Chicken Liver Pâté With Bourbon and Cranberry Gelée Recipe (2024)

  • Chicken
  • Cranberry
  • Thanksgiving Appetizers
  • Christmas Appetizers

It's silky, smooth, and perfect for a holiday gathering.

By

Daniel Gritzer

Chicken Liver Pâté With Bourbon and Cranberry Gelée Recipe (1)

Daniel Gritzer

Senior Culinary Director

Daniel joined the Serious Eats culinary team in 2014 and writes recipes, equipment reviews, articles on cooking techniques. Prior to that he was a food editor at Food & Wine magazine, and the staff writer for Time Out New York's restaurant and bars section.

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Updated November 30, 2022

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Chicken Liver Pâté With Bourbon and Cranberry Gelée Recipe (2)

Why It Works

  • Removing the livers from the skillet before deglazing with bourbon reduces the chances of overcooking them, which helps guarantee pâté with a silky texture.
  • Passing the pâté through a fine-mesh strainer produces an especially refined texture.

I read somewhere recently that pâté had gone out of style. That bothered me, because, as is often the case with superficial food trends, it makes no sense that an incredibly delicious food with a deep history can be declared a has-been just because there isn't a media frenzy around it right now. In protest, I'm pushing back. Pâté is here, and it's here to stay!

That said, I can understand why most of us don't make it too often at home. The fact is, it's rich, which means it's more practical to buy a small slice than to attempt to eat your way through an entire homemade terrine. But that's also exactly why a homemade pâté is such perfect holiday food—it's indulgent, special-occasion stuff, and with groups of people coming together for large meals, it's unlikely any of it will go to waste.

Chicken Liver Pâté With Bourbon and Cranberry Gelée Recipe (3)

I created this particular pâté last year and brought it as a contribution to my family's Thanksgiving meal. Instead of using the more traditional liquors like cognac or Madeira, I reached for bourbon and a bit of apple cider instead, to play up the American spirit of the holiday. And on top, in place of a classic aspic, I made a gelée from cranberry juice, which goes so well with all those other flavors. It was such a hit that it's been requested again this year, so I decided to perfect the recipe and share it here as well.

The method itself is very classic. I start by searing the livers over high heat until just browned on the outside but still pink in the middle. It's critically important that you don't overcook the livers, since well-done ones will produce a very grainy pâté. Some recipes have you deglaze the pan with liquor while the livers are still in it, but I find that this comes with too high of a risk of overcooking them. Instead, I take the livers out as soon as they're done, then quickly sauté minced shallots and some thyme, and finish by deglazing with the bourbon and cider—all with no worry of the livers spending too much time in the pan.

Chicken Liver Pâté With Bourbon and Cranberry Gelée Recipe (4)

Once that's all set, I transfer everything to a food processor with some butter and turn it into a smooth purée. The last step—pushing the pâté through a fine-mesh strainer—is admittedly a little tedious, but I swear it's worth it for the extra silky texture you'll get.

Once the pâté is ready, I transfer it to a large ramekin or terrine and smooth the surface, then pour the cranberry juice, which has just enough gelatin to set it, on top. The gelée acts as a barrier to air, which prevents the pâté from discoloring and also helps it keep for several days in the refrigerator. Just be sure to give it time to soften a little at room temperature before serving.

Chicken Liver Pâté With Bourbon and Cranberry Gelée Recipe (5)

I guarantee, no one will eat this and call it sadly passé. Lovely pâté, on the other hand, may be something you hear.

Chicken Liver Pâté With Bourbon and Cranberry Gelée Recipe (6)

November 2014

Recipe Details

Chicken Liver Pâté With Bourbon and Cranberry Gelée Recipe

Active30 mins

Total5 hrs

Serves10to 12 servings

Makes1 terrine

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds chicken livers, trimmed of sinew and fat

  • 1/4 tsp salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 2 shallots, minced

  • 1/2 teaspoonminced fresh thyme leaves

  • 2 ouncesbourbon or American whiskey

  • 2 ounces apple cider

  • 1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons)unsalted butter

  • 1/2envelope unflavored gelatin

  • 1 cup unsweetened cranberry juice(see note)

  • 2 tablespoons sugar

Directions

  1. Pat livers dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet until smoking. Cook half of the livers, turning, until browned on both sides and pink in the middle, about 4 minutes. Transfer livers to the bowl of a food processor. Add 1 more tablespoon oil, heat until smoking and repeat with remaining livers.

  2. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to skillet, add shallots and thyme and cook, stirring until softened, about 2 minutes. Add bourbon and cook, scraping up browned bits from bottom of skillet, until almost evaporated (you can flame the bourbon, but use caution as flames can leap high from the skillet). Add cider and cook until slightly reduced. Scrape shallots and any remaining liquid into food-processor bowl with livers.

  3. Add butter and process, stopping to scrape down sides, until a smooth puréeforms.

  4. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a large mixing bowl and, using a wooden spoon or ladle, press and plunge liver puréethrough it. Season liver puréewith salt and pepper and scrape into a large ramekin or terrine, tapping against counter to remove air pockets. Smooth surface, then press plastic wrap directly against surface and chill in refrigerator until set, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.

  5. In a glass measuring cup, sprinkle gelatin on top of cranberry juice and let stand for 15 minutes.

  6. Transfer cranberry juice and gelatin to a small saucepan and stir in sugar. Heat over medium-high heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved and juice is simmering. Remove from heat and let cool.

  7. Gently pour cooled cranberry juice on top of liver purée. Cover with plastic and refrigerate until cranberry juice sets, at least 2 hours. Pâté can be refrigerated for up to 5 days before serving.

