of the dish/tin with the overlapping slices of prosciutto (A), leaving some hanging over the side and a few slices for the top. Pack half the meat mixture down into the terrine and press down. Lay a row of chicken livers down the middle of the terrine (B), then add the rest of the meat mixture and press down. Lay the remaining prosciutto over the top, then lift the slices from the sides up and over, and cover the dish with foil.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 6. If you have a spare cardboard box in your kitchen, cut a piece of card out slightly larger than the base of the terrine. Put it in a deep roasting tray and sit the terrine on top (this helps the terrine to cook evenly). Boil a kettle and pour in enough water so it comes halfway up the terrine. Carefully place it on the middle shelf of the oven and cook for 1 hr.
• Remove the tin from the oven, take out the terrine and leave to cool completely. Place on a plate or a tray with another flat tray on top, weigh down with a few cans and leave to chill overnight. To turn out the terrine, slip a knife between the paper and the terrine to loosen it, then turn it out onto a board. Wipe off the jelly and either serve straight away sliced or wrap in cling film and slice later. Serve with toasted bread - a favourite of mine is walnut bread and some nice leaves dressed with walnut oil. You can keep the terrine for up to two days, but it will start to lose its colour.

MY VERY FAVORITE CHICKEN TERRINE

Steps:

• Rinse whole chickens inside and out under cold water and blot dry. Remove wing tips and save for another use.
• With breast side down, using kitchen shears, cut skin down length of backbone. Keeping in one piece, being careful to avoid tearing it, remove skin from each chicken and set aside.
• Bone the chickens, cutting into 1/2 inch dice and place in a large mixing bowl. (An experienced chef can do this in less than an hour, but I cannot. You might want to save the bones for making stock).
• Roast hazelnuts in medium oven (350 degrees F) for about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and wrap in a kitchen towel. While still warm, rub them together in the towel to remove the dark outer skin. Do not be concerned if not all the dark husks come off. If you are using pistachio nuts, this step can be omitted.
• Meanwhile place garlic cloves and Half & Half in a small saucepan and bring to a gentle boil. Simmer until garlic is tender, about 1/2 hour. Allow to cool then mash into paste. Since the Half & Half gets absorbed by the garlic, there is no need to strain it out. (You might be thinking that two heads of garlic is too much, but this step gives the garlic a beautifully mild flavor).
• Once hazelnuts and garlic paste have cooled, combine together with the basil chiffonade, thyme, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Then mix with the diced chicken, making sure that all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
• Spray a 6-cup terrine pan with cooking spray. Line terrine pan with reserved skins from chickens (outer side of skin against side of pan), draping it over the sides.
• Pack chicken mixture inside the skin-lined terrine pan, folding the skin over the top of the mixture, wrapping completely.
• Cover terrine either with its lid or wrap tightly in foil. Bake at 350 in a water bath until the internal temperature of the terrine reaches 160 degrees F., about an hour. (For the water bath, place terrine pan inside a large deep roasting pan and fill with enough boiling water to reach about half way up the sides of the terrine pan).
• Remove terrine from baking dish and pour off the water. Remove the foil (or lid) and place terrine back in roasting pan. Cut a piece of cardboard to fit over the terrine. Cover with plastic wrap or foil, then weight down with several heavy cans. Allow to chill in fridge overnight, while beautiful gelee forms and spills over into the pan.
• When ready to serve, slide a small spatula around the edges to loosen the terrine from the pan. Then unmold onto platter. Use a serrated knife for slicing. Garnish with the luscious aspic that forms and thyme sprigs.