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Liver with Vinegar

This Lebanese specialty is served as an appetizer, but it is also good as a main course accompanied by mashed potatoes. Calf’s liver has a better flavor and texture, so use it if you can.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 3-4

Ingredients

1 pound calf’s or lamb’s liver, cut in thin slices
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed dried mint (optional)
1/4 cup wine vinegar

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    If serving as an appetizer, cut the liver slices into 1 1/2-inch pieces, but leave the slices whole if serving as a main dish.

    Step 2

    Sauté the liver in a mixture of butter and oil over medium heat very briefly, for a minute or so, adding salt and pepper and turning the pieces over, until lightly colored but pink inside. Remove from the pan and put aside.

    Step 3

    Add crushed garlic and mint, if you like, and when the aroma rises, stir in the vinegar. Return the liver to the pan and cook 1/2 minute more, turning the pieces over. The liver should still be a little pink inside.

  2. Variations

    Step 4

    A different sort of tartness can be obtained by sprinkling with 1 tablespoon ground sumac instead of adding vinegar.

    Step 5

    Fry 1 sliced onion in the butter and oil until soft, before adding the liver.

Cover of Claudia Roden's The New Book of Middle Easter Food, featuring a blue filigree bowl filled with Meyer lemons and sprigs of mint.
Reprinted with permission from The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, copyright © 2000 by Claudia Roden, published by Knopf. Buy the full book on Amazon or Bookshop.
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