Wrapped in streaky bacon and studded with cranberries and pistachios, this terrine recipe makes a show-stopping starter for Christmas Day or dinner parties.
This easy terrine recipe is packed with chicken, pork, pistachios and cranberries, though you could also use leftover roast turkey for additional festive flair! It makes a delicious dinner party starter with crusty bread, cranberry relish, and cornichons.
skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1cm (½in) pieces
500g
pack pork mince
50g
(2oz) pistachios, roughly chopped
50g
(2oz) dried cranberries
¾ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
2
thyme sprigs, leaves picked off
Directions
Step 1
Heat the oil in a medium pan and gently cook the onion for 10min until softened. Carefully add the brandy, if using, and bubble for 30sec, then tip mixture into a large bowl and set aside to cool.
Step 2
Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4. Use about 10 of the rashers to line the inside of a 900g (2lb) loaf tin with bacon, leaving excess hanging over the sides. To the cooled onion bowl, add chopped chicken, pork, pistachios, cranberries, nutmeg, thyme leaves and plenty of seasoning (it needs a fair amount of salt). Mix together.
Step 3
Press the mixture into the loaf tin, levelling the surface. Fold any overhanging bacon over the filling; cover with remaining rashers. Press down again to make sure the surface is smooth. Lightly oil a small sheet of aluminium foil and press on top of the loaf tin. Wrap tin well in a further double layer of foil, then put into a roasting tin.
Step 4
Half-fill the roasting tin with boiling water from the kettle and carefully transfer to oven. Cook for 1½hr until the terrine feels solid when pressed. Lift tin out of the water. Unwrap the outer layers of foil (leaving the greased foil layer in place). Carefully pour out any liquid from the terrine (this will set into a jelly if not done). Leave to cool.
Step 5
Sit the loaf tin on a baking tray and sit three tins of tomatoes (or similar) on top of the terrine (resting on the foil layer). Chill overnight.
Step 6
To serve, preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6. Unmould the terrine on to a baking tray and lightly brush with oil. Brown in the oven for 20-25min (if you don't want the terrine browned, leave this step out). Serve the terrine warm or at room temperature in slices with fruit chutney and toast.
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