Chocolate Pâté – (en Francais – Marquise)

This Pate is absolutely the best, the bomb (as my son would say). It comes from the Loire Valley from Monique. I absolutely LOVE it, it is so, so decadent and so, so easy.

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Yields1 Serving
 250 gr (10 oz ) dark chocolate (approx 1 box)
 200 gr (7 oz) melted butter (approx 1 cup)
 6 eggs
 5 tablespoon candied orange, walnuts or praline* (candied orange is the best flavour combination, recipe below)
1

Make Candied Orange in advance of making your pate!

2

To make the Candied Orange, grate 2 large thick-skinned oranges using a regular kitchen grater (not too fine though, it should be thin julienne in size). In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Add the orange zest, and boil about 3 minutes. Drain and repeat the boiling for a total of three times, changing the water each time. Drain. In the same saucepan, dissolve 1/2 cup sugar in 1/2 cup water. Bring the sugar mixture to a boil, and add the orange zest. Simmer over low heat until all the liquid has evaporated, and the zest is covered with the thick syrup, 8 to 10 minutes. This recipe makes about 1 cup, you need about ½ cup for the Chocolate Pâté recipe, or more according to your taste buds.

3

Heat chocolate and butter slowly together in a double-boiler (en Francais - au bain Marie), add egg yolks, mix in candied orange, walnuts or praline.

4

Heat very slowly on low heat, especially if you don’t have a double-boiler. Beat egg whites until stiff with a hand-mixer and add slowly to heated mixture, continuing to stir on low heat for a few minutes.

5

Ensure that you butter your dish prior to pouring in the pate.

6

Place in the freezer minimum 4 hours. Take it out before serving dinner to allow for easy slicing of the pate.

Chef’s Notes:
This is such a simple dessert to make and it is sure to impress! Dip your knife into hot water for easy slicing. Serve with orange slices and savour every bite!
If you do not eat it all, you can freeze it and it keeps really well.

* In French cookery praline is a powder or paste made of caramelized almonds and/or hazelnuts.

Bon Appetit!


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Ingredients

 250 gr (10 oz ) dark chocolate (approx 1 box)
 200 gr (7 oz) melted butter (approx 1 cup)
 6 eggs
 5 tablespoon candied orange, walnuts or praline* (candied orange is the best flavour combination, recipe below)

Directions

1

Make Candied Orange in advance of making your pate!

2

To make the Candied Orange, grate 2 large thick-skinned oranges using a regular kitchen grater (not too fine though, it should be thin julienne in size). In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Add the orange zest, and boil about 3 minutes. Drain and repeat the boiling for a total of three times, changing the water each time. Drain. In the same saucepan, dissolve 1/2 cup sugar in 1/2 cup water. Bring the sugar mixture to a boil, and add the orange zest. Simmer over low heat until all the liquid has evaporated, and the zest is covered with the thick syrup, 8 to 10 minutes. This recipe makes about 1 cup, you need about ½ cup for the Chocolate Pâté recipe, or more according to your taste buds.

3

Heat chocolate and butter slowly together in a double-boiler (en Francais - au bain Marie), add egg yolks, mix in candied orange, walnuts or praline.

4

Heat very slowly on low heat, especially if you don’t have a double-boiler. Beat egg whites until stiff with a hand-mixer and add slowly to heated mixture, continuing to stir on low heat for a few minutes.

5

Ensure that you butter your dish prior to pouring in the pate.

6

Place in the freezer minimum 4 hours. Take it out before serving dinner to allow for easy slicing of the pate.

Notes

Chocolate Pâté – (en Francais – Marquise)

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