Chicken Liver Sauté Recipes

SAUTéED CHICKEN LIVERS AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Put the raisins in a bowl with warm water to cover, so they plump up for a few minutes.
• Slice the onions in half and then crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick half moons (see photo, page 28). Put 2 tablespoons of oil and 2 of butter in one of the skillets and set it over medium heat. As the butter melts, stir in the onions, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt, and drop in the bay leaves. Shake the pan and turn the onions as they heat and start to sizzle, then lower the heat slightly and cook the onions slowly as they gradually wilt and start to color, stirring and tossing them occasionally.
• After 15 minutes or so, when the onions are deep gold all over, raise the heat a bit, pour in the vinegar, and cook for a minute, stirring the onions in the vinegar as it steams and evaporates. Drain the raisins, and gently squeeze out the excess liquid; scatter them in the skillet and toss together with the onions. Now lower the heat, and continue cooking the onions until they're as dark and caramelized as you want them be. Turn off the heat, and let the onions rest in the hot pan.
• While the onions are cooking, clean the livers (I do this on paper towels): with a paring knife remove all the fat, veins, and membranes, and slice the livers into separate lobes. Rinse them well, then pat dry with fresh paper towels. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon salt and grind pepper on all surfaces of the livers.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 of butter in the second skillet, over medium-high heat, until the butter is melted and foaming. Before the butter begins to color, lay the livers in the pan, without crowding them. With the heat high, cook the livers for 2 minutes or a bit more, until they're browned and crisped on the underside, then turn them over (in the order in which you put them in the pan). Cook about 2 minutes on the second side, until they are nicely crisped all over, and lift them-a couple at a time-with a spider or slotted spoon; let the oil drain off, and place them in the first, warm skillet, next to the onions. Don't overcook the livers: they should still be slightly pink inside when you move them. Taste a piece and season with more salt and pepper if you want.
• If you will be serving right away, heap the onions on top of the livers, then spoon onions and liver together onto warm serving plates. If serving is delayed, leave the onions and livers in separate parts of the pan so the livers don't get soggy. Smother the livers with onions when you serve.
• Some piping-hot Basic Polenta (page 215), or grilled polenta (page 216).
• Poached Whole Zucchini with Lemon and Olive Oil (page 237).
• Skillet-Cooked Broccoli (page 277) or Skillet Cauliflower (page 268).

SAUTEED CHICKEN LIVERS

Steps:

• Clean the chicken livers by rinsing well, cutting each in half and removing all membranes and any fat. Pat dry.
• Heat oil and butter in a large non-stick skillet. Saute livers, turning frequently, until light brown outside and just pink inside. (Or a little longer, if you like your livers well-done as my DH does.) Remove to a plate and keep warm.
• Stir-fry the onion and green pepper in same skillet until golden and tender. Add soup and vermouth to skillet and stir to blend. Heat until creamy and hot.
• Return livers to skillet. Cook and stir to combine and heat through.
• Serve over hot noodles, garnished with paprika and parsley as desired.
• Note: Mushrooms go well in this dish. You can add them in one of two ways. Saute approximately 1/4 to 1/3 pound sliced fresh mushrooms with the onion and green pepper. An easier way, if desired, is to add a 4-ounce can of drained mushrooms with the livers at the end of the recipe.

SOUTHERN SAUTEED CHICKEN LIVERS

Steps:

• Rinse chicken livers and drain well.
• Combine flour, salt, paprika, cayenne, black pepper, and thyme in a zip lock bag ~ add drained chicken livers and toss about gently until livers are covered with flour mixture.
• Heat bacon grease (or other fat) over medium-high heat, in a large iron skillet, until HOT.
• Gently add livers to hot grease and saute for 3-4 minutes, then turn and saute the other side for about the same time.
• DO NOT OVERCOOK LIVERS ~ they should be pink inside, but not oozing blood.
• Remove livers from pan and drain on paper towels.
• The pan drippings make great milk gravy!
• Don't forget the biscuits!

AMAZING GARLIC CHICKEN LIVERS

Steps:

• Heat a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir livers in the hot skillet until cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes. Add olive oil, lemon juice, and salt to livers; gently stir until mixed. Remove skillet from heat and sprinkle garlic over livers.

SAUTéED CHICKEN LIVERS WITH MUSHROOMS AND ONIONS ON SOFT POLENTA

Steps:

• Peel the onions and cut them in half. Slice thinly. Cut off any tough stems from the mushrooms and halve them if they are large.
• Film the bottom of your largest sauté pan with olive oil and heat over medium-high heat. Pat the livers dry with a paper towel and season generously with salt and pepper. When the oil is hot, add them to the pan and brown well on all sides. Transfer to a plate and drain the fat from the pan.
• Return the pan to the heat and add a couple tablespoons of olive oil. Add the mushrooms, garlic, and onions and sauté for a minute or two, until soft. Return the chicken livers to the pan and add the wine, swirling to combine. Allow the mixture to cook down until the vegetables are tender and the livers are heated through and glazed with the wine, 2 to 3 minutes. At the last minute, add the parsley and toss to combine.
• Puddle the polenta on 4 plates, making a depression in the center with the back of your spoon. Divide the chicken liver mixture among the plates, spooning it into the depression and drizzling with any juices.