Liver with onions was a common dish in my childhood in Russia. My Mom often sauteed beef liver & served it in sour cream sauce. I have since learned to prefer chicken livers as they have milder flavor & are less fibrous. Although eating organ meats is not popular in the US & people typically think of liver as filter for toxins, the truth is liver is a nutrient powerhouse. This sacred superfood is rich in vitamins A, D, E, K2 & all of B vitamins; iron; many trace elements & minerals including zinc, copper, chromium, phosphorus & selenium; essential fatty acids EPA, DHA & AA & antioxidant CoQ10. This is a quick & relatively easy recipe.
Ingredients:
1-2 Tbsp of rendered duck fat
About 2 lbs of organic chicken livers
1 large onion, chopped
1-2 medium sized carrots, grated
1 cup organic chicken broth
3/4 cups organic sour cream
1-2 small bay leaves
Sea salt & black pepper to taste
Heat dutch oven on medium heat & melt the duck fat. Add onion & carrots. Saute until vegetables are softened for about 10."
Mix the chicken broth & sour cream thoroughly, making sure there are no lumps. Put the chicken livers into the dutch oven & pour in the sauce. Add bay leaves & season with salt & pepper. Bring the sauce to a boil, then turn off the stove & leave the chicken livers covered for another 10-15." Serve over rice, buckwheat or noodles.
Note:
It's important not to overcook the chicken livers. Turning off the stove right after the sauce begins to boil ensures they turn out soft & delicate.
I've discovered rendered duck fat just a couple of weeks ago (I saw a jar of it in the freezer section at Whole Foods). According to Sally Fallon & her famous book Nourishing Traditions, along with lard, coconut oil, butter from pastured cows & extra virgin olive oil, duck fat is another source of healthy fat. I use it for sauteing vegetables for soups as well as frying potatoes.
Additional Resources:
1) Health Benefits of Eating Liver video by Sarah from the Healthy Home Economist
2) Benefits of Eating Liver: 10 Questions Answered by Kayla Grossmann from the Radiant Life blog
3) The Liver Files - Recipes & Lore About Our Most Important Sacred Food by the Weston A. Price Foundation
4) Benefits of Eating Liver - Our Most Nutrient-Dense Food! by the Radiant Life blog
