Duck Liver Pate With Crostini Food

CROSTINI OF CHICKEN LIVER PATE WITH BALSAMIC ONIONS

Steps:

• To make the onions: Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and add the onions. Season the onions with salt and bring the pan to a medium-high heat. Cover and sweat the onions for 15 to 20 minutes. Add the balsamic and cook for another 20 to 25 minutes or until the balsamic is syrupy. Use right away, or place in airtight jar and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• To make the chicken liver pate: Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and add the anchovies, capers and garlic. Bring to medium heat and saute until the anchovies have dissolved.
• Add the chicken livers, turn up the heat and saute for 3 to 5 minutes and cook until the livers are about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way done. Add the wine and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until the wine has reduced by half, the mix should still be pretty soupy.
• Transfer everything to a food processor and puree until smooth. Season with a little salt, if needed, and loosen with a little olive oil if needed.
• Schmear each toast with the pate and top with balsamic onions.

DUCK LIVER PâTé

Steps:

• 1. Place duck fat in a skillet, and cook over medium to high heat for 4 to 5 minutes, until the fat has melted and some of it has browned.
• 2. Add the shallots, and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring occasionally. Add the liver, herbes de Provence, and garlic, and cook over medium to high heat for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the salt and pepper.
• 3. Transfer the mixture to a blender, add the Cognac, and blend until liquefied. If a finer textured pâté is desired, push the mixture through the holes of a strainer with a spoon. This will yield 1/2 cup. Let cool for at least 1 1/2 hours, then cover and and refrigerate until serving time.
• 4. Spread the pâté on the toasted baguette slices, and serve. The pâté will keep, well covered, for 3 to 4 days.

CHICKEN LIVER CROSTINI

Steps:

• Pat dry 1 pound chicken livers and season with salt and pepper. Cook in a skillet with 3 tablespoons chicken fat or olive oil, turning, 7 minutes; transfer to a food processor. Add 2 more tablespoons fat, 1 chopped onion and some fresh thyme to the pan and cook 8 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup sherry and boil 1 minute; add to the processor along with 1 cup crushed saltines, 1 hard-boiled egg and 2 tablespoons fresh parsley. Pulse; season with salt and cayenne. Chill, then spread on crostini. Top with hard-boiled egg and radish slices.

FRESH DUCK LIVER BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• Begin by preheating an oven to 350 degrees F.
• Slice the bread into 1/4-inch thick slices, cutting the boule in half first. Lightly brush each piece of bread with olive oil, on both sides, before placing onto a cookie sheet and toasting lightly in the oven. Toast both sides evenly, turning halfway through. Remove from the oven and rub each piece of toast or bruschetta with the garlic, to flavor the bread. Place the bruschetti near the oven to keep warm while you make the livers.
• Heat the remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cleaned livers to the pan and sear over high heat. Try not to shake the pan too much, but rather allow the livers to caramelize and brown before turning to cook the second side. Cook the livers in batches if necessary, as overcrowding the skillet will result in steamed, and not seared, livers. As the liver is turned on the other side to brown, add the shallots and cook for 2 minutes, being careful not to burn the shallots. Season with salt and pepper, tasting as you go. Add the sugar to the pan and coat the livers evenly, before adding the vinegar carefully, to avoid splattering of the caramelized sugar. Turn the heat down slightly so that the vinegar will reduce to a glossy glaze. Serve the livers immediately on the toasted bruschetti.

VELVETY DUCK LIVER PARFAIT

Steps:

• Cut away and discard any large sinews from the livers, then set the livers aside. Heat about a third of the butter in a large frying pan, then gently fry the shallots and garlic for 3-4 mins unti l soft. Turn up the heat, add the livers, then fry until just browned on all sides. Add the brandy and port, boil down as quickly as possible - if the sauce catches light for an instant, then all the better. Remove the pan from the heat and leave to cool completely.
• Season the livers generously, then tip the contents of the pan into a food processor with the tomato purée and remaining butter, and blitz until smooth. Push the mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl, taste for seasoning, then tip into a serving dish, banging the dish down on the tabletop to smooth out the surface. Place in the fridge to set.
• Once the mixture has set, make the topping. Gently melt the butter in a small pan or in a bowl in the microwave, then leave for a min to settle and separate. Pour the yellow butter that has risen to the top into another bowl and discard the milky liquid. Leave the yellow butter to cool slightly, then mix in the thyme and peppercorns. Pour the mixture over the parfait and leave to set in the fridge. Serve with plenty of toast, sliced gherkins and chutney. Will keep for 2 days in the fridge.