Not My Grandmother’s Chopped Chicken Liver
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Author Notes: Growing up, I was always happy to be in the kitchen with my Grandmother. This holiday staple was one of the first foods I helped with. I peeled hard boiled eggs as a toddler. As a youngster, I hand chopped (with a mezzaluna) the eggs. And as soon as I could handle a knife, I had to mince a pile of onions. My treat at the end was always the gribenes, a heart-stopping dish of cracklin’s from rendering chicken fat, served on a piece of holiday challah. Now that I’m all grown up and not keeping kosher, I’ve amended the recipe to substitute butter for the schmaltz and doused it all with a little booze. - MrsWheelbarrow
Serves enough
- 6 eggs, hard boiled & peeled
- 1 pound yellow skinned onions, minced fine
- 3 ounces unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil (substitute canola or safflower)
- 1/2 pound livers from pastured, free range chickens
- 2 tablespoons Cognac, dry sherry, white vermouth, or Calvados
- Chop the eggs very fine using a mezzaluna or the food processor. They should be fluffy. Put in a large bowl and set aside.
- In a large, heavy sauté pan, heat half the butter with the oil. Add the onions and sauté slowly until richly browned, but not burned. Salt and pepper generously while they cook.
- In the meantime, rinse and clean the livers well, removing connective sinew and anything yucky looking.
- When the onions have finished cooking, put them in the bowl with the eggs.
- Heat 1 oz butter in the onion pan and saute the livers until no pink remains. Do not brown or crisp. It’s alright if they break up a bit. Salt and pepper generously.
- Remove the livers from the pan and deglaze with the booze. Pour the deglazing liquid into the bowl with the eggs and onions.
- Chop the livers with a mezzaluna (or use the food processor) and then gently fold the eggs, onions and livers together.
- Test and correct for seasoning. The flavor really blooms after chilling, so make this well in advance.
- Pack in ramekins or other serving dishes. Keep the dishes small – 4 oz – and make sure to freeze whatever will not be used within two days.
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Nose to Tail Recipe
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about 3 years ago monkeymom
Thanks to this week's roast chicken theme, I also had the opportunity to make this lovely recipe. It's delicious and you are right, much better chilled. Thank you!
over 3 years ago lastnightsdinner
I've got to try this. And I just so happen to have chicken livers around!
over 3 years ago Teri
You had me at not. Must try.
over 3 years ago TasteFood
OK, this sounds like the real deal, but better.
over 3 years ago TasteFood
I will try this - it sounds great.
over 3 years ago menumaniac
Will have to try this recipe over the holidays and post my mom's recipe when I get the chance!