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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 perfect 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 very 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 I think of pate, I always think of this time of year. I absolutely love little nibbles and finger food, it’s one of the things I 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 I was growing up pate was always brought out at Christmas time and I always loved it. As I got older and discovered my love for cooking, I realised how easy it was to make your own homemade chicken liver pate and of course how much more delicious it was.
How To Make Chicken Liver Pate – Step By Step
I have to admit I get a bit squeamish when I’m dealing with livers. It’s not something I cook a lot and it’s only really at this time of year that I cook with them. I will admit I always put on gloves to clean the livers which doesn’t take long but it makes the handling of the livers much easier for me.
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, make sure to line the dish with cling film first so you can remove it easily.
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.
More Appetizers You Might Enjoy;
- Roasted fennel, salami and ricotta crostini
- Stracchino and sausage crostini
- Mini sausage pizzas with pear and gorgonzola
- Whipped ricotta dip with thyme roasted toamtoes
- Taleggio white bean dip
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Chicken Liver Pate Recipe - Tuscan Crostini
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- 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, sage, capers, anchovies and a minced garlic clove.
- Cook the mixture for 5 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 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).
- Transfer the pate into a ramekin or serving dish and leave to cool before chilling in the fridge until firm.
Notes
- Cals per serving 93
- 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.
Helpful Info for All Recipes
- I always use extra virgin olive oil in all of my recipes unless stated otherwise
- When I use canned or jarred tomatoes of any kind I always use Cirio or Mutti brands for the best results and flavour.
- All vegetables are medium sized unless stated otherwise
- All recipes are tested and developed using a fan (convection) oven
- Find out more about how nutrition is calculated.
- Check out our must have Italian Pantry Staples.
- You can also find all our Essential Kitchen Tools for Italian Cooking.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Great recipe!
I added a shallot first and a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, yummy!
I made a double batch.
Ciao, I am Emily as well. I am from Malta and I also love everything about Italy. Last year I visited beautiful Tuscany and every morning we had this liver pate for breakfast, really delicious.
Ciao Emily, Tuscany is so beautiful, especially in Autumn if you ever get a chance to visit at that time of year. I love this pate and it’s so easy to make. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Love the addition of capers and anchovies to the chicken livers. Going to try this next time I make pate.
I love chicken liver pate so this looks amazing to me. I also associate pate with this time of year.
I love love love chicken liver pate. My mum makes it a lot but now I’m at the other side of the world so I need to make it myself! Going to make this over the weekend, thanks!
I love liver pate, but unfortunately I am the only one in my home. It does not matter anyway, I can eat the entire ramekin. I normally use cognac and never added capers. It is a great idea, I will try to add them next time. Yum!