Truffled Chicken Liver Mousse Recipes

Steps:

• Clean the chicken livers of any bile residue, cut out the nerves, and season them with salt and pepper and the quatre epices.
• Put the grapeseed oil into a large hot skillet and add the livers, sage, shallots, garlic and thyme. Toss the mixture well and cook over moderately high heat until the livers are medium rare. Add the Cognac, flambe the mixture, tossing it well, and transfer it to a sieve set over a bowl and refrigerate the mixture for 1 hour.
• Add the port and marsala wines to the skillet and deglaze the pan, stirring well. Reduce the liquid by three-fourths and transfer to a small bowl.
• When the livers are cold, transfer them to a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the reduced wine and softened butter and pulse to combine. Taste for seasonings.
• Force the mixture through a fine mesh sieve, transfer it to a small terrine lined with plastic wrap and refrigerate, covered with plastic wrap. The mousse is ready to serve when it is fully chilled.
• Serve the mousse with cornichons and toasted sliced French bread. The mousse makes a perfect hor d'oeuvre for cocktails.
• In a spice or coffee grinder, grind the spices to a powder and store it in a small sealed container.

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and thyme and cook until the onions are softened, about 3 minutes. Add the chicken livers and cook until firm but still pink inside, about 3 minutes.
• Remove the skillet from heat, add the salt, pepper and brandy, and deglaze the pan by stirring and scraping up the brown bits from the bottom; cool.
• Remove the thyme stems from the skillet, transfer the chicken liver mixture to a blender, puree until smooth and transfer to a bowl.
• In another medium bowl, use an electric hand mixer to whip the heavy cream to medium peaks. Fold the whipped cream into the liver mixture, taste and adjust the seasoning. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
• Serve the mousse with toasted baguette slices and garnish with pickled onions.

Steps:

• Trim the livers of all connective tissue and cut away any green areas. In a glass or stainless steel bowl, combine the bay leaves, garlic, brandy and Marsala. Toss with the livers. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Drain the livers, reserving the marinade. Pat them dry with paper towels. In a large heavy skillet, heat the 4 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add the livers, the reserved bay leaves, and garlic, and toss 20 seconds or until the livers lose their red color. Pour in the marinade and boil about 2 minutes. The livers should be firm but still pink inside. Scoop them out of the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside. Continue boiling down the liquid until all of it has evaporated and the butter sputters. Add the 2 tablespoons of stock to the pan and scrape the contents over the livers. Cool to room temperature. Puree the livers in a food processor until smooth. Season aggressively with salt and freshly ground pepper. Have a large bowl of ice handy. In a medium bowl, whip the 10 tablespoons butter with a portable beater at medium speed until fluffy. Gradually beat in the liver puree, then set the bowl over ice and continue beating at medium speed 8 to 10 minutes, or until the mixture has lightened in color and is very fluffy. Cover and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours. To serve, bring the mousse close to room temperature. Spoon it into individual 3-inch ramekins or crocks, or mound it in a 3-cup terrine. Sprinkle generously with the shaved truffle. Accompany with bite-sized pieces of crusty bread. This recipe yields 8 to 10 servings.

Steps:

• Butter the inside of a small crock; set aside. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onion, and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low; add livers, and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook, stirring frequently, until just cooked through, about 15 minutes. Lift livers from pan; transfer to a bowl until completely cool.
• Return pan to medium heat; add cognac. Tilt pan to ignite cognac; cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat; set aside until cool.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the reserved livers and the pan juices. Chop the truffles, and add them and the butter to food processor. Process until almost completely smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer pate to prepared crock, smooth the top, cover well, and refrigerate up to 3 days, until ready to serve.

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cook shallot in oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Remove from heat and carefully add Cognac (use caution; if Cognac ignites, shake skillet), then boil until reduced to about 2 tablespoons, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Transfer to a blender and add livers and yolks, then purée until smooth. Add milk, flour, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and allspice and blend until combined. Pour into crock, skimming off any foam.
• Put crock in a larger baking pan and bake in a water bath until mousse is just set and a small sharp knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 55 minutes.
• Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat, then remove from heat and let stand 3 minutes.
• Arrange bay leaves decoratively on top of mousse. Skim froth from butter, then spoon enough clarified butter over mousse to cover its surface, leaving milky solids in bottom of saucepan.
• Chill mousse completely, uncovered, about 4 hours. Bring to room temperature about 1 hour before serving.

Steps:

• Season chicken livers with salt and freshly ground pink peppercorns.
• Heat a large sauté pan coated with oil over medium heat. Add chicken livers and sear lightly on one side. Immediately add the shallots, thyme and marjoram. Continue to cook together for 2 minutes or so. Flip the livers and sear for an additional 1½ to 2 minutes until the livers are firm and pink in the center. Add lemon zest and cognac, and cook until it is nearly dry.
• Transfer immediately to a blender, pour in the cream and blend on medium speed, gradually adding the butter. Blend until completely smooth.
• Pour mixture into ramekins or jars. Cover with plastic wrap, lightly pressing the wrap to the surface of the mousse so that it doesn't oxidize. Chill in the refrigerator until set, roughly 4 to 6 hours. This can be made a day in advance if needed.