Special Equipment

Fine-mesh strainer, food processor, 1 or 1 1/2-quart ramekin or pâté terrine

Notes

You can use sweetened cranberry juice, but if you do, omit the sugar.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
264Calories
20g Fat
7g Carbs
14g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10to 12
Amount per serving
Calories264
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g25%
Saturated Fat 9g43%
Cholesterol 350mg117%
Sodium 204mg9%
Total Carbohydrate 7g3%
Dietary Fiber 0g1%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 14g
Vitamin C 21mg103%
Calcium 16mg1%
Iron 7mg38%
Potassium 208mg4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Chicken Liver Pâté With Bourbon and Cranberry Gelée Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is chicken liver pâté good for you? ›

Liver and liver products, like pâté, are a rich source of vitamin A in the form of retinol, which is the 'active' form. Muscle meat is not such an impressive source and plant sources have to be converted to the active form in the gut, so that the body can use them.

How long does homemade chicken liver pâté last? ›

Refrigerator: Refrigerate chicken liver pâté tightly covered for up to 1 week. To refrigerate it longer than 1 week but no longer than 1 month, pour a little melted lard or clarified butter on top to seal. Each time you dip into the pâté, you will need to reseal the top to preserve it.

Why do you put butter on top of pâté? ›

Storing pate

Without a layer on top, it will keep just a day or two in the fridge. With the protective layer of butter, it will keep for around 5 days. To use the pate soon, store it in the fridge. For longer storage, you can freeze it for a couple of months though make sure it is well sealed.

What is a good substitute for brandy in liver pâté? ›

While alcohol adds depth of flavor, you can substitute the wine and brandy with non-alcoholic options like grape juice or a vinegar reduction mixed with water.

Can you eat too much liver pate? ›

Liver and liver products, such as liver pâté and liver sausage, are a good source of iron, as well as being a rich source of vitamin A. However, because they are such a rich source of vitamin A, we should be careful not to eat too much liver and liver product foods.

What is the healthiest way to eat chicken liver? ›

Preparing chicken livers with little or no added fat and with a little salt is the healthiest way to have them. You can pair them with boiled, blanched or fresh greens to make a wholesome meal.

Why is my chicken liver pâté bitter? ›

Blood can give the pâté a bitter taste. (Step 2) Livers soaking in milk under refrigeration. Using a sieve, separate the milk from the livers and allow the livers to drain for two minutes before rinsing them under a running tap to remove the last traces of milk.

Do you eat the fat on top of pâté? ›

Homemade pâté recipes, for example, often suggest pouring a layer of melted butter on top of the finished product to extend its shelf life, even though pâté keeps well in the refrigerator. If the extra fat bothers you, you can take it off the part of the pâté you'll be consuming at the moment, but it's not necessary.

How often should you eat liver pate? ›

It's possible, and dangerous, to get too much vitamin A. Eating large amounts of liver can lead to symptoms of vitamin A toxicity, which happens when your own liver can't process the excess vitamin A quickly enough. Most doctors recommend that people without vitamin deficiencies eat just one serving of liver per week.

What is the most important meat in pâté? ›

Traditionally made with liver, and mixed with wine and spices until it's cooked down into a spreadable texture, pâté can also be created with liver or other parts of pork, venison, chicken, fish, duck and other game, and even created with veggies on occasion.

What is the gel on pâté? ›

Some other kinds of pâté like the headcheese or fish terrine will be made with aspic. It is a savory jelly typically made from meat or fish stock that has been boiled long enough to release natural gelatin and will be used to set all of the ingredients together once chilled.

What is best to spread pâté on? ›

For an elegant and tasty appetizer, serve any type of pâté with a fresh baguette, sliced toasted bread. Let your guests self serve, or spread the pâté on the bread or toast in advance and arrange them on a garnished plate.

Can I use whiskey instead of brandy in a sauce? ›

We chose whiskey for our recipe, but if you're keener on bourbon or brandy you can easily make the switch. The amounts we use provide enough of the spirit's flavor without overwhelming the palate. You can, however, add more to taste if you want a little more punch.

What liquor is easy on the liver? ›

Take a look at this list of the least-damaging alcoholic drinks from Legends at White Oak to help you drink consciously.
  • Red Wine. ...
  • Light Beer. ...
  • Tequila. ...
  • Gin & Rum & Vodka & Whiskey.
Mar 7, 2021

Why is liver pate so expensive? ›

Pate Foie Gras is French for fat liver paste. It is a luxury item because few countries allow it to be made, due to the extreme cruelty involved. It is the cancerous liver of a duck or goose fattened by force in a process known as gavage. Birds spend their lives in semi-darkness.

How often can I eat chicken liver pate? ›

Most people should eat liver no more than once a week, according to the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.

Is liver pate a processed meat? ›

Processed meat includes bacon, ham (raw, smoked or cooked), heated sausages like hot-dogs (frankfurters), raw sausages (like salami), bologna, blood sausage (UK: black pudding), liver pâté (or liverwurst) and other pâtés and spread meat, luncheon meat and other cold cuts, canned meat, and corned beef (7, 8).

Is liver pate safe to eat? ›

But it's usually not the vegetable pâté or meat pâté consumers worry about, but liver pâté. Liver pâté is a very nutritious product and its consumption can greatly improve your daily intake of certain vitamins and minerals like iron, zinc, and folate.

What does chicken liver do to the body? ›

Iron and Zinc. A chicken liver provides a healthy dose of iron and zinc. Iron enables your body to use oxygen efficiently and to make new red blood cells.

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