Old Fashioned Liver and Onions Recipe

Perfectly seasoned slices pan-fried with onions, bacon, and apples in this old-fashioned liver and onions recipe. Also included is a recipe bonus of how to cook in the oven, in case you are not a fan of pan-frying.

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ingredients

• liver - I like to use beef liver for this old-fashioned liver recipe, but you can also use pork or veal liver. I would say use veal liver if you are a beginner.
• fruit and vegetables - large onions and an apple.
• bacon - feel free to use regular or turkey bacon.
• cooking oil - use suitable cooking oil (such as coconut or avocado oil for keto and paleo; otherwise, just use regular cooking oil).
• spices and seasoning- salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and ginger powder.
• flour - regular flour, (arrowroot, or tapioca flour for paleo). Use a mixture of almond flour and parmesan cheese and a 1:1 ratio to keep this recipe keto.
• dairy - butter, clarified butter or margarine for use in making the gravy.
• vegetable or chicken stock.

how to make Old Fashioned Liver and Onions

Anyone can learn how to make fried liver. It is really very easy and doesn't require any pro cooking skills! I personally prefer this method as it is always quicker than the oven method.

method 1: pan-fry the liver

This is a summary; see the detailed steps and related video in the recipe card below.

• Start by cleaning the liver with water. Make sure to get rid of all traces of blood and any clots.
• Next, remove any outer film or membrane coating the liver.
• An optional step is to soak the liver in milk for 30 minutes to get rid of the strong smell that sometimes comes with the liver, as well as soak-off excess blood. Once soaked, you want to use a kitchen towel to tap excess water from the liver. You can also use lemon juice to soak instead of milk.
• Next, slice the onion, and the apples and cut the liver into servable pieces each about 1 inch or 2.5 cm thick.
• Add flour to a bowl and season the flour with garlic and ginger powder. Coat the liver pieces with the flour-seasoning mixture, making sure to shake off any excess flour!
• Add oil to a skillet and place it on the stovetop, under medium heat. Fry the onions and apples, then set them aside on a plate. Fry the bacon and also set it aside on the same plate. Next, fry the liver on each side, or until properly browned. Transfer the fried liver to a plate, cover with aluminum foil to keep warm, and prepare the sauce.
• Prepare the sauce or gravy (see the recipe card for the method); then arrange the liver, onion, bacon, and apples on a serving plate. Drizzle the sauce on top to serve and enjoy!

TIP: use a fork to make a few holes on the surface of the aluminum foil so it does not get soggy, when making the sauce.

method 2: cook liver in the oven

Wondering how you can cook liver in the oven? Well, I have to say this is also very simple. Okay, truth be told, it does take slightly longer than the frying method. But on the other hand, you don't have to do much, once the liver is in the oven! This is a summary, the full steps have been provided in the recipe card below.

• First, clean the liver under running water and remove the clear tough membrane on the surface. Soak the liver in milk or lemon juice (optional step).
• Next, slice onions and apples. Cut the liver into serveable pieces.
• Pat the liver dry on each side, using a paper towel. Season flour with garlic powder and ginger powder, then coat the liver pieces in the flour mixture, making sure to shake off excess flour.
• Fry the onions and apples then set aside on a plate. Fry the bacon on each side until crisp then also set aside. Since you want to cook liver in the oven, transfer half of the fried onions and apples to a casserole dish, and keep the other half aside on your plate.
• Proceed on to fry the sliced liver on each side or until browned. Transfer the liver to the casserole dish so that you now have onions and apples at the bottom, the liver in the middle, and finally, the remaining onions and apples on top. Lay the bacon on top, drizzle with the sauce or gravy, cover with aluminum foil and bake until done. Serve and enjoy.

serving suggestions

This dish goes perfectly with mashed potatoes cauliflower mash (low carb) or boiled rice. Just make sure to serve it with some delicious gravy!

useful tips variations

• To prevent the liver from turning chewy, make sure to remove the tough, outside membrane.
• Make paleo and gluten-free liver and onions by using a gluten-free blend such as tapioca flour or arrowroot flour.
• For a Keto or low-carb alternative, use a mixture of almond flour and parmesan cheese.

refrigeration and freezing

Store your liver and onions in suitable airtight containers in the fridge for up to 2 days. Liver tastes best when consumed fresh but if you really have to freeze, then freeze your leftovers in a suitable, properly labeled, airtight container (bearing a description and best-by date). Consume frozen liver within 3 months.

frequently asked questions

what is the between veal liver and beef liver

Veal liver tends to have a milder smell and taste, in comparison to beef liver. This is because the veal liver has processed fewer toxins when compared to the much older beef liver. You will also find that the veal or calf's liver tends to be, for this reason, more costly.

You can use calf, beef, or pig liver for this old-fashioned liver with onions recipe. I personally like using beef as it is what I grew up eating, but hey, use what suits you.

how do I cook liver without flour?

To fry the liver without flour, first, pat it dry. You can season it with spices such as black pepper or garlic powder, but do not season the raw liver with salt as this draws out excess moisture and will not result in a suitable crust.

Add about a third of a cup of oil to a pan, allow it to heat under medium heat then fry the liver. You want to fry each side for about 2-3 minutes, or until browned. Once properly browned, set aside on a plate and season with salt.

more tasty recipes to love!

• Chicken Liver Pate
• Classic Kenyan Beef Stew Recipe
• Healthy Minced Beef Recipe
• Easy Baked Chicken Drumsticks Recipe
• Kachumbari (East African Salad) Recipe

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