BEEF LIVER PATE RECIPE RECIPES

1. Season the beef with black pepper. Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the beef, and cook over a high heat until browned all over.

2. Put the beef fillet in a roasting tin and cook in a preheated oven at 220C (200C fan, Gas 7) for 25 minutes for rare beef, 35 minutes for medium, or 40 minutes for well-done. Leave to cool completely.

3. Meanwhile, melt the butter in the frying pan, add the onion and the mushrooms, and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until softened. Increase the heat to high, and cook until the excess moisture has evaporated. Turn into a bowl and leave to cool completely.

4. Add the liver pâté to the mushroom and onion mixture, season with salt and pepper, and stir well to combine.

5. To wrap the beef and pâté mixture in the pastry, roll out 300g (10 oz) of the pastry to a 30 x 40 cm (12 x 16 in) rectangle. Spread half of the pate mixture down the middle, leaving a 10 cm (4 in) border on each side. 

Then, remove the string from the beef and place the beef on the pâté mixture. Cover the beef with the remaining pâté mixture.

Brush the pastry border with beaten egg. Fold the short sides of the pastry over the beef.

Fold over the long ends and turn the pastry over. Brush with beaten egg. Roll out the remaining pastry, and cut into strips, 5 mm (¼ in) wide. Arrange in a lattice pattern on top of the pastry, then glaze the strips with the beaten egg.

6. Bake at 220C (200C fan, Gas 7) for 45 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and golden. Cover with foil after 30 minutes to prevent the pastry becoming too brown. Leave to stand for about 10 minutes, then slice and serve with gravy.

Preheat the oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/gas mark 7. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large pan over a high heat. Season the beef with freshly ground black pepper, then put in the pan and sear for 1 minute on each side, until browned all over. Set aside to cool.

Roll out a third of the pastry into a long rectangle, just slightly larger than the length and width of the beef fillet. Place on a non-stick baking tray and prick well with a fork. Chill in the fridge for 15 minutes, then bake in the oven for 12 minutes, until brown and crisp. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

Heat the remaining oil in the pan. Add the mushrooms and shallots and cook over a medium heat for 5-10 minutes, until all the liquid has evaporated. Add the garlic and cook for a further minute. Tip into a bowl and stir through the pâté and herbs.

Roll out the remaining two-thirds of the pastry into a rectangle large enough to enclose the fillet. Place the beef on the cooked pastry and cover the top and sides with the mushroom mixture. Lay the rolled-out pastry over the top, tucking it under the pastry base to secure. Slice any trimmings into lengths and lay over the top to create a diamond effect, then brush the pastry with the egg yolk.

Cook in the oven for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas mark 6 and cook for a further 15 minutes, until golden and crisp. Remove from the oven and rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.