# The Carnivore’s "Tart": Whipped Calf’s Liver Pate on Crispy Chicken Skin
*Rich, velvety liver mousse served atop a crackling, salty chicken skin "crust"*

## Headnote
The first time I served this, it was a desperate experiment to find a "cracker" that didn't involve flour or seeds. What resulted was something far superior to a standard appetizer; it’s a study in textures. The chicken skin, rendered flat and slow, provides a shattering, savory base that stands up to the decadence of the liver. It turns a humble organ meat into something that feels like high-end French charcuterie.

The secret to this pate is the temperature of the butter and the liver. If they are too hot when you blend them, the fat will break and leave you with a grainy mess. If they are too cold, they won't emulsify. You want them both just warm to the touch—pliant, but not liquid. This ensures a texture that is closer to silk than meat.

**Prep time:** 20 min
**Cook time:** 45 min
**Total time:** 65 min
**Yield:** 6–8 servings
**Difficulty:** Medium

## Ingredients
**For the Chicken Skin "Tarts":**
*   1 lb chicken skins (sourced from a butcher or peeled from 6–8 large thighs)
*   1 tsp coarse sea salt
*   1/2 tsp smoked paprika (optional)

**For the Whipped Liver Pate:**
*   1 lb calf’s liver (or chicken livers), cleaned and trimmed of connective tissue
*   4 tbsp beef tallow or lard
*   1/2 cup heavy cream (or 1/4 cup bone broth for a dairy-free version)
*   1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened and cubed
*   1 tsp fine sea salt
*   1/4 tsp ground white pepper
*   1/8 tsp ground cloves

## Method
1. Pre-heat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and lay the chicken skins out flat, ensuring they do not overlap.
3. Sprinkle the skins evenly with coarse sea salt and the smoked paprika.
4. Place another sheet of parchment paper over the skins and weigh them down with a second baking sheet to keep them perfectly flat as they render.
5. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the skins are deep golden brown and the bubbling fat has mostly subsided.
6. Transfer the crispy skins to a wire rack immediately—they will continue to crisp as they cool.
7. Melt the beef tallow in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers.
8. Add the liver to the skillet in a single layer and sear for 2 minutes per side, until the exterior is browned but the center remains slightly pink and tender.
9. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the liver cool for 5 minutes until it is warm but no longer steaming.
10. Place the warm liver, salt, white pepper, and cloves into a high-speed blender or food processor.
11. Pulse the liver until it forms a chunky paste, then slowly pour in the heavy cream while the motor is running.
12. Add the softened butter one cube at a time, processing until the mixture is completely smooth and pale.
13. Pass the pate through a fine-mesh sieve using the back of a spoon to remove any remaining fibers for a professional "mousse" finish.
14. Chill the pate in a covered container for at least 30 minutes to allow it to firm up slightly.
15. Dollop or pipe a tablespoon of the pate onto each piece of cooled, crispy chicken skin just before serving.

## Variations
**The Smoky Hunter**: Substitute calf’s liver with venison or elk liver and replace the butter with smoked bacon fat for a deeper, more primitive flavor profile.
**Sage & Marrow**: Sauté 4–5 fresh sage leaves in the tallow before adding the liver, and swap half the butter for chilled, roasted bone marrow.
**High-Acid carnivore**: If you allow fermented seasonings, add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar or a splash of bourbon to the blender to cut through the intense richness of the fat.

## Storage & Reheating
The chicken skins are best eaten the day they are made, as they will lose their "shatter" in the fridge. The pate can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To maintain the color and prevent oxidation, press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pate before sealing the lid. Do not freeze the pate, as the emulsion will break upon thawing.

## Pairing Suggestion
Serve these alongside a chilled sparkling mineral water with a squeeze of lemon to cleanse the palate between bites of the rich, fatty mousse.