Peppered Chicken Liver Sage And Fried Onion Bruschetta Recipe Epicuriouscom

Steps:

• In a large skillet heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and in it sauté onion, stirring, until golden. Transfer onion with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Pat chicken livers dry. Add garlic to skillet and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until pale golden. Add chicken livers and sauté over moderately high heat until golden and just springy to the touch, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on each side. Stir in minced or crumbled sage, pepper, salt, and allspice and in a food processor coarsely purée. Mound about 2 teaspoons chicken liver mixture on oiled side of each toast and garnish with onions and sage leaves.
• To make toasts:
• Prepare grill or preheat broiler.
• With a serrated knife cut bread crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Grill slices on a rack set about 4 inches over glowing coals 1 to 1 1/2 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and crisp outside but still soft inside. Alternatively, slices may be broiled in batches under a broiler about 4 inches from heat 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, or until golden. Rub toasts with garlic on one side and lightly brush same side with oil. Toasts may be made 1 week ahead and kept in an airtight container. Makes about 45 toasts.

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.

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a nonstick skillet, and add the onions, cloves, salt and pepper. Toss and stir over medium heat for about 10 minutes. The onions should be browned and soft. Discard the cloves; keep the onions warm.
• Pick over the chicken livers and remove any tough veins. Quarter the livers.
• Put the livers in a bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the flour and stir to coat well.
• Remove the livers to a baking sheet, separating them.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add half of the livers one at a time. Cook, turning the livers as they brown. One batch of livers takes about 4 to 5 minutes to cook. Drain the livers. Wipe out the skillet, and add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Cook the remaining livers the same way, then drain.
• Using the same skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over high heat. Add the livers, cooked onions, sage, salt and pepper. Cook, shaking the skillet and tossing the livers so they will heat throughout. Add the vinegar, stir and blend well for about 2 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley, and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Put the raisins in a bowl with warm water to cover, so they plump up for a few minutes.
• Slice the onions in half and then crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick half moons (see photo, page 28). Put 2 tablespoons of oil and 2 of butter in one of the skillets and set it over medium heat. As the butter melts, stir in the onions, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt, and drop in the bay leaves. Shake the pan and turn the onions as they heat and start to sizzle, then lower the heat slightly and cook the onions slowly as they gradually wilt and start to color, stirring and tossing them occasionally.
• After 15 minutes or so, when the onions are deep gold all over, raise the heat a bit, pour in the vinegar, and cook for a minute, stirring the onions in the vinegar as it steams and evaporates. Drain the raisins, and gently squeeze out the excess liquid; scatter them in the skillet and toss together with the onions. Now lower the heat, and continue cooking the onions until they're as dark and caramelized as you want them be. Turn off the heat, and let the onions rest in the hot pan.
• While the onions are cooking, clean the livers (I do this on paper towels): with a paring knife remove all the fat, veins, and membranes, and slice the livers into separate lobes. Rinse them well, then pat dry with fresh paper towels. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon salt and grind pepper on all surfaces of the livers.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 of butter in the second skillet, over medium-high heat, until the butter is melted and foaming. Before the butter begins to color, lay the livers in the pan, without crowding them. With the heat high, cook the livers for 2 minutes or a bit more, until they're browned and crisped on the underside, then turn them over (in the order in which you put them in the pan). Cook about 2 minutes on the second side, until they are nicely crisped all over, and lift them-a couple at a time-with a spider or slotted spoon; let the oil drain off, and place them in the first, warm skillet, next to the onions. Don't overcook the livers: they should still be slightly pink inside when you move them. Taste a piece and season with more salt and pepper if you want.
• If you will be serving right away, heap the onions on top of the livers, then spoon onions and liver together onto warm serving plates. If serving is delayed, leave the onions and livers in separate parts of the pan so the livers don't get soggy. Smother the livers with onions when you serve.
• Some piping-hot Basic Polenta (page 215), or grilled polenta (page 216).
• Poached Whole Zucchini with Lemon and Olive Oil (page 237).
• Skillet-Cooked Broccoli (page 277) or Skillet Cauliflower (page 268).