Velvet Underground Appetizer (Printable version)

Sophisticated layers of smooth pâté, sweet jams, and crunchy nuts create a textural and flavorful appetizer.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pâté Base

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

→ Jam Layer

02 - 4 tbsp fig jam
03 - 2 tbsp 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

# Directions:

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 for a marbled effect.
03 - Sprinkle half the hazelnuts and walnuts evenly over the jam layer, pressing gently to embed them.
04 - Layer the remaining pâté, fig jam, blackcurrant jam, and nuts to form a second tier with some nuts concealed 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's the rare appetizer that tastes impressive but comes together in minutes, no cooking required.
  • Those hidden nuts create a textural surprise that keeps people reaching for more bites.
  • You can make it hours ahead and let it sit quietly in the fridge, flavors getting cozier together.
02 -
  • The nuts must be at room temperature when you layer them—cold ones straight from the fridge won't press in and hide the way you want them to.
  • Don't smooth the top too aggressively or you'll push the jams and nuts around and lose that intentional-looking reveal of layers.
  • If your pâté feels too firm, let it sit out for ten minutes before spreading, otherwise you'll tear the texture underneath.
03 -
  • Press your nuts in with intention while the jam is still slightly sticky—they'll stay hidden and surprise people with each bite.
  • Always check labels on store-bought pâté and jams for allergens; the magic of this dish doesn't require any improvisation on safety.
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