Wonderfully rich and flavorful, and surprisingly easy to make, it’s a great way to add liver to your diet. If you’re curious about offal and would like to give it a try, chicken livers are a good place to start because their texture is pleasant and their flavor is fairly mild. Turning them into pâté makes them even more palatable, and is surprisingly easy to do. It’s one of those restaurant-style dishes that you can totally replicate at home.
Ingredients
Here’s an overview of the ingredients you’ll need to make this chicken liver pâté. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below: Fresh chicken livers: Not available in all U.S. supermarkets, unfortunately. I usually get them at Whole Foods. Extra-virgin olive oil: This is definitely a departure from tradition, as most similar recipes are made with butter. But I love the flavor of extra-virgin olive oil and I find that it really enhances the flavor of the pâté. Seasonings: I use kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and allspice. You can use chopped onions or shallots instead of the onion powder and cook them with the livers. Brandy: I really wouldn’t skip it in this recipe. It greatly enhances the flavor of the pâté. Heavy cream: Another important ingredient that adds creaminess and silkiness. I use just a little - ¼ cup.
Instructions
Making chicken liver pâté is surprisingly easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for the full instructions. Here are the basic steps: Your first step is to clean the livers from the white connective tissue. Then you season them with lots of yummy spices and cook them in olive oil. Next, transfer the cooked livers to your food processor. Now add the brandy to the skillet. Cook it on high to reduce it, then transfer it to the food processor. Add more olive oil and a little heavy cream to the food processor. Cover and process on high until the mixture is creamy and fluffy. The last step is to divide the mixture evenly among four individual ramekins. Cover and refrigerate the pâté for at least 2 hours before serving.
Expert tips
The most important thing when making this pâté, in my opinion, is to make sure you don’t overcook the livers (I should note that the USDA would disagree). They should still be pink in the middle. Properly cooked chicken livers are tender and flavorful. Overcooked ones are tough and gummy. The second tip is about when and how to enjoy the pâté. Definitely don’t try to eat it as soon as it’s ready! It’s not good when it’s still warm. It needs time to rest - at least 2 hours in the fridge. But it’s actually best to make it a day ahead and refrigerate it overnight. This helps firm up its texture and also ensures that all the tasty flavors are melded together. If refrigerating overnight, remove the pâté from the fridge 30 minutes before serving.
Frequently asked questions
Variations
The main way to vary this recipe is to use different types of fat for cooking the livers. Tasty options include melted butter, ghee, duck fat, and chicken fat. You can also replace the onion powder with ¼ cup of minced shallots or onions, cooked with the livers.
Serving suggestions
This tasty pâté is very good when served with any of the following:
Toasted keto 90-second breadToasted slices of almond flour breadAlmond flour crackersCucumber slicesPlain pork rinds
Storing leftovers
You can keep the pâté in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to three days. Remove it from the fridge 30 minutes before serving so that it’s not refrigerator-cold.
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