liver
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Discussion

jamie128

Original Poster:

1,604 posts

199 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
Hey peoples,

I have never had liver as ive always been scared to try it.

However as a weight lifter it is a very cheap source of protein and zinc and other nutrients.

Does anyone have any nice recipes that taste nice and makes it look a little less liverly? Lol

bobbo89

5,991 posts

174 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
Just man up and try it, you'll quickly realise what you've been missing and wont feel the need to dress it up as something it aint

Edit: Get some Kidney, heart and tongue down ya at the same time!

Gingerbread Man

9,173 posts

242 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
Liver and bacon. Over mash potato with onion gravy.
Yum.

jamie128

Original Poster:

1,604 posts

199 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
Gingerbread Man said:
Liver and bacon. Over mash potato with onion gravy.
Yum.
Do you simply just fry liver?

ClassicMercs

1,703 posts

210 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
But which liver should the OP try ?

I've recently done all this myself - turned off liver 40 years ago as a kid. Back then it was all overcooked in a frying pan. Stringy pigs liver.

Started this time with ox - no thanks - knife fell through it - I like a bit of texture. Pigs is better as long as its not overcooked like my mother would have done. So that leaves lambs and chicken. That's where I would recommend.

I also tried soaking the liver in milk for a couple of hours - works but its not a dramatic change.

jamie128

Original Poster:

1,604 posts

199 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
Gingerbread Man said:
Liver and bacon. Over mash potato with onion gravy.
Yum.
Do you simply just fry liver?

Evoluzione

10,345 posts

272 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
jamie128 said:
Do you simply just fry liver?
Yes, just frying it's fine. Chicken liver is quite cheap (Asian supermarket maybe) and tasty.

bint

4,664 posts

253 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
ClassicMercs said:
But which liver should the OP try ?

I've recently done all this myself - turned off liver 40 years ago as a kid. Back then it was all overcooked in a frying pan. Stringy pigs liver.

Started this time with ox - no thanks - knife fell through it - I like a bit of texture. Pigs is better as long as its not overcooked like my mother would have done. So that leaves lambs and chicken. That's where I would recommend.

I also tried soaking the liver in milk for a couple of hours - works but its not a dramatic change.
Calves liver.

I hated liver as a child, but have now discovered why, it wasn't calves liver! I thought my 8/9 month old son should try liver and bought a pack to try. A minute and a half each side and it tasted like a good steak. I served it in a casserole and just with mushrooms, onions and mash and we both loved it.

Bought some lambs liver on offer the other day *bleaugh* the cats will get the rest!

Mobile Chicane

21,977 posts

241 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
The liver is a detoxifying organ, and therefore I'd be very reluctant to eat any liver which is the product of intensive farming.

Ox and pig liver I'd never eat in a million years - the strong taste for one thing. Lamb is good as it's pretty much free-range and organic; as is organic chicken liver.

To cook, turn it in seasoned flour and fry it gently in butter. It can be a little pink inside provided it's hot (60C) all the way through.

21TonyK

13,254 posts

238 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
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Pretty much as MC says. Lambs or calves liver. Crisp up some bacon then gently fry with onion until caramelised, remove and keep to one side, Slice the liver thinly, lightly flour with S&P then fry on a high heat with thyme, bay, and black pepper corns for 30 seconds each side (until crisp) then add red wine and beef stock plus onions and bacon.

Serve with a garlic mash.

dazco

4,281 posts

218 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
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Soaking it is milk for a day can make it less strong, but don't do this for calves liver.

Don't overcook it, it goes grainy and would put anyone off the stuff.


RichB

56,194 posts

313 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
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I guess it's an age thing as my mum used to do liver and onions all the time. Coming up to date my local Italian restaurant does fantastic calves liver thinly sliced and served pink. Excellent.

Gruffy

7,212 posts

288 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
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Leftfield: red mullet liver on toast lick

Then you get to eat the rest of the fish too licklick

TeeRev

1,733 posts

180 months

Monday 15th April 2013
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When I was a kid my Mother liked her meat well done and used to cook liver until it resembled leather and wondered why I didn't like it very much. When I started cooking I used to try everything and discovered that the only way to cook pretty well any meat is rare.

I don't bother with pigs or ox but lambs liver is really good and calves liver is absolutely excellent, the best way to cook both is to wash and trim then dust with seasoned flour and pan fry in oil and butter until medium to rare. Lambs liver is lovely with bacon, onions and gravy but calves liver deserves a nice Madeira or Marsala sauce.

If we're really talking liver though the daddy of all livers is part of tonight's menu, Tournedos Rossini.



Edited by TeeRev on Tuesday 16th April 13:48

mattdaniels

7,362 posts

311 months

Monday 15th April 2013
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I made chicken liver parfait as part of a starter on Sunday. I've not had liver for years. Amazing how strong the flavour is from such a tiny amount.

Arun_D

2,336 posts

224 months

Monday 15th April 2013
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I'm quite enjoying cooking chicken livers at the moment. £0.99 gets a decent size vac-bag at Tesco that we use for one of our main meals during the week. I just trim the sinewy bits, toss in seasoned flower and pan fry, before adding some onions, stock and other bits and bobs to create a bit of a sauce.

As others have said, the trick to cooking liver is to not overcook them, or the can go grainy and chewy. Done right, they're velvety and tender and extremely yummy. Definitely my best 'bang for my buck' meal option at the moment.

Johnnytheboy

24,499 posts

215 months

Monday 15th April 2013
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My OH (v. good cook) does them for two minutes a side.

I like them with a liberal splash of Lea & Perrins.

One of my favourite foods.

grand cherokee

2,432 posts

228 months

Tuesday 16th April 2013
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calves liver - pink

to die for!

probably will - lol!

RizzoTheRat

28,761 posts

221 months

Tuesday 16th April 2013
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RichB said:
I guess it's an age thing as my mum used to do liver and onions all the time.
I was lodging some years ago and my landlady used to occasionally cook liver and onions. I used to have to leave the house as the smell made me feel sick.

otolith

68,384 posts

233 months

Tuesday 16th April 2013
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We used to have overcooked liver when I was a kid - delicious gravy, meat like eating an old rubber soled shoe.

Calf, lamb or poultry liver, sliced thin, fried pink, that's another matter. I was put off liver completely by my childhood experience of it until someone offered me a taste of the calf liver they had ordered in a good restaurant.