This Super-Creamy Pâté Is an Instant Party Hit (2024)

  • Recipes
  • Recipes By World Cuisine
  • French

Spread this creamy pâté on bread or crackers for an instant party hit!

By

Elise Bauer

This Super-Creamy Pâté Is an Instant Party Hit (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated March 28, 2024

13 Ratings

This Super-Creamy Pâté Is an Instant Party Hit (2)

Chicken liver pâté—looks atrocious, tastes great!

In fact, this is one of those instances where you pity the fool who refuses to eat something because it doesn't look appetizing. And then you're secretly happy because that means there's more for you.

Chicken liver pâté is perfect for spreading over crackers or toasted thin baguette slices. And unlike so many of the pâtés we make that require a weighted terrine in a water bath, this one is easy to make and takes hardly any time.

This Super-Creamy Pâté Is an Instant Party Hit (3)

How to Cook Chicken Livers

You just trim the chicken livers of their connective tissue, sauté them in butter with shallots, garlic, and capers, add a little brandy, and then purée with cream and a little more butter. It's best served chilled, and because of its richness, a little goes a long way.

This Super-Creamy Pâté Is an Instant Party Hit (4)

How Long Can You Store Chicken Liver Pâté?

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.

Freezer: Tightly wrap leftover pâté in plastic wrap and then place it in a layer of foil, a freezer-safe zipper bag, or an airtight freezer-safe container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the pâté overnight in the refrigerator.

Party Appetizers to Serve with Chicken Liver Pâté

  • Asparagus and Ricotta Bruschetta
  • Easiest Ever Garlic Bread
  • Caramelized Onion Tart with Gorgonzola and Brie
  • Gouda and Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms
  • Mediterranean Mezze Platter

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Chicken Liver Pâté

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time30 mins

Servings16 servings

If you want, you can soak the chicken livers in milk for an hour or so before proceeding with the recipe. Soaking the livers in milk will take a bit of the edge off the liver and make them taste milder. This recipe makes a lot. You can easily halve (or double).

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

  • 1/3 cup minced shallot

  • 1 pound chicken livers

  • Kosher salt

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • 2 tablespoons capers

  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1 teaspoon anchovy paste, optional

  • 1/4 cup brandy

  • 1/4 cup cream

Special Equipment

  • Food processor

Method

  1. Trim the connective tissue andfat:

    Trim any fat or connective tissue from the livers and discard.

    This Super-Creamy Pâté Is an Instant Party Hit (5)

    This Super-Creamy Pâté Is an Instant Party Hit (6)

  2. Brown the butter:

    Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large sauté pan on medium heat and let the butter brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Do not let it burn.

    How to Make Brown ButterREAD MORE:
  3. Sauté the shallots and livers:

    Add the shallots and sauté for 1 minute. Add the livers. Be sure to space them well in the pan so they can brown more easily. Sprinkle salt over the livers. Flip the livers when one side browns, about 2 minutes.

    This Super-Creamy Pâté Is an Instant Party Hit (7)

  4. Add the capers, thyme, garlic, and anchovy paste:

    Once the livers have browned, add the capers, thyme, garlic, and anchovy paste if using, and sauté another minute.

  5. Deglaze the pan with brandy:

    Take the pan off the heat and add the brandy. (Be careful when you return it to the heat, as it could flame up, especially if you are using a gas range. If it does, cover the pan for a moment.) Increase the heat to high and let the brandy boil and reduce to the consistency of syrup, about 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off heat and allow the mixture to cool.

    This Super-Creamy Pâté Is an Instant Party Hit (8)

  6. Purée in a food processor:

    Put the mixture into a food processor or blender and pulse a few times to combine. Add the remaining butter and the cream and purée. The mixture will look a little loose, but it will firm up in the fridge.

  7. Pack into ramekins and chill:

    Pack the pâté into ramekins or a small bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before using.

    The pâté will last a week or so in the fridge. If you want to preserve it for up to a 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.

    Serve spread on crackers or baguette slices.

    Did you enjoy this recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!

  • Christmas Appetizers
  • Chicken Liver
  • French
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
108Calories
8g Fat
1g Carbs
7g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories108
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g10%
Saturated Fat 4g21%
Cholesterol 175mg58%
Sodium 85mg4%
Total Carbohydrate 1g0%
Dietary Fiber 0g1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 8mg42%
Calcium 10mg1%
Iron 3mg19%
Potassium 92mg2%
*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. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

This Super-Creamy Pâté Is an Instant Party Hit (2024)

FAQs

How do you serve pâté for a party? ›

Pate served on toasted bread or baguette along with a large green salad makes a simple, but scrumptious lunch or small meal. Again, cornichons make a nice addition to the plate. For a special presentation, slice the cornichon lengthwise in four to six slices and fan them out, placing one on each piece of Pate.

