Chicken Liver Parfait w Orange & Date Chutney

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Start every meal with this divine, silky parfait & chutney, you won’t regret it.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook time: 40 mins

Serves: 8

Ingredients

PARFAIT
2 shallots, diced
1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
4 tsp port
4 tsp brandy
1 sprig thyme
250g chicken livers (at room temp –
cleaned, sinews removed), roughly chopped
2 eggs, room temperature
250g butter, melted (not hot)
salt and freshly ground black pepper

CLARIFIED BUTTER (OPTIONAL)
200g butter
large sprig thyme

CHUTNEY
250g oranges
375g sugar
3 tbsp golden syrup
1 tbsp salt
pinch dried chilli flakes
625ml malt vinegar
250g onions, chopped
250g dates, stoned & roughly chopped

Instructions

Preheat oven to 170 and have 8 ramekins or 6 jars (see pic) ready.

Place shallots, garlic, port, brandy and 1 sprig of thyme in a small saucepan.  Bring to a boil, simmer and reduce until almost syrupy (4 – 5 mins).  Remove from the heat, cool to room temp and discard the thyme sprig.

Blend (in batches if needs be) together the chicken livers, eggs, cooled shallots & sauce and 250g melted butter to a thick puree.  Season with salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper.

Press through a sieve, scraping all the goodness from the bottom of the sieve, then pour into the ramekins (jars).  Place a square of foil over the tops of each and place in a roasting dish. 

Pour hot water into the dish, just up to the middle of the ramekins (jars).  Carefully place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. A good indication they are cooked, the centre is a little raised.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before popping in the refrigerator.  If you like, cover the parfaits with a little sprig of thyme and some clarified butter.

Melt the 200g of butter in a saucepan.  When it has melted and separated, spoon the clear butter over the tops of the parfait.  Decorate with a sprig of thyme.

CHUTNEY
Finely grate the skin of half the oranges, and use a zester for the rest, so you you have curly thicker pieces and also a fine zest (try not to get any white pith as it can be very bitter).

Working over a bowl to catch any juices, peel the oranges, removing any white pith.  Remove the orange segments (discard any pips) and roughly chop.

Pop the sugar, syrup, salt, chilli flakes and vinegar in to a large saucepan.  Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.  Pour in the oranges, juice, onion, dates and fine zest, stir well.  Reduce the heat and simmer until thick (about 1 hour).  Remove from the hat and stir in the remaining zest.  When completely cool, pour into airtight sterilised jars and serve with the parfait, or it’s also gorgeous with blue cheese or BBQ meat.

Jax Says : the parfait can be frozen, once chilled and will last in the freezer for up to 1 month.  This is fabulous when entertaining, I just pull one out an hour before my guests arrive and I’m good to go.