If you have ever been for a three-course meal, then you might have considered paste for your starter. Paste, or Pate as it is often called, is a popular starter, served with fancy bread or toast.
There are lots of different flavors of pate and paste available, but without a doubt, one of the most popular is liver.
You can buy liver paste in most grocery stores, and for this reason, you might never have considered making your own. But homemade liver paste is so much better than anything that you will ever find in a store, so you should definitely give it a go.
Making your liver paste is actually very easy. To help make it even more stress-free, I’ve put together this handy guide to making your own liver paste, complete with a step-by-step recipe. So, let’s get started.
What is Liver Paste?
This might seem like a pretty obvious question, but if you weren’t aware, liver paste is a paste that is made using liver.
This might seem like a stupid question as the name pretty much says what this dish is, however when you look under the surface, you will realize that it isn’t actually silly at all.
All animals have liver, so you might be wondering what liver is used to make liver paste. Well, the choice is entirely yours. Most people choose between pork, beef, and chicken liver for making their paste, and chicken is by far the most popular choice.
This is mainly because chicken liver has great flavor. But, it is also because chicken liver is a lighter option. So, chicken paste looks a lot more attractive to eat, and it is actually healthier for you.
But where does liver paste come from? Who first invented it? Let’s take a look.
Where does Liver Paste come from?
Liver paste is now a dish that is enjoyed all over the world, but this is only a recent development. So, who actually invented liver paste? And what culture does it come from?
Although it is enjoyed in places like the UK, USA, and Germany, liver paste is actually a dish of Ukrainian origin. In fact, it is one of Ukraine’s national dishes. In Ukrainian culture, they also use chicken in the majority of liver pastes that they make.
This is a staple dish out in Ukraine, and on any birthday buffet or meal, you can guarantee that liver paste will be on the menu.
In recent years, liver paste has also become a staple in Western culture, with it being on the menu in many fancy restaurants. But what if you want to make it at home? Where would you begin?
Ingredients: What You Need
The key to making cooking as stress-free as possible is to be prepared. Before you even think about switching on your oven, you should gather all the equipment that you need and also all the ingredients.
To help you out, here’s a list of everything that you will need to make your liver paste.
Ingredients:
- 800 grams Chicken liver
- 400 grams Onions
- 300 grams Carrot
- 150 grams Butter
- Pinch of Salt
- Pinch of Pepper
Equipment:
- Sharp knife
- Grater
- Frying pan
- Blender/Grinder
- Wooden spoon
Once you have gathered everything that I have listed above, you can then move onto the methodology. Keep on reading to find out what to do next.
Recipe: Step-by-Step Guide
After you have all your equipment and ingredients gathered, then you are ready to get cooking. But, before you do, I would recommend reading through the recipe to familiarize yourself.
This will make the cooking process a lot easier and more stress-free. Once you have done this, you can get started.
Step One: Prepare Your Vegetables
The first thing you should do is prepare your vegetables. Take your onion and dice it using a sharp knife. Once you have done this, you should then take your grater and grate the carrot. Keep both vegetables separate from one another in different bowls.
Step Two: Prepare Your Liver
When you are done with your vegetables, you should move onto your meat. Begin by rinsing the liver so that it is clean of any germs or bacteria.
Once rinsed, take your sharp knife, and begin removing the liver membrane (if possible). You can then cut your liver up into chunks and set it aside.
Step Three: Cook Your Onions
Next, take your frying pan and add either olive oil or butter (I prefer butter). Heat the pan up, then add your onions and fry until they turn golden brown. If you choose butter, then you will find that your onions become very soft, which is perfect for the paste.
Once cooked, transfer your onions from your pan into a bowl.
Step Four: Cook Your Carrots
After you have taken the onions out of your frying pan, you can then add your carrot. Fry it briefly so that your carrots have browned lightly and have become soft. Once they are done, transfer them into a bowl.
Step Five: Cook Your Liver
You can then move onto your liver. Turn the hob to medium heat, then add your liver into the frying pan. Ensure that the liver does not burn, and add a sprinkle of salt and pepper to it to season. Once your liver has cooked through, remove it from the heat.
Step Six: Make Your Paste
When all your ingredients are cooked, you can then begin mixing your paste. This is the easiest step. Simply add your onions, carrot, and liver into a blender and blend. I would recommend doing this a couple of times to ensure that the mixture is soft.
Once that is done, add your butter, and more salt and pepper (if necessary) and mix with a spoon. Then place your paste in the fridge for an hour or two, so that it is cool when you serve it.
Summary
In short, this has been a quick and straightforward guide to making your own liver paste from scratch. So, if you fancy making this Ukrainian delicacy, follow this recipe to make it as easy as possible.