In a medium, heavy-bottomed sauté pan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the cold butter. Add the onion, shallots, and garlic. Sweat gently for 3-4 minutes until soft and translucent – do not brown. Add the crushed peppercorns, thyme, and bay leaf. Cook 1 minute.
Serve it with a glass of chilled Krug (if you’re at the restaurant) or a crisp Sauvignon Blanc (if you’re at home). The mousse should be so light that it seems to evaporate on your tongue, leaving only the echo of Madeira and sweet cream. chicken liver mousse recipe thomas keller full
If you’d like the second option, here is a short, original culinary paper on the technique and philosophy behind Thomas Keller’s chicken liver mousse approach. Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity | Notes | |------------|----------|-------| | Chicken livers | 450 g (1 lb) | Cleaned, no green spots (bile) | | Whole milk | 2 cups (480 ml) | For soaking | | Unsalted butter | 170 g (12 tbsp) | Divided; softened | | Shallot | 1 large (approx 40 g) | Finely chopped | | Garlic | 1 clove | Smashed | | Thyme sprigs | 2 | Fresh | | Bay leaf | 1 | Dried or fresh | | Cognac or brandy | 60 ml (¼ cup) | Or dry sherry | | Heavy cream | 240 ml (1 cup) | Warm | | Kosher salt | 1½ tsp (9 g) | Diamond Crystal preferred | | Pink curing salt #1 | ¼ tsp (optional) | For color; Keller often omits at home | | Black pepper | ½ tsp | Freshly ground | | Egg yolk | 1 large | Room temp | 1 pound chicken livers, cleaned and patted dry
Yields: Approximately 1 quart