The Ultimate Beef Liver Recipe - Paleo and Whole30 Compliant (2024)

If my previous Beef Liver recipe made me a believer, this new one just made me an real fan.

I simply can’t believe that I, as in “moi”, was sitting there, eating liver, and actually going “OMG YUM” with each and every bite.

And I’m not exaggerating in the least. This was genuinely, incredibly yummy.

The Ultimate Beef Liver Recipe - Paleo and Whole30 Compliant (1)

You see, when cooked right, beef liver is unbelievably tender and moist and juicy and almost velvety! It’s got a texture that’s simply unrivaled by any other cut of meat. So really, the trick is to cook it at very high temperature for a very short amount of time. The interior HAS to remain a little bit on the pink side.

Cook it too much and it becomes real tough and grainy, like shoe leather. Not what I’d call yummy.

Even the flavor seems to be affected when you cook it for too long…

No wonder, as a kid, I would be served liver with TONS of ketchup on the side(which I also happen to hate, by the way, so needless to say liver has never been a winner in my book!)

The Ultimate Beef Liver Recipe - Paleo and Whole30 Compliant (2)

But now that I am learning how to prepare nature’s most potent superfood the proper way, I’m really learning to enjoy it.

I say learning because, having despised liver all my life, my brain still wants to voice its opinion and goes “Ewwww, but it’s LIVER!” every time I think about having it, which always leads to this big argument between us where I have to convince it that we really do like it after all.

Rough, I know.

But with a little coaxing, I know that I’ll eventually get it to put its guard down and forget all about its old beliefs and misconceptions on liver.

Our brains are highly adaptable little things, you know.Nothing a little bit of “reprogramming” won’t fix!

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I know now that organ meats, and especially liver, are extremely nutrient dense foods that truly deserve to be made a little bit of room on our dining plate a few times a week.

I’m not sure I’m quite there yet, but I sure intend on eating liver way more often than I used to (which was never, so that’s not hard to beat!)

With recipes such as this one, it will be a lot easier for me to get there.

The Ultimate Beef Liver Recipe - Paleo and Whole30 Compliant (4)

Print RecipeRate this Recipe

4.34 from 15 votes

Beef Liver with Fig, Bacon and Caramelized Onion Compote

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Marinating time: 12 hours hours

Total Time: 12 hours hours 40 minutes minutes

Served with a tasty Fig, Bacon and Caramelized Onion Compote, this Beef Liver recipe will make you a believer; it is as delicious as it is nutritious.

Servings: 2

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a non-reactive sealable container, marinate the beef liver in lemon juice for at least 8 hours (or up to 24 hours). Yes, that’s in the refrigerator!

  • In a cold, large heavy skillet (cast iron preferred) set over medium heat, cook the bacon until nice and crispy.

  • While the bacon is cooking, rinse the beef liver slices under running water and pat them dry.

  • In a shallow bowl or plate, combine the arrowroot flour, salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly with a whisk until very well combined.

  • Dredge the liver slices in the arrowroot mixture and shake well to remove any excess. Set aside in a plate until bacon is done cooking.

  • When bacon is nice and crispy, remove it to a plate with a slotted spoon, and set aside. Pour the bacon fat into a small bowl but leave about 2 tablespoons in the pan. Put the skillet back over high heat.

  • When the pan is really nice an hot, add the liver slices and sear for about 45 seconds to a minute per side, just long enough for them to get a beautiful dark brown and crispy exterior. You might have to work in batches, depending on the size of your skillet.

  • Remove the liver to a plate, cover loosely to keep it warm while you work on the onion compote. Put your pan back over the heat source and lower heat to medium-high; add about half the remaining bacon fat and throw the sliced onions right in.

  • Let the onions caramelize for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. When the onions have taken a nice golden coloration, add the remaining bacon fat and the sliced mushrooms. Continue cooking for 2-3 minutes, until the mushrooms become soft and slightly golden.

  • Add figs, salt, pepper, vinegar and water and cook for another minute or so, until liquid is completely evaporated.

  • Stir in fresh sage, kill the heat and place liver slices on top of the onion compote. Cover loosely and let sit for about 5 minutes just to warm up the liver and allow all the flavours to mingle happily.

  • Serve immediately , sprinkled with crispy bacon.

Notes

*This reheats surprisingly well in the microwave. To be honest, I was expecting the worse and thought for sure that the microwave would turn the meat into shoe leather, but not at all. After 2 minutes on high, the meat was nice and warm and retained all of its tenderness.

Nutrition

Calories: 417kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Protein: 46g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 418mg, Sodium: 1502mg, Potassium: 1243mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 17g, Vitamin A: 23952IU, Vitamin C: 12mg, Calcium: 58mg, Iron: 9mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Author: Sonia! The Healthy Foodie

If you’ve tried this recipe, please take a minute to rate the recipe and let me know how things went for you in the comments below. It’s always such a pleasure to hear from you!

You can also FOLLOW ME on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and TWITTER for more delicious, healthy recipes!

The Ultimate Beef Liver Recipe - Paleo and Whole30 Compliant (5)

The Fig, Bacon and Caramelized Onion Compote, just waiting for the liver…

The Ultimate Beef Liver Recipe - Paleo and Whole30 Compliant (6)

Come on, you brain.Does this look good or what?

(I think it’s working, I got a nod…)

The Ultimate Beef Liver Recipe - Paleo and Whole30 Compliant (7)

Served with the onion compote and crispy bacon, with a side of asparagus and butternut squash.

