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Vegetable pâté
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Layered Vegetable Pâté Recipe

When you want to bring (or serve) an impressive appetizer, this Vegetable Pâté recipe will be the talk of the table! With multiple layers of color and flavor and served with crackers or a sliced baguette, it makes plenty! Giving everyone a bit to bring home.
Prep Time40 minutes
Cook Time55 minutes
Cooling45 minutes
Total Time2 hours 20 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Lunch, Snack
Cuisine: French
Keyword: Vegetable Pâté
Servings: 12 or more servings
Author: Debbie

Ingredients

  • Cooking spray
  • parchment paper, to line pan
  • 2 - 3 bunches rapini (also known as broccoli rabe) or equivalent to 3 cups chopped , thick stems removed (or you can use broccoli florets)
  • 1 large head of cauliflower , florets separated, thick stem removed and discarded
  • 4 medium carrots , peeled and diced (enough for 2 ¼ cups)
  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 large leeks, lighter green and white parts only, sliced into ¼" slices
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled, minced
  • 10 ounce bag fresh spinach, longer stems removed
  • 3 Tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
  • 3 Tablespoons ricotta cheese
  • 3 Tablespoons plain yogurt
  • 3 medium eggs, separated
  • 3 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 ½ teaspoons lemon zest, finely grated
  • 1 Tablespoon chopped scallions
  • salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
  • a few sprigs fresh thyme, for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375℉.
  • Lightly oil a standard size loaf pan (9" x 5" x 2-½") with cooking spray.
  • Line pan with parchment paper, keeping excess hanging over.
    prepared pan for the vegetable pâté
  • Spray parchment liner with cooking spray.
  • In 3 separate medium saucepans (or 1 pot at separate times) add water to 2 " below rim. Add ½ Tablespoon salt. Bring to a boil. Separately blanch the cauliflower, carrots and the rapini until tender. Once the rapini, cauliflower and carrots are tender, drain and place in separate bowls of ice cold water to stop the cooking. Keeping separate, drain, lay flat and blot with paper towels until dry to touch.
  • In a medium skillet over medium heat, sauté sliced leeks in 2 Tablespoons of olive oil, until translucent. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a plate.
  • In same skillet warm 1 Tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Sauté garlic for 30 seconds.
  • Add spinach and sauté until it cooks down, about 3 minutes. When cool enough to handle, remove from the pan and chop finely.
  • Mix the crumbled feta cheese with the chopped spinach. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, combine the ricotta and yogurt. Set aside.
  • In a food processor or blender, place the rapini, 1 egg yolk, 2 Tablespoons of the ricotta/yogurt mixture and 1 teaspoon of the lemon juice. Purée until smooth. Transfer to a bowl. Stir in the chopped scallions.
  • Repeat with the cauliflower, 1 egg yolk, 2 Tablespoons of the ricotta/yogurt mixture and 1 teaspoon of the lemon juice. Transfer to a separate bowl. Stir in the lemon zest.
  • Repeat with the carrots, 1 egg yolk, 2 Tablespoons of the ricotta/yogurt mixture and 1 teaspoon of the lemon juice. Transfer to a bowl.
  • To each individual mixture, add salt and pepper to taste.
  • With an electric mixer or immersion blender, beat the egg whites until stiff.
  • In their separate bowls, gently fold ⅓ of the egg whites each into the rapini mixture, the cauliflower mixture and the carrot mixture, until just combined. Check seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed.

Assembly

  • In the prepared pan, decoratively “style” the thyme sprigs onto the parchment lined pan.
  • Carefully without disturbing the sprigs, spoon in the carrot mixture. Evenly smooth out the top. Gently tap on workspace to release any bubbles.
  • Add the layer of rapini mixture on top of the carrot layer. Gently smooth out the top, being careful not to blend the carrots from below into the rapini.
  • Repeat the above step with the cauliflower mixture.
  • Carefully spoon and spread the sautéed leeks on top of the cauliflower.
  • On top of the leeks, carefully add the spinach layer. Gently smooth out the top.
  • Cover spinach layer with a piece of lightly oiled parchment paper. Gently smooth and lightly press down. Fold hanging parchment flaps over to “close”.
  • Place loaf pan in a rimmed roasting pan and then place on the oven shelf. Carefully pour boiling water into roasting pan to come about ⅔ way up the sides of the outside of the loaf pan.
  • Bake for about 40 minutes.
  • Keeping oven on, unfold parchment flaps. Remove the individual oiled sheet.
  • Cook for 10 - 15 minutes longer, or until the top has firmed up a bit.
  • Remove loaf pan from water pan and the oven and allow to cool for 45 minutes before moving on to next step.
  • When cooled, carefully run a wet nonserrated knife along sides of pan.
  • Place serving platter or plate face down on spinach side of loaf pan.
  • Gently flip and invert onto serving platter or plate. Carefully peel away parchment.
  • Tah dah! How pretty is that! Bon Appétit!

Notes

Gr8 tips:

This is a perfect make ahead dish. Wrap in 2 layers of plastic wrap (not in pan). Thaw out in refrigerator on a plate 4-6 hours before serving, or until "spreadable".
Tried this recipe?Mention @Great8Friends or tag #gr8food!