Liver and Onions Recipe: How to Cook this Classic Dish

The Heartland of America is known for many things: fertile fields, dairy farms, and small communities where everyone knows your name. There are many treasures in these small Midwestern US towns, from that corner diner that serves the best cornbread you’ve ever had to that small antique shop that has your next family heirloom in it for an incredible price.

You’ll also find many amazing home kitchens serving up incredible dishes on a consistent basis, and nothing speaks of the Midwestern farm more than a simple meal of liver and onions.

Beef Liver and Onions Recipe

Beef liver and onions is a favorite dish among many families and the recipe is simple to make. The ingredients are affordable and easy to find. There are many different ways to cook liver and onions.

This recipe can be made for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It’s a healthy and nutritious meal that everyone will enjoy.

Ingredients

To follow our recipe in steps, you will need simple ingredients:

• 1 pound of beef liver
• 1 onion
• 1 tablespoon of flour
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1 cup of milk
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

Here are the instructions to make liver and onions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Chop the liver into small pieces.
3. Peel and chop the onion.
4. In a large nonstick skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
5. Add the liver and onions and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Sprinkle the flour over the liver and onions and stir to combine.
7. Pour in the milk and bring the mixture to a simmer.
8. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
9. Transfer the liver and onions to a baking dish and bake for 20 minutes.
10. Serve hot and enjoy!

Why is Liver and Onions Popular?

There are many reasons why liver and onions is a classic meal. For one, the liver is a nutrient-rich food that is high in protein, iron, and vitamin A.

Onions also add valuable nutrients to the recipe, including antioxidants and flavonoids. Together, liver and onions make a hearty, satisfying meal that is both nutritious and delicious.

Things to Keep in Mind When Cooking Liver and Onions

There are a few things to keep in mind when cooking liver and onions. First, it is important to choose a good quality liver. The liver from grass-fed cows is the best choice, as it is higher in nutrients than the liver from grain-fed cows.

Second, be sure to cook the liver until it is cooked through but still moist. An overcooked liver can be dry and tough.

When it comes to onions, there are a few different ways to prepare them. The most common way is to slice them thin and cook them until they are soft.

Another option is to dice the onions and cook them until they are caramelized onions or sautéed onions. Either way, when you cook onions you add sweetness and depth of flavor to the recipe.

This meal is typically served with mashed potatoes or rice. However, it can also be enjoyed on its own as a main course.

If you are looking for a more nutrient-rich meal, try serving the meal over a bed of spinach or other leafy greens. Whatever way you choose to enjoy it, liver and onions is a classic meal that is sure to please.

How to Cook Beef Liver and Onions

It’s true that not everyone is partial to a beef liver as a good dinner. Adding onions to the meat just seems to add insult to the injury for some! The secret to having good beef liver and onions is to make sure it is cooked properly.

If the liver slices are undercooked, it is spongy and tastes like you sucking on a piece of iron candy. Cook it too much and it becomes a piece of chewy rubber that is so tough, that you could replace the soles of your shoes with them.

Here’s the Secret To a Great Piece of Beef Liver…

Why is liver and onions made on the farm such a wonderful experience? Because to really cleanse a piece of liver, you need to soak it in milk.

The best milk to use is raw milk that you just got from the cows, but any milk is better than no milk at all. You need to cover the liver completely with milk for at least an hour, but a couple of hours is usually best. 

This is the most effective way to remove the bitter taste from liver that makes everyone pucker up and scrinch their nose at you when you even mention it!

While the liver is soaking, you can start preparing onions if you wish. Slow cooking the onions is best because you want the flavors of the cooked onions to be ready for the liver that will soon be cooking with it!

Using a couple of tablespoons of butter, heat up the pan just enough so that it can melt butter and make it bubble a little. Then put in the onion and let them soak up that butter.

Bigger pieces of onion take longer to cook thoroughly, so slow cooking them can take the hour or two you’re using to soak the liver. If you like caramelized onions, you will love this consider sweet onions and balsamic vinegar to make your caramelized onions that much more flavorful.

Make Sure You Give Your Liver a Nice Flour Coating!

When you’re ready to start cooking the liver slices, make sure you get a nice flour coating on it. Mix some salt and pepper in with the flour and maybe some fresh garlic or garlic powder too if you’re brave.

Then take the liver slices out of the milk, coat both sides with the flour mixture, and then put it into your onions pan and turn the heat up to medium-high heat. 

You might need to put in more butter to help the liver brown properly. Cook until nicely browned on each side and then you’re done! The best liver is served slightly pink.

How to Remove the Metallic Taste of Liver

Make sure it’s under a layer of water and butter. Sliced liver should be placed in a saucepan with milk to cover them. After draining and washing the livers, place them in the refrigerator for about half an hour.

This will help to remove the metallic taste. You can also soak them in milk for a few hours or overnight to achieve the same goal.

Wash livers in running water, removing any visible blood clots. Soak liver in milk for 30 minutes before cooking. This will help to remove the metallic taste.

How do you cook liver so it is tender?

Tenderize your liver slices by soaking them in milk for an hour or two before cooking. This will help to remove the metallic taste from the liver.

You can also marinate it in a mixture of vinegar, lemon juice, or lime juice overnight. Be sure to rinse the liver thoroughly before cooking.

Flour coat your liver and then fry it in a pan with butter until it is browned on both sides. You can also add onions to the pan while you are cooking the liver.

Slow cook the onions so that they are ready when the liver is done. Serve your liver slightly pink for the best flavor.

Is eating beef liver good for you?

A nutritionally rich and highly nutritious diet awaits the liver. It is high in vitamin A, vitamin E, and nic acid. 3 ounces of steak liver provide a lot of saturated fat and also has a lot of vitamin B (thiamine), vitamin C, riboflavin, and niacin. The liver also contains a lot of folic acid and iron.

Liver is an excellent source of protein and essential amino acids. It is also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for the heart and circulatory system.

So, yes, eating beef liver is good for you!

See Related: What Are the 5 Mother Sauces?

Final Thoughts: Beef Liver and Onions Recipe

This beef liver and onions recipe is a classic one that has been enjoyed for generations. This recipe is simple to make and can be tailored to your liking by changing up the type of liver used or the way the onions are prepared.

Whether you enjoy it as a main course or as a side, this liver and onions recipe is delicious and sure to please.

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