Pâté is a French appetizer or first course made with finely ground meat, herbs and most often butter or bacon added for flavor and texture.
This gluten-free liver pate is easy to make, silky-smooth and savory. While some versions of pâté are baked in a terrine and served warm, this version is served cold as an appetizer with gluten-free crostini—toasted bread—or with gluten-free crackers or gluten-free corn tortilla chips.
Classic pâté is naturally gluten-free. The ingredients are simple and the cooking technique is easy. Serve this elegant appetizer potted in small ramekins with gluten-free crostini or crackers.
Place chicken livers in a strainer. Thoroughly rinse with cold water.
Cut fatty fiber from the liver.
Place cleaned liver in a glass bowl. Pour in enough milk to completely cover livers.
While liver is soaking, chop onions, mince cloves garlic and parsley.
When livers have soaked in milk for 2 hours, pour them into a mesh strainer and thoroughly drain. Discard milk.
Place 1 stick of butter in a large frying pan. Heat on medium-high. Add chopped onion and sauté for 5 minutes or until onion starts to brown. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add drained liver and cook over medium-high heat for about 6 minutes or until liver begins to turn brown but is still pink on the inside.
Add bay leaves, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 2 more minutes. Add cognac or brandy, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until liquids have reduced and livers are completely cooked through about 10 minutes.
Let mixture cool for about 15 minutes, discard bay leaves and pour into the bowl of food processor. Cut the remaining stick of butter into cubes. Add half of the butter to the liver and pulse several times. Add remaining butter and pulse until the pâté is smooth. Adjust seasonings to taste.
Use a spatula to scrape pâté into two 2-cup crocks or four 1-cup ramekins if you prefer. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight before serving. Liver pate can be made up to two days before serving.
This recipe serves about 12 as an appetizer. If you are planning on serving liver pâté for 6 to 8 people, cut the recipe in half and be sure to allow it to chill overnight for best flavor.
Reminder: Avoid cross-contamination with gluten in the kitchen! Always make sure your work surfaces, utensils, pans, and tools are free of gluten. Always read product labels. Manufacturers can change product formulations without notice. When in doubt, do not buy or use a product before contacting the manufacturer for verification that the product is free of gluten.