How long does pâté last? ›

Freshly made pâté lasts for about a week in the refrigerator and is best consumed within the first 3-4 days after making. Commercially packaged pâtés differ from manufacturer to manufacturer: their shelf life can last from as little as just 3 months up to 24, depending on the recipe and preservation method (ex.

What are the basics of pâté? ›

A pâté often contains chicken, pork, duck, goose, or other game and common additions include vegetables, herbs, spices, and either wine or brandy (often cognac or sherry). Pâté can be served either hot or cold, but it is considered best enjoyed at room temperature.

What's the difference between meat paste and pâté? ›

The most common types of pastes consist of offal, or meat (e.g., chicken, beef, rabbit, pork), but pate can also be made from vegetables and other ingredients; and 'all of the above'; with recipe variations too numerous to mention.

How to serve pâté on a charcuterie board? ›

Choose Your Accompaniments

Seasonal fruits, such as figs, pears and apples are a classic way to add balance, and a drizzle of honey enhances the savory flavors of pâtés and cheeses. Nuts add texture and provide a palette-cleansing effect, which is important when you're hosting an array of flavors.

What is pâté best served on? ›

For an elegant and tasty appetizer, serve any type of pâté with a fresh baguette, sliced toasted bread.

Do I need to refrigerate pâté? ›

Alexian pâtés should always be stored in the refrigerator. Once opened, we recommend removing the pâté from the original packaging and wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap. Then place it into an airtight resealable plastic bag to keep it fresh.

How much pâté is safe to eat? ›

not eating liver or liver products, such as pate, more than once a week - or having smaller portions of these.

What cheese goes with pâté? ›

As the name suggests, hard cheese is firm and goes perfectly well with our creamy and decadent mousse pâtés. Often savory, hard cheese can be divided into two categories: hard (such as Parmesan), and semi-hard (such as Gouda). We suggest pairing the former with Black Peppercorn, and the latter with Chicken Liver.

Why is pâté 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.

What is a fun fact about pâté? ›

The word "pâté" is related to the word "pasta." This isn't just a fun fact of linguistics. Pâté was indeed related to dough. A few centuries ago, pâté was prepared the same way it is today — minced meat was chopped, carrots, onions and spices were added.

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 pâté called in America? ›

According to Larousse Gastronomique, when there is a pastry case the dish is pâté en croute and when there is not, and the mixture is cooked in a dish (called a terrine), it is pâté en terrine, often abbreviated to terrine or pâté, terms used interchangeably in both French and English usage.

What is the main ingredient of pâté? ›

Pâté is often made of pig meat and parts, but wild game like snipe, partridge, venison or wild boar can be cooked into a pâté, as can farm-raised duck, rabbit or pheasant. Even vegetables can be made into pâté. Lean meats might require the addition of some pork fat to keep the pâté from drying out in the oven.

Is pâté good for you? ›

Adding pâté to your diet boosts your micronutrient intake, which offers some health benefits, but it also increases your intake of fat and cholesterol. Consume pâté in moderation as a treat, but don't make it a daily part of your diet.

Do you put pâté on bread or toast? ›

Yes. Toast and unless your paté is a “potted” version sealed under butter, that toast must be buttered. There is nothing that cannot be improved by the addition of butter. A grilled, properly spiky sourdough bread would be the ideal here, but any decent, thick-cut real white or granary bread will do.

How do you garnish pâté? ›

A smoother, parfait-style pate can be served with something sweeter. An onion marmalade or caramelized onions are particularly good or you could serve it with raisins or sultanas steeped in Pedro Ximenez or sweet Marsala or Nigella's Rich Fruit Chutney from her book Christmas, which is made with dried fruits.

How to serve pâté on crackers? ›

A water cracker with a thin slice of fontina cheese, tomato, and Vegetable Pâté is sure to refresh, while a snack of Tomato Basil Pâté and cherry tomatoes can be whipped up in a jiffy. If you're up to a bit more prep work, cabbage and pâté rolls are absolutely to die for. Revenge is a dish best served cold.

How much pâté per person? ›

Plan to have about two to three ounces of pâté per person.

References

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