Chopped Chicken Liver

This dish has been prepared in DrDaddy’s family for four generations for special holidays. Use schmaltz (rendered chicken fat) to conform with Kosher law. This recipe was transcribed Jan 1, 2014 based on phone conversations with sister Phyllis Pliskow, describing how mother Dorothy Magid and grandmother Rose Raphael Samuels prepared it.

1 lb chicken livers, trimmed of membranes and fat, rinsed, and patted dry
7 c yellow onions, peeled, halved and sliced longitudinally through the poles
2 sticks butter (or 1 c rendered chicken fat)
5 hard-boiled eggs, shelled and cooled

Seasonings

Lawry’s™ Seasoned Salt
freshly-ground black pepper
granulated garlic
paprika

In a large skillet over medium heat melt 1 stick butter or 1/2 c schmaltz. Add 5 cups onions to the hot fat. Season well and slowly cook until nicely caramelized, about 1 hour. Set aside to cool. While the onions are caramelizing, in another skillet, melt the other stick of butter or schmaltz, add 2 cups of onions, and fry slowly until soft and lightly colored. Add the prepared livers, season well, and fry slowly until cooked but not hard. Discard the onions used to flavor the chicken livers. Set livers aside to cool. Set up a meat grinder, and process some of the caramelized onions through the grinder into a large bowl, then process some of the livers, and then an egg. Repeat until all the ingredients have been ground except reserve one egg for garnish. Fold the liver, onion, egg together gently, and correct the seasoning. Press flat and top with the reserved chopped egg as a garnish. Chill before serving with crackers or bread.

Chopped Liver

Prepared December 18, 2013. Reconstructed from memory of mother Dorothy’s dish, prepared for special holidays meals if meat was being eaten.

1 lb (450 g) chicken livers (or calves liver, cut into pieces)
1 large yellow onion, divided
3 T butter or rendered chicken fat (schmaltz), divided
2 to 3 hard-boiled eggs, finely chopped
2 T brandy (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Prepare the livers by removing any bad spots, rinsing in five changes of cold tap water, and draining thoroughly. In a heavy 10-inch skillet over medium heat, melt 2 T butter or chicken fat until foaming stops. Coarsely chop the onion, reserving 2 T as raw and saute until lightly colored and soft, about 8 minutes, and set aside in a bowl. Heat the remaining fat in the skillet over medium heat, and add the livers in a single layer. Salt the livers as they cook. Cook about 3 minutes and turn them to cook another 2 to 3 minutes until they are thoroughly cooked but not hard and overcooked. Add the brandy and flambé it. Gently mix the livers with the onions and set aside to cool. On a chopping board with a large knife or in a wooden bowl, chop the liver-onion mixture in three batches and place in a serving bowl. Don’t be tempted to use a food processor. Mix in most of the chopped egg, finely mince the raw onion, and add it. Taste for salt and pepper. Garnish with the reserved egg, cover with plastic foil, and chill before serving. Present with an assortment of crackers and breads for guests to make their own canapés. Variation: Stuff celery ribs with chopped liver as an appetizer with crunch.

Cornmeal-Crusted Fried Chicken Livers

Devised de novo et ab initio November 7, 2010.

1 lb freshest chicken livers
1 c buttermilk

General Purpose Dry Rub

1/2 c all-purpose flour + 1/4 c yellow corn meal
vegetable oil

Pick over livers, alert to gall bladders. Rinse in several changes of water, drain and cover with buttermilk. Let stand in fridge for 30 to 60 minutes. Drain the livers, season with dry rub and add a few at a time to a zip-lock bag of breading mixture, tossing to cover, until all the livers have been added. Let the livers remain for 10 minutes to build up a good coat of breading for a crispy texture. Shake off excess breader, and add half the livers to a heavy 12 inch (30 cm) skillet about 3/8 inch (1 cm) deep in hot oil (livers should sizzle loudly upon introduction to the oil). Keep livers well apart. Turn when brown (about 2 minutes), and finish cooking. Drain on paper towels, newsprint,or paper bags. Fry the second half.
Great added to rice and beans or serve as hot appetizers paired with a cool ztaztiki sauce. Or on a pita with pickled cucumber & onion salad and hummus.