Liver Tarragon Recipes

Steps:

• Melt a large knob of the butter in a large frying pan and cook the chicken livers for 3-4 minutes on each side until well browned but still slightly pink in the centre.
• Place in a food processor and whizz until smooth. Remove the pan from the heat, add the brandy and swirl around to gather up the pan juices. Add to the food processor with the garlic, tarragon and the remaining butter and whizz again until well blended.
• Add some salt and pepper followed by the cream and process again until well mixed. Spoon into 6 ramekins, smoothing the surface level, and leave to cool completely.
• To finish off, melt the butter and pour over the surface of the pate. Drop in a few tarragon leaves as decoration.
• Cover with cling film and chill for at least a few hours, but up to a day or two. Serve straight from the fridge with hot, buttered toast, or melba toast if you're feeling posh.

Steps:

• *Cook's Note: You will need half of the herbs when you start the recipe and half in 2 weeks. It is best to purchase the second half of the herbs when they are needed.
• If using pint jars for storage, you will need 3 jars. If using small wine bottles, each holds approximately 13 ounces; therefore, you will need 4 bottles.
• Put the water and bleach in a large container. Dunk 12 sprigs of tarragon and 12 chive shoots in the solution, and then rinse in cold water. Pat dry.
• Heat the vinegar in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, and heat until vinegar reaches 190 degrees F. Place the herbs in a container large enough to hold the vinegar. Pour the vinegar over the herbs, and after the vinegar has cooled, place the lid on the container. Set in a cool dark place for 2 weeks.
• After 2 weeks, sanitize the second half of the herbs as previously, rinse, pat dry, and set aside.
• Sterilize the containers and lids that you will store the vinegar in by immersing them in a large pot of boiling water and boiling for 10 minutes. If using corks, purchase pre-sterilized corks, and then dip them in and out of boiling water 3 to 4 times.
• Discard the old herbs. Strain the vinegar through a sanitized colander or funnel lined with cheesecloth. Divide the fresh herbs among the containers and pour the vinegar over them. Seal and refrigerate. The vinegar may be stored at room temperature for 5 to 6 weeks or in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.

Steps:

• Wipe the liver dry with paper towels and dredge lightly with flour, shaking off excess.
• Melt the butter in a large frying pan and brown the liver pieces on both sides. Remove to a dish and keep warm.
• Add the garlic, saute for a minute, then add the Irish whisky and bring to a boil. Add the stock and cook, stirring, until thickened.
• Add the tarragon and heavy cream and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Return the liver to the pan and coat with the sauce. (Allow the liver to cook a little more if necessary, but beware of overcooking.)

Steps:

• Heat butter in a large frying pan. Add shallots, leek and garlic, then gently fry for 7 mins until softened.
• Increase the heat, add the chestnut and the shiitake mushrooms, then cook for 10 mins, stirring, until the juices have evaporated and the mushrooms are tender. Stir in the mustard and crème fraîche, then season well. Cook for a further 2 mins then stir in the chopped tarragon.
• Preheat the grill. Cut the French stick into diagonal slices, drizzle with a little olive oil, then grill until golden. Spoon the hot pâté on to the toasts, garnish with the extra tarragon, then serve with salad leaves.

Steps:

• Put 100g butter, shallots, garlic, orange and thyme in a pan and fry gently for 8 mins.
• Add the chicken livers and cook gently for another 4 mins.
• Add the port or marsala and cook for a further min, then tip it all into a blender.
• Blitz until smooth, season, then add the remaining butter and blitz again.
• Sieve into a pretty bowl and put it straight into the fridge.
• Give it a couple of hours to set, then spread on crackers.

Steps:

• Cut stems from mushrooms (reserve for making mushroom stock, if desired) and cut them to bottom into halves or quarters. If they seem at all sandy, swish them very briefly in a bowl of warm water and blot on kitchen towels, then set aside. Put a large pot of water on to boil for the pasta.
• Trim chicken livers: cut each liver into two lobes, discarding any veiny bits, then cut livers into 1-inch pieces. Put about 1 cup flour in a low bowl and add 1 teaspoon salt, a generous amount of black pepper and a pinch of cayenne. Dip liver chunks in flour mixture, then set them aside in one layer on a baking sheet.
• Heat olive oil in a wide skillet over medium high heat. Quickly brown liver pieces on all sides, then remove them from the pan and blot on paper towels.
• Add butter and shallots to pan and cook, stirring frequently, until shallots are softened and beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms, season generously with salt and pepper and cook them together with the shallots for about 5 minutes, until they are somewhat soft.
• Add sherry and cook for a minute or so, then add 2 cups chicken stock. Bring to a simmer and add previously browned liver. Cook for about 5 minutes. It should look quite saucy. Add more chicken stock, if necessary. Taste and adjust seasoning. Stir in crème fraîche and turn off heat
• Boil pasta until al dente and drain. While pasta is cooking, beat egg yolks, lemon juice and lemon zest together in a small bowl. Pour egg mixture slowly into chicken liver sauce, then stir for a minute or so over low heat until slightly thickened, being careful not to curdle egg.
• Divide pasta among bowls and spoon sauce over. Mix tarragon, parsley and chives together and sprinkle over each serving. Scatter prosciutto ribbons on top, if using, and serve immediately.