Velvet Underground Appetizer (Printable Copy)

Sophisticated starter with creamy pâté, sweet jams, and crunchy nuts for delicious texture contrast.

# What You Need:

→ Pâté Base

01 - 7 oz smooth duck or chicken liver pâté (store-bought or homemade)

→ Jam Layer

02 - 4 tablespoons fig jam
03 - 2 tablespoons blackcurrant jam

→ Crunchy Surprises

04 - 1.75 oz roasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped
05 - 1 oz toasted walnuts, broken into pieces

→ Accompaniments

06 - 1 small baguette, thinly sliced and toasted (optional: gluten-free crackers or vegetable sticks)
07 - Fresh herbs (such as chives or parsley), finely chopped, for garnish

# How to Make:

01 - Spread half of the pâté evenly onto the base of a shallow serving dish or individual ramekins.
02 - Dot half of the fig jam and blackcurrant jam over the pâté, swirling lightly to create a marbled effect.
03 - Sprinkle half the chopped hazelnuts and walnuts evenly over the jam layer, gently pressing them in to embed beneath the surface.
04 - Repeat the layering process with the remaining pâté, jams, and nuts to form a second layer, ensuring some nuts remain hidden beneath the surface.
05 - Smooth the top with a spatula and garnish with additional chopped nuts and fresh herbs.
06 - Serve immediately accompanied by toasted baguette slices, gluten-free crackers, or vegetable sticks.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours preparing when it actually takes 15 minutes flat.
  • The textural contrast between creamy, jammy, and crunchy keeps every bite interesting.
  • Naturally gluten-free if you swap the baguette, making it perfect for mixed groups.
02 -
  • Don't use cold pâté straight from the refrigerator—let it sit for 10 minutes so it spreads without tearing and tastes less waxy.
  • The nuts need to be toasted before assembly; raw or barely warmed nuts taste flat and will sabotage your layers.
  • If your jam is too thick to dot and swirl smoothly, warm it for 30 seconds in the microwave—it should move like a gentle tide across the pâté.
03 -
  • Toast your own nuts if you can—store-bought roasted ones are convenient, but a quick pan toast on medium heat for 3-4 minutes brings out oils and depth that make the entire dish taste more intentional.
  • Serve this at the beginning of a meal, not at the end; the richness is meant as an opener, an invitation to the table, not a finale.
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