I get requests for this recipe every now and then: how to make your own pate. I’ve decided to share this tried and true recipe for the greater good (for your best health).
Chicken liver is nutrient-dense and considered to be a superfood of high-quality protein. It’s immune boosting properties make it highly prized. Apart from being super-rich in vitamin A, it contains numerous other micronutrients that are hard to come by naturally in other foods (namely B vitamins, Selenium, Iron, Copper, Zn). As a recap, micronutrient is a vitamin, mineral or trace element that your body cannot make adequately and must be consumed from the diet:
Vitamin A is important for eye health, proper cell development and maintaining heathy skin barrier and mucus that line the airways, digestive tract and urinary tract function; our first line of defence against infections.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) determined that B-group vitamins (especially B6, Folate, and B12 as necessary for a healthy immune system.
Iron is a component of important proteins like haemoglobin that transport oxygen to tissues throughout the body, making it a useful energizer and immune booster.[i]
The immune system utilises iodine to fight against infection[ii] and require selenium to facilitate these enzyme pathways[iii].
Copper is essential for numerous antioxidant pathways and regulate energy production and facilitates many bodily functions like iron metabolism.[iv]
Zinc is required for a robust immune system and provides structural, enzymatic and regulatory support to the body[v].
The best thing? this is an easy dish to prepare and you can set and forget, making it an entertainer’s delight!
I first made this recipe about 10 years ago when my colleague from Tamworth exclaimed how easy it was to make: it’s one of those set and forget dishes that you can ,make before a dinner or picnic, and the results are sure to impress.
Paleo chicken liver pate
Why chicken liver? It’s chock-full of micronutrients that you don’t get from muscle meat (chicken breast etc). The key to eating a diverse diet is to try something new and different every meal. If you’ve never had chicken liver, this is a great yummy introduction. Let’s jump into it:

Paleo Chicken liver pate (makes 4 x 300g jars)
300-500g chicken liver
300-350g butter (additional 25g to seal and coat the top of pate)
1 large onion, chopped up roughly
3 cloves garlic, minced
Sprigs of thyme
3 generous tbsp brandy/DOM
½ tsp salt
Generous twist of black pepper
4 sterilised jars
- To prepare jars for storing pate, preheat oven to 180 degrees and dry heat glass for 15 minutes.
- Heat butter in pan, sweat onion, add garlic and thyme till nice and soft (10 minutes). Remove and keep aside to cool down
- Add some butter in pan, add chicken liver and cook till pink (5 minutes). Remove and keep aside. Add liquor (brandy or DOM) to pan to de-glaze
- In a food processor, blitz ingredients together adding salt and pepper
- Using a spoon and spatula, fill up jars. Ensure top is flat and smooth.
- When cooled, melt 25g butter then coat each filled jar to prevent oxidation
How to eat this? I like to spread a generous layer on fresh sourdough or chopped up vegetable like cucumbers, radishes and tomatoes. Enjoy!
References:
[i] Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and the New Zealand Ministry of Health (NZ MoH).
[ii] Bilal MY, Dambaeva S, Kwak-Kim J, Gilman-Sachs A, Beaman KD. A Role for Iodide and Thyroglobulin in Modulating the Function of Human Immune Cells. Front Immunol. 2017;8:1573. Published 2017 Nov 15. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.01573
[iii] Avery JC, Hoffmann PR. Selenium, Selenoproteins, and Immunity. Nutrients. 2018; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10091203 , 10(9):1203.
[iv] Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and the New Zealand Ministry of Health (NZ MoH).
[v] Roohani N, Hurrell R, Kelishadi R, Schulin R. Zinc and its importance for human health: An integrative review. J Res Med Sci. 2013; 20/9/21), 18(2):144-157. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3724376/ (accessed 27/1/22)