This bacon-wrapped chicken, pork and pistachio terrine recipe makes a crowd-pleasing Christmas starter

Yields:

8

Prep Time:

30 mins

Cook Time:

2 hrs 10 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs 40 mins

Cal/Serv:

332

• 1 Tbsp. olive oil, plus extra to brush
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp. brandy, optional
• 12 rashers smoked streaky bacon
• 2 skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1cm (1/2in) pieces
• 500 g pack pork mince
• 50 g pistachios, roughly chopped
• 50 g dried cranberries
• 3/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• 2 thyme sprigs, leaves picked off

• 1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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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