Chicken Liver Pate – Tuscan Crostini

Classic Tuscan crostini made with homemade chicken liver pate. A great festive treat made with parsley, sage, capers and garlic it's packed full of flavour and solid spread on crusty bread or added into pasta sauces.

You can buy chicken liver pate in supermarkets almost everywhere, especially in Italy where it's popular. But like most things in life, making your own at home is 10x better. You can adjust the flavours to your liking, it's fresh and packed full of flavour.

When we think of pate, we always think of this time of year. We love little nibbles and finger food, it's one of the things we love about the festive period (lots of party food) and what Christmas spread would be complete without chicken liver pate to spread on crackers or crusty bread!?

Chicken liver pate is so popular in Italy and it's what makes the classic Tuscan crostini, char-grilled crusty bread spread with good quality pate. It's often served in bars as an 'aperitivo' with drinks and makes a great antipasto.

When we were growing up pate was always brought out at Christmas time and we always loved it. As we got older and discovered our love for cooking, we realised how easy it was to make your own homemade chicken liver pate and of course how much more good it was.

How To Make Chicken Liver Pate – Step By Step

We have to admit we get a bit squeamish when we're dealing with livers. It's not something we cook a lot and it's only at this time of year that we cook with them. We will admit we always put on gloves to clean the livers which doesn't take long but it makes the handling of the livers much easier for us.

First, clean the livers by removing any green or yellow bits, wash and dry them well.

Roughly chop the livers and add them to a frying pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, chopped parsley and sage, capers, anchovies and a minced garlic clove.

Cook the mixture for 8-10 minutes on a medium heat then set aside to cool.

Add the liver mixture to a food processor and add 1 tablespoon of vin santo with the motor running, continue to blitz the liver into a smooth paste.

Add the smooth pate back into the frying pan with cubes of butter and cook, stirring the livers and butter together until completely mixed together. The pate will need to heat through so it melts in with the butter (around 3 minutes).

Transfer the pate into a ramekin or serving dish and leave to cool before chilling in the fridge until firm.

Tip: If you're planning on tipping the pate out of the dish or ramekin, line the dish with cling film first so you can remove it easily.

To assemble Tuscan Crostini

1. Cut thick slices of good quality crusty bread. Drizzle each slice with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
2. Place the bread on a hot griddle pan until charred on each side. Spread with homemade chicken liver pate and serve.

More antipasti recipes to try

Antipasti

Spiced Red Onion Chutney Crostini with Gorgonzola

Antipasti

Roasted Fennel, Salami and Ricotta Crostini

Pizza

Mini Sausage Pizzas with Pear and Gorgonzola

Dips & Pestos

Creamy White Bean Dip

Ingredients

Makes 10 people

• 10.5 oz (300g) chicken livers
• 1 heaped tsp caper
• 4 anchovy fillets
• 1 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 large handful parsley (finely chopped)
• 8 sage leaves (finely chopped)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp vin santo ((or marsala or sherry))
• 3.5 oz (100g) butter

Method

1. First, clean the livers by removing any green or yellow bits, wash and dry them well.

2. Roughly chop the livers and add them to a frying pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, chopped parsley, sage, capers, anchovies and a minced garlic clove.

3. Cook the mixture for 5 minutes on a medium heat then set aside to cool.

4. Add the liver mixture to a food processor and add 1 tablespoon of vin santo with the motor running, continue to blitz the liver into a smooth paste.

5. Add the smooth pate back into the frying pan with cubes of butter and cook, stirring the pate and butter together until completely mixed together. The pate will need to heat through so it melts in with the butter (around 3 minutes).

6. Transfer the pate into a ramekin or serving dish and leave to cool before chilling in the fridge until firm.

Kitchen notes

Tip: If you're planning on tipping the pate out of the dish or ramekin, line the dish with cling film first so you can remove it easily.

• Cals per serving 93

To make Tuscan Crostini:

• Cut thick slices of good quality crusty bread. Drizzle each slice with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
• Place the bread on a hot griddle pan until charred on each side. Spread with homemade chicken liver pate and serve.