Endive with Chicken Liver Pâte and Dried-Cherry Marmalade

An elegant appetizer featuring endive leaves topped with rich chicken liver pâté and a sweet-tart dried cherry marmalade, finished with fresh orange zest. Perfect for sophisticated entertaining.

8 servings

2 hr 30 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•¾ cup dried cherries
•½ cup dry red wine
•3 tablespoons rendered chicken fat (schmaltz) or olive oil
•1 large yellow onion
•1 tablespoon fresh thyme or marjoram leaves
•2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
•¼ cup rendered chicken fat (schmaltz) or olive oil
•2 pounds raw chicken livers
•1 teaspoon kosher salt
•½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
•5 heads endive
•2 whole orange zest

Cooking Instructions

1.
In a small bowl, combine the cherries and red wine and let sit until the cherries have softened a bit, at least one hour and up to overnight.
60 min
2.
In a medium sauté pan over moderately low heat, warm the chicken fat or olive oil. Add the onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and caramelized, about 40 minutes. Increase the heat to moderately high, add the thyme or marjoram, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, the cherries, and the wine they soaked in. Cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the remaining tablespoon red wine vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool. DO AHEAD: The cherry marmalade can be made ahead and stored, in an airtight container in the refrigerator, up to 3 days.
45 min
3.
Arrange a rack about 6 inches from the flame of a broiler. Place the broiler pan or a baking sheet on the rack and preheat the broiler.
5 min
4.
If using chicken fat, in a small saucepan over low heat warm the fat until melted. In a large bowl, toss together the livers, about 2 tablespoons melted chicken fat or the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Arrange the livers, in a single layer, on the preheated broiler pan or baking sheet and broil for 2 minutes. Flip the livers and continue broiling until tender when pressed and pale brown in color, about 1 minute more. Transfer the livers to a cutting board and let cool.
10 min
5.
Once the livers are cool enough to handle, coarsely chop them, making sure to leave them chunky. Transfer to a large bowl, drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons warmed chicken fat or olive oil, and gently toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
15 min
6.
Separate the endive leaves and arrange on a platter. Fill each endive leaf with about 2 tablespoons pâté, top with a dollop of cherry marmalade, and finish with a sprinkle of orange zest. Serve immediately.
15 min

Ingredients

•¾ cup dried cherries

•½ cup dry red wine

•3 tablespoons rendered chicken fat (schmaltz) or olive oil

•1 large yellow onion

•1 tablespoon fresh thyme or marjoram leaves

•2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

•¼ cup rendered chicken fat (schmaltz) or olive oil

•2 pounds raw chicken livers

•1 teaspoon kosher salt

•½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

•5 heads endive

•2 whole orange zest

Cooking Instructions

In a small bowl, combine the cherries and red wine and let sit until the cherries have softened a bit, at least one hour and up to overnight.

60 min

In a medium sauté pan over moderately low heat, warm the chicken fat or olive oil. Add the onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and caramelized, about 40 minutes. Increase the heat to moderately high, add the thyme or marjoram, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, the cherries, and the wine they soaked in. Cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the remaining tablespoon red wine vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool. DO AHEAD: The cherry marmalade can be made ahead and stored, in an airtight container in the refrigerator, up to 3 days.

45 min

Arrange a rack about 6 inches from the flame of a broiler. Place the broiler pan or a baking sheet on the rack and preheat the broiler.

5 min

If using chicken fat, in a small saucepan over low heat warm the fat until melted. In a large bowl, toss together the livers, about 2 tablespoons melted chicken fat or the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Arrange the livers, in a single layer, on the preheated broiler pan or baking sheet and broil for 2 minutes. Flip the livers and continue broiling until tender when pressed and pale brown in color, about 1 minute more. Transfer the livers to a cutting board and let cool.

10 min

Once the livers are cool enough to handle, coarsely chop them, making sure to leave them chunky. Transfer to a large bowl, drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons warmed chicken fat or olive oil, and gently toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

15 min

Separate the endive leaves and arrange on a platter. Fill each endive leaf with about 2 tablespoons pâté, top with a dollop of cherry marmalade, and finish with a sprinkle of orange zest. Serve immediately.

15 min