Calfs Liver With Sage Food

SAUTEED CALF'S LIVER

Steps:

• Place liver in a nonreactive (ceramic or glass) bowl and pour milk over. Refrigerate, covered, 5 to 6 hours.
• In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. When butter is shimmering, add onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook, stirring more frequently until onions are very soft and brown, 30 to 40 minutes more.
• Drain liver and discard milk. Pat liver dry with paper towels.
• Spread flour on a plate and season with salt and pepper. Thoroughly coat liver with the flour mixture, shaking off excess.
• Heat a large (13-inch) saute pan over medium heat and add remaining 2 tablespoons butter and the oil and heat until shimmering. Cook (in batches, if necessary, to avoid crowding pan) until liver is firm (but not hard) and browned on the outside but still slightly pink in the center, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining liver, adding more oil to the pan as necessary. Add sage and cook for 1 minute more.
• Divide liver among plates and top with onions.

CALF'S LIVER WITH SAGE

Steps:

• Remove any tough arteries from the liver. Slice it into very fine julienne strips. Dredge lightly in the flour, shaking off the excess.
• Heat the olive oil in a small nonstick skillet and add the onions. Toss and stir. Add salt and pepper. Cover and cook 10 minutes over medium heat without browning. The onions should be quite soft.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a nonstick skillet large enough to hold the liver pieces in one layer. Add the liver, sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook over high heat 2 to 3 minutes, shaking the skillet and tossing the strips so they cook on all sides. Drain the liver in a colander.
• Heat the butter in the same skillet and, when it is bubbling and hot, add the liver and onions. Sprinkle with sage and cook, stirring, over high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle with Cognac and ignite it. Sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately over Parmesan cheese bread (see recipe).

SAUTEED CALF'S LIVER WITH FIG-CHINESE VINEGAR SYRUP

Steps:

• Pre-heat hot a large, thick skillet. Season the liver with salt and green peppercorn. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter and sear the liver until brown on both sides, about 8-10 minutes. I prefer my liver medium. Place livers on warm plates. Place skillet back on the heat, add shallots and brown, about 3-5 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Add figs and sautee for 1 minute. Deglaze with the vinegars and reduce by 50%. Whisk in butter and check for seasoning. Reserve in a water bath.

CALVES' LIVER WITH STICKY ONION RELISH & PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• To make the relish, put the onions, juniper and thyme in a large saucepan, season with 1 tsp salt and a little pepper. Cook on a high heat for 10 mins, stirring regularly as the onions start to soften. Add the vinegar, sugar and 100ml water. Cover, boil for 5 mins, then uncover and simmer gently for 5 mins or until soft and with a little juice remaining. Meanwhile, remove large tubes, membrane or gristle from the liver. Pat dry with kitchen paper.
• Heat 1 tsp oil in a large frying pan and add the prosciutto. Fry for 1 min each side or until golden and crisp. Set aside on a plate and keep warm in a low oven.
• Add a splash more oil to the pan. Dust the liver slices in the flour and pat away any excess. Place the liver in the hot pan, scatter the sage in, then fry for 1 min each side if the liver is sliced thinly, longer if thicker. When the liver is golden and just pink in the middle, transfer it and the crisped sage to the plate in the oven.
• Return the pan to the hob and add the Marsala. Boil until syrupy. Let the butter melt into this sauce, season to taste, then set aside. If your sauce reduces too quickly, just add a little water. Plate up the liver, prosciutto, sage and warm onion relish, then spoon over the sauce. Serve with seasonal greens and potatoes, if you like.

SAUTEED CALF'S LIVER SMOTHERED WITH ONIONS

Steps:

• Combine flour, salt, and pepper in medium bowl. Coat liver with seasoned flour, shaking off excess. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté liver in 2 batches until cooked to desired doneness, about 1 1/2 minutes per side for medium. Transfer liver to plate; tent with foil.
• Melt butter in same skillet over medium-high heat. Add beer and bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Add onions; simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Divide liver among 4 plates. Top with onions.

SAUTEED CALF'S LIVER WITH RED WINE VINEGAR

Steps:

• Sprinkle liver with salt and pepper; dust with flour. Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add liver and sauté until crisp and golden, about 3 minutes per side for medium. Transfer liver to plates. Add garlic to skillet; stir 30 seconds. Add broth and vinegar and boil 1 minute, scraping up browned bits. Season sauce with salt and pepper. Spoon sauce over liver; sprinkle with parsley.

SAGE & THYME CALVES' LIVER WITH WILD MUSHROOMS & PANCETTA

Steps:

• Put the pancetta in a large frying pan and cook until crisp, then lift out with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Heat the oil in the pan. Sear the liver steaks for 1-2 mins each side - so they're just still pink in the middle - using half the butter towards the end to baste the meat. Remove the liver to a plate using the slotted spoon and leave to rest, covered with foil, for 10-15 mins.
• Add the chopped sage, thyme leaves, shallots, mushrooms and lemon zest to the pan. Fry on the highest heat for a few mins, then add the lemon juice and some seasoning. Cook for 3-5 mins until slightly saucy and the mushrooms are soft.
• Heat the remaining butter in your smallest saucepan until just foaming. Add the remaining whole sage leaves and fry for a few mins until crisp. Drain on kitchen paper with the pancetta. Sit the liver on toast, spoon over the mushroom mixture and scatter over the pancetta and crisp sage. Serve immediately.

CALF'S LIVER WITH RED WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a shallow baking dish, combine well the wine, vinegar, garlic, sage and season to taste.
• Add liver, turning to coat.
• Let marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• In a large skillet, cook bacon over moderate heat, stirring, until crisp and transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towel to drain.
• Drain liver from marinade and reserve marinade.
• Pat liver dry.
• Heat bacon fat over moderately-high heat until hot but not smoking.
• Add liver and saute, turning once, for 2 minutes, or until it is brown outside and still pink within.
• Transfer to a heated platter.
• Add marinade to skillet and boil over high heat, scraping up brown bits, until it is reduced by half.
• Strain pan juices through a fine sieve over the liver and sprinkle bacon and parsley over.
• In my home, we always had broccoli when we had liver (this cause me much grief as a child, but I grew to love it.) Oven-roasted broccoli and asparagus would be great here.