Pate And Pistachio Stuffed Roast Chicken Food

CUMIN-SPICED ROAST CHICKEN WITH PORK & PISTACHIO STUFFING

Steps:

• Make the stuffing by blending the ingredients with 1 tsp salt in a food processor, taking care not to purée it - a little bit of crunch here and there makes it all the more satisfying. Check the seasoning by frying a tsp of the stuffing and tasting - adjust if you need to.
• Put a piece of cling film on a chopping board and dollop on the stuffing, patting it out to rough circle just smaller than the surface of the breast meat to be covered. Make the layer thicker at one end, for the bottom end of the breasts where the meat is thinner - the extra thickness will help to keep it juicy and cook evenly. Cover with cling film and chill for 30 mins to set.
• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Pat the chicken dry all over using kitchen paper. From the neck end, push your fingers under the layer of skin on the breasts and wriggle them gently to release the skin and open up the pocket for the stuffing. Push right down - you will need to cover the entire breast meat area with the stuffing - but be careful not to tear the skin.
• Make the spice rub by combining all the ingredients. Rub it generously over the chicken and inside the cavity, then insert the aromatics into the cavity. Unwrap the stuffing, halve it, then push half under the skin of each of the breasts, thin end first. Cover the chicken loosely with foil so the spices don't burn.
• Roast the chicken for 1 hr 10 mins. Mix 3 tbsp grape molasses with 1 tbsp hot water, brush over the skin, then increase oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and return the chicken for 20 mins to crisp up the skin. Baste twice more with molasses at 5-min intervals. Test the chicken in the thigh and breast to make sure it is cooked - the juices should run clear. Take the cavity aromatics out of the chicken and set aside (don't worry if you can't get them all). Leave the chicken to rest for 45 mins somewhere warm, but don't cover the skin so it stays crisp.
• Meanwhile, pour the fat out of the roasting tin (there will be lots, which you can sieve and keep in the fridge for up to a week to use for cooking), leaving the juices behind. Add a little chicken stock and the cavity aromatics to the tin and bring to a boil, then sieve into a pan. Add the rest of the stock, simmer until reduced by half, then stir in 1 tsp grape molasses. Just before serving, add the resting juices from the chicken to the pan and bring the sauce back to the boil. Taste for seasoning and stir in the butter.

ROAST CHICKENS WITH PISTACHIO SALSA, PEPPERS, AND CORN

Steps:

• For chickens:
• Whisk lemon juice, oil, garlic, 3 tablespoons thyme, rosemary, and sage in a small bowl; set marinade aside.
• Season chickens with salt and pepper inside and out. Place each inside a resealable plastic bag; divide marinade between bags. Spread marinade evenly to distribute. Seal bags and chill for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Transfer chickens from bags to a small roasting pan; gently blot excess oil from marinade with paper towels, leaving herbs intact on chicken skin. Stuff each chicken with a lemon half and several thyme sprigs. Tie legs together with kitchen twine, if desired.
• Roast until well browned, 30-35 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°F and continue roasting, occasionally basting chickens with pan juices, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165°F, 20-30 minutes longer. Transfer chickens to a carving board; let rest for 20 minutes before carving.
• For peppers and corn:
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, capers, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft but not brown, about 5 minutes. Add peppers and chiles; season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 10-12 minutes. Stir in caper brine, corn, parsley, and vinegar just before serving.
• For pistachio salsa:
• Combine first 4 ingredients in a small bowl. Stir in oil. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill. Let come to room temperature before serving. Serve with chickens and peppers and corn.

PATE AND PISTACHIO-STUFFED ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Mix the salt, white pepper, and paprika together in a small bowl; set aside.
• Rinse the chicken well with cold water, then pat dry inside and out with paper towels. Place the chicken into a small roasting pan, and sprinkle half of the paprika mixture inside the chicken. Rub the remaining mixture into the skin of the chicken, then set aside.
• Chop the mushrooms, and place into a bowl along with the duck liver pate, chopped pistachios, thyme leaves, egg, and bread crumbs. Mix with your hands until evenly blended. Spoon the stuffing into the cavity of the chicken, then tie the legs and wings with kitchen twine. Brush the chicken with half of the melted butter, and place into the roasting pan, breast-side down.
• Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, then turn the chicken breast-side up, brush with the remaining butter, and continue roasting until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 30 minutes longer. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Remove the chicken from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area for 10 minutes before slicing.

STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST PATE SLICES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Butter a medium roasting pan.
• Combine the ham and cheese in a food processor and process, using the steel knife, until mixture is smooth, like a pate.
• Divide into 8 equal portions, each the size of an Italian sausage to match the length of the chicken breast, crosswise.
• Put 1 ham and cheese roll onto the center of a whole chicken breast.
• Wrap each side of the breast around the roll and place in a buttered roasting pan, seam side down.
• Assemble all the breasts the same way.
• Place the stuffed breasts side by side, so that they fit snugly together.
• Season with salt, pepper and paprika.
• Bake for about 45 minutes until golden brown on top.
• Remove from the oven and cool completely.
• Drain and discard fat and juices.
• Cover pan and refrigerate overnight.
• Skin the breasts.
• Cut each breast, crosswise, into thin slices, about 10 per breast.
• Arrange in layers on a serving platter.

PATE AND PISTACHIO-STUFFED ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Mix the salt, white pepper, and paprika together in a small bowl; set aside.
• Rinse the chicken well with cold water, then pat dry inside and out with paper towels. Place the chicken into a small roasting pan, and sprinkle half of the paprika mixture inside the chicken. Rub the remaining mixture into the skin of the chicken, then set aside.
• Chop the mushrooms, and place into a bowl along with the duck liver pate, chopped pistachios, thyme leaves, egg, and bread crumbs. Mix with your hands until evenly blended. Spoon the stuffing into the cavity of the chicken, then tie the legs and wings with kitchen twine. Brush the chicken with half of the melted butter, and place into the roasting pan, breast-side down.
• Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, then turn the chicken breast-side up, brush with the remaining butter, and continue roasting until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 30 minutes longer. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Remove the chicken from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area for 10 minutes before slicing.

PATE WITH PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Cut pork and veal into cubes and set aside.
• Cut ham into 1/2-inch cubes. There should be about 2 cups. Set aside.
• Carefully trim chicken livers. Cut off and discard any connecting membranes.
• Heat butter in a heavy skillet and add shallots. Cook briefly, stirring. Add chicken livers and sprinkle with thyme and bay leaf. Cook about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Put cubed veal into the container of a food processor or electric blender and blend slightly finer than store-bought hamburger. Empty veal into a mixing bowl.
• Put pork into the container of a food processor or electric blender and blend a little coarser than store-bought hamburger. Add pork to veal.
• Put liver mixture into the container of a food processor or electric blender and blend as finely as possible. Pour and scrape this into the bowl with ham and veal. Add the reserved two cups of cubed ham and the pistachios. Add allspice, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, cayenne, wine, salt and pepper and blend well with fingers. To test mixture for seasoning, shape a small portion of the mixture into a patty and cook, turning once, in nonstick skillet until cooked through. Taste the patty and add more seasonings as desired.
• Pack the mixture into a 5- or 6-cup loaf pan. Smooth over the top, rounding it slightly. Place bacon slices on top. Cover closely with foil and place pate in a heatproof baking dish. Set the dish on the stove and pour boiling water around loaf pan. Bring the water to the boil. Place the pate in the water bath in the oven and bake 45 minutes or to an internal temperature (using meat thermometer) of 150 degrees. Remove pate from oven and let stand until ready to serve.
• This pate is excellent hot or cold. Cut it crosswise into slices and serve.