• Fast
• Make-Ahead

Ingredients

1. 1/2 pound chicken livers, well-trimmed
2. 1/2 small onion, thinly sliced
3. 1 small garlic clove, smashed and peeled
4. 1 bay leaf
5. 1/4 teaspoon thyme leaves
6. Kosher salt
7. 1/2 cup water
8. 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
9. 2 teaspoons Cognac or Scotch whisky
10. Freshly ground pepper
11. Toasted baguette slices, for serving

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the chicken livers, onion, garlic, bay leaf, thyme and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Add the water and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the livers are barely pink inside, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.
2. Discard the bay leaf. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the livers, onion and garlic to a food processor; process until coarsely pureed. With the machine on, add the butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, until incorporated. Add the Cognac, season with salt and pepper and process until completely smooth. Scrape the pâté into 2 or 3 large ramekins. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pâté and refrigerate until firm. Serve chilled.

Make Ahead

The pâté can be covered with a thin layer of melted butter, then wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 2 months.