Liver With Sage Food

LIVER WITH ONIONS & SAGE

Steps:

• Cut liver into serving pieces.
• Mix onions, oil, pepper and sage in 1-qt casserole.
• Cover and microwave on high (100 until onions are crisp tender, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Brush liver with soy sauce.
• Arrange with thickest pieces to outsied in 9- inch pie plate.
• Spoon onions evenly over liver.
• Cover tightly and microwave on high (100%) 3 minutes; turn pie plate one-half turn.
• Micro- wave until liver is no longer pink, 1 to 3 minutes (do not overcook).
• Let stand 3 minutes. (Liver will continue to cook while standing.) Sprinkle with lemon juice and parsley just before serving.

LIVER WITH SAGE

Steps:

• Peel any membrane from the liver and trim out any tough ventricles.
• Using a sharp knife, finely slice the liver about 1/2in thick, or even thinner if you prefer.
• Mix the flour with the salt, pepper and sage. Dip the liver slices into the seasoned flour and shake off the excess.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy frying pan over a high heat and, when very hot, add the liver slices.
• Cook for a minute or two on each side, depending on the thickness and how you like your liver.
• Transfer to four warmed plates and serve with creamy mash potato.

CHICKEN LIVER PATE WITH SOUR CHERRIES AND SAGE TOAST

Steps:

• To make the pâté:.
• In a small, covered bowl, soak the cherries in the brandy overnight at room temperature.
• Then drain cherries, pressing out brandy, and reserve cherries and brandy separately.
• In a large sauté pan, heat the butter over medium-high heat until melted.
• Add the onions and cook, stirring often, about 3 minutes, or until translucent.
• Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds, and then add the livers.
• Sprinkle with salt, allspice and pepper.
• Cook about 2 minutes, turning livers as needed.
• Add reserved brandy and increase heat to high.
• Cook until livers are just done, and brandy/juice has cooked down until pan is almost dry, about 1½ to 2 minutes.
• Immediately remove from heat and place mixture in a food processor.
• Process until smooth, then add reserved cherries (and nuts) and pulse just enough to mix - not to chop them.
• Pack pâté in a 2-cup crock or pâté mold.
• Cover surface with plastic wrap and chill pâté at least 4 hours, can be prepared up to 3 days before serving.
• Serve with Sage Toast.
• To make Sage Toast:.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees.
• Meanwhile, heat oil and sage in a very small pan until just warmed.
• Remove from heat and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes to infuse sage flavour.
• Lay out baguette slices on a baking sheet and lightly brush slices with the oil.
• Sprinkle with salt and bake for about 10 minutes or until crisp.

LIVER WITH WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Place a large frying pan over a high heat and, when hot, add the dripping or lard. When it's melted, add the liver. Let the liver brown well on each side, sprinkling it with some seasoning as it cooks.
• When the liver is browned, transfer it to a roasting tin. Sprinkle it with the shallot and put it in the oven for 20-25 mins. When the liver is firm to the touch, or registers 55C on an electric cooking thermometer in its thickest part, remove it from the oven and set it to rest in a warm place, lightly covered.
• While the liver cooks, prepare the mushrooms. Brush them to remove any grit or soil. Place a large saucepan over a medium-high heat and add the olive oil or butter. Cook the mushrooms with a little seasoning so that they brown a little and all the liquid evaporates. Add the onion and garlic to the pan and reduce the heat to medium. Continue to cook until the mushrooms begin to soften, then add the thyme and sage. Stir together well, then add the Sherry and white wine.
• Turn the heat to high and boil the juices so that they reduce by half. Add the stock and repeat. When the juices in the pan are reduced and slightly thickened, add the cream and stir to combine. Taste the juices and correct the seasoning if required.
• When the liver has rested, slice it thinly and serve immediately, topped with the mushroom ragout, on warm plates.

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).

CHICKEN LIVER AND SAGE CROSTINI

Steps:

• Line plate with paper towels. Heat oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced sage; sauté until crisp, about 30 seconds. Using slotted spoon, transfer sauteed sage to paper towels. Add onion to same skillet; sauté until golden, about 3 minutes. Add garlic, chopped liver, and 1 teaspoon chopped sage. Stir until liver is no longer red, about 3 minutes. Increase heat to high, add Madeira, and cook until wine has evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper. Divide liver mixture among baguette slices. Top with sautéed sage. Serve crostini on bed of fresh sage leaves, if desired.

QUICK PAN-FRIED CHICKEN LIVERS WITH APPLE, ONION AND SAGE

Steps:

• In a large non-stick skillet or wok, saute chicken livers and onions on medium-high heat for 10 minutes (NO oil or butter needed).
• Add chopped apples and seasonings. Reduce heat to medium; cook for 10-15 minutes more or until done, stirring occasionally.
• Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, and serve immediately. Goes great with sides of real home-made mashed potatoes and green beans!

LIVER & BACON WITH ONION GRAVY

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in a large non-stick frying pan until crisp. Meanwhile, mix the flour and sage, if using, and use to dust the liver. Remove bacon from the pan and set aside. Add the oil to the pan and brown the liver for about 1 min on each side. Remove from the pan, then fry the onion until softened. Stir in stock and ketchup, then bubble for 5 mins.
• Put the liver back in the pan and cook for 3 mins until cooked through. Serve with the bacon broken over the top and some mash. (see related recipes)

LIVER WITH GARLIC, SAGE, AND WHITE WINE

Steps:

• Put half the oil and butter in a large skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium-high heat. When the butter has melted, dredge each of the pieces of liver in the flour, shaking to remove the excess, and add them to the skillet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and brown quickly on both sides, for a total of 4 or 5 minutes; the meat should be rare when you're done. Transfer to a warm plate and turn the heat to medium.
• Add the remaining oil and butter to the skillet along with the garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic begins to color, a minute or two. Add the wine and the sage and cook, stirring, until all the elements are incorporated and the wine has been reduced by half. Add the lemon juice, then taste and adjust the seasoning. Pour the sauce over the meat, garnish, and serve.

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.