Name: Silky chicken liver parfait tart
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: Serves 6 with leftovers
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 250g plain flour; 2 tsp thyme leaves; 140g cold butter cut into cubes; 1 egg yolk; 1 tbsp milk; 140g chicken livers; 142ml pot double cream; 1 egg yolk; 1 tbsp brandy; 2 tsp port; 1 small garlic clove; 1 shallot roughly chopped; couple of thyme branches; pinch of grated nutmeg; 6 tbsp caramelised onion from a jar; 50g toasted hazelnuts cracked; 3 handfuls small salad leaves; 6 tbsp walnut oil or olive oil; 2 tsp balsamic vinegar; 3 figs quartered

For the thyme pastry

250g plain flour
2 tsp thyme leaves
140g cold butter
cut into cubes
1 egg yolk
1 tbsp milk

For the parfait

140g chicken livers
142ml pot double cream
1 egg
yolk
1 tbsp brandy
2 tsp port
1 small garlic clove
1 shallot
roughly chopped
couple of thyme
branches
pinch of grated nutmeg

To serve

6 tbsp caramelised onion
from a jar
50g toasted hazelnuts
cracked
3 handfuls small salad leaves
6 tbsp walnut oil
or olive oil
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
3 figs
quartered

Method

step 1
At least an hour before you want to make the tart, make the pastry. Tip the flour, thyme, butter and ½ tsp salt into a food processor and pulse to the texture of breadcrumbs. Add the egg yolk and milk and pulse again until it all starts to come together. Tip out and press into a ball of pastry. Wrap, then chill for at least 1 hr. Can be prepared up to 2 days ahead.
step 2
On a lightly floured surface, roll the pastry out and line an 11 x 33cm rectangular, fluted tart tin. (The pastry may break up as you work it, so patch over any broken bits.) Keep any excess trimmings. Chill the tart case in the fridge or freezer for 20 mins.
step 3
While the tart case is chilling, tip all the ingredients for the parfait into a clean food processor with a generous pinch of salt and a good grinding of pepper. Blitz until the mix is as smooth as it’s going to get, then push through a sieve into a jug and set aside.
step 4
Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Line the tart case with greaseproof paper and baking beans, then bake on a baking tray for 15 mins. Remove from the oven and remove the paper and beans. Check for any small holes or cracks in the pastry and patch up with the reserved trimmings. Place back in the oven for 15 mins, until golden. Remove from the oven and lower the oven to 120C/fan 100C/ gas ½. When the oven has cooled suitably, slide the tart case back into it, then fill as far as you can with the parfait mix. Bake the tart for 20 mins until just set. Leave to cool, trim any untidy edges, then remove from tin.
step 5
To serve, cut the tart into 6 slices. Place on plates, then place small blobs of caramelised onions and a scattering of hazelnuts around the tart. Neatly place a few salad leaves around and drizzle everything with oil and vinegar. Arrange 2 fig quarters on top of each slice and serve.