The Ultimate Beef Liver Recipe - Paleo and Whole30 Compliant (8)

Look at how nice and slightly pink still.

So tender and juicy!

The Ultimate Beef Liver Recipe - Paleo and Whole30 Compliant (2024)

FAQs

What do you soak beef liver in before cooking? ›

While we are used to soaking liver in vinegar or lemon to get rid of the bad smell and kill any remaining toxins, American and European chefs advise to soak liver in milk. Yes, that's right: Milk! They claim that in addition to getting rid of toxins that usually are present in raw liver, milk helps tenderizing it.

What is the secret of cooking liver? ›

Note that beef liver tastes best when cooked rare to medium-rare. Since a raw liver has high water content, you have to cook it rapidly with medium to high heat. If you try slow cooking a liver, the meat will become dehydrated, leading to tough fibers and dry, chewy meat.

How can I cook liver without losing nutrients? ›

Cooking does not make a mineral disappear; if anything, cooking concentrates minerals. But liver turns hard and unpleasant if cooked for more than a few minutes. Slice your liver at about 1 cm, remove any fibrous parts, heat a pan, and add some butter. When the butter is foaming, add the liver.

How do you make beef liver not taste like liver? ›

The key is to slice and soak the liver; the soaking removes the pungent taste. After soaking, the liver is battered, fried, and dipped in garlic aioli -- it's a crowd-pleasing, crunchy preparation. Enjoy! Beef liver fry dipped in garlic aioli.

Why do chefs soak liver in milk? ›

Soak the liver in a dish or bowl of milk for 30-60 minutes. This is an important step in removing the bitter flavor from the liver. Salt and pepper the liver generously, and leave it out at room temperature while you prepare the remaining ingredients. Pat the liver dry.

Do you rinse off liver before you cook it? ›

Do not wash or rinse raw meat or poultry before you cook it. Washing can cause bacteria found on the surface of meat or poultry to be spread to ready-to-eat foods, kitchen utensils, and counter surfaces. This is called cross-contamination. Rinse fruits and vegetables before eating.

Does liver get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

Do Not Overcook It. In fact err on the side of just undercooked. Even though the lemon juice makes the liver a bit more tender, overcooking can really ruin it. I cooked mine until it just had a hint of pinkness left, and then removed it from the heat.

How do you cook liver so it is not tough? ›

Beef liver is tough for two reasons. One, it is from an old animal and two, it has been over cooked and at too high a temperature. Slice the liver thick and dredge it in a seasoned flour of your choosing and fry it low and slow in hot lard until just barely cooked through.

How do you make cooked liver taste good? ›

Soak the liver in milk or lemon juice for a few hours before cooking to help remove any bitter flavors. – Do not overcook the liver as it can become tough and rubbery. Cook it until it is still slightly pink in the center. – Season the liver well with flavorful herbs and spices to enhance its taste.

What is the healthiest way to eat beef liver? ›

Here are some suggestions on how to include it in your diet:
  1. Pan-frying it: Liver works well when pan-fried with onions.
  2. Using it in Spaghetti Bolognese: Liver can be chopped or minced and then mixed with regular ground beef.
Mar 8, 2024

When can you not eat liver? ›

Daily consumption of liver can be harmful; for instance, vitamin A toxicity has been proven to cause medical issues to babies born of pregnant mothers who consumed too much vitamin A. For the same reason, consuming the livers of some species like polar bears, dogs, or moose is unsafe.

What is good to eat with beef liver? ›

Beef liver is pan-fried in olive oil (can also use butter for non-AIP), along with garlic and fresh rosemary. The author suggests serving over crisp sliced apples and bitter arugula for a bright contrast against the rich flavor of the meat. From Sophie at A Squirrel in the Kitchen.

What makes beef liver taste better? ›

It's very simple to make but the three things that will set your liver above all others are: 1) soak in milk, 2) turn the liver as little as possible when cooking, and 3) don't overcook.

Can you soak beef liver in apple cider vinegar? ›

In a non-reactive sealable container, marinate the beef liver in apple cider vinegar for at least 8 hours (or up to 24 hours). Rinse the beef liver slices under cold running water and pat them real dry.

Can you soak liver in almond milk? ›

Rinse liver slices in a colander under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Place in a medium bowl and pour almond milk over the liver. Set aside for at least 30 minutes while preparing the onions and allow the liver to soak up the milk, removing any bitterness.

What can you soak beef liver in? ›

But beef liver, being from a larger animal, can be quite strong in flavor. There are ways however to diminish the strength of liver flavor by soaking it in whole milk (raw preferred!), apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice. For many recipes, you may decide to thinly slice your liver before soaking it.

Should I soak liver in milk or buttermilk? ›

By soaking it in buttermilk, you are almost guaranteed a more tender and juicy meal. The other thing buttermilk will do to liver is that it helps tone down and balance out the flavors. Organ meat, like game meat, can have very strong flavors that may strike some eaters as overpowering.

What kind of milk do you soak beef liver in? ›

Soaking is done to make the flavor less "gamey" and to tenderize the meat. The lactic acid in buttermilk (and milk) tenderizes protein. To soak liver, put it in a dish and cover it completely with milk or buttermilk. Let it soak in the milk for 30 to 60 minutes, then pat it dry and proceed with the recipe.

References

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