Daniel Boulud's Baked Chicken Liver

Do you eat chicken liver? And if you eat it, do you ever cook it? We confess that we have never picked up one of those cheap little packets of chicken livers; they seemed more appropriate to cat food than to culinary experimentation. And yet we know, theoretically, that chicken livers can be delicious, so this set of recipes from Daniel Boulud may inspire us to drop some chicken livers into our basket on our next shopping trip.

Boulud's description is just so mouthwatering. He says:

I wonder why many people do not fully appreciate chicken liver, which is so much a part of French, English, Italian, and Jewish cooking. It is inexpensive, readily available, and nutritious—a serving of liver gives you a good dose of iron. ...

In France, chicken liver is often served with quenelles, large gnocchi that have been stewed in a delicate tomato sauce with olives and mushrooms. A warm gâteau of chicken liver makes a perfect lunch when accompanied by toasted bread and a salad of spinach and tomatoes seasoned with a light vinaigrette.

Yum! His recipes for baked chicken liver and a simple spinach and tomato salad can be found at Elle Decor. He even gives wine recommendations.

• Daniel's Dish: Smooth Move

(Images: Antonis Achilleos for Elle Decor)

Comments (13)

I love a chicken liver pate or mousse. My elderly aunt buys chicken livers to saute up instead of chicken - it must be generational.

posted by caw261 on March 3rd 2009 at 4:35pm
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Pizzeria Mozza (Mario Batali & Nancy Silverton's restaurant in L.A.) makes an awesome chicken liver topped with guanciale, and it's the one thing my husband and I have to order each visit. I found a similar recipe in Batali's "Italian Grilling" book last summer and we make it all the time now.

I've never tried baking chicken liver, so thanks for this post!

posted by MyLastBite on March 3rd 2009 at 4:45pm
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Forgot to add link to the chicken liver (it's so GOOD!) http://mylastbite.wordpress.com/2008/01/01/pizzeriamozza/

posted by MyLastBite on March 3rd 2009 at 4:47pm
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well, I *did* try to urge you to feature liver dumpling soup during soup month!

This is the basic recipe, except that we always use chicken livers, and not beef liver, and we make them marble-sized, not ping-pong ball sized.

http://www.recipezaar.com/Polevka-S-Jatrovymi-Knedlicky-Soup-With-Beef-Liver-Dumplings-14659

posted by mschatelaine on March 3rd 2009 at 5:18pm
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I love, love, love chicken livers.
Wrap them in bacon, make a pate, make pasta sauce, bake with the chicken and eat, however you make them, they are tasty.

And gizzards. And hearts.

posted by Kassie on March 3rd 2009 at 9:07pm
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This recipe sounds delish! I make a chicken liver and green apple terrine that I quite like. I deglaze the pan with calvados or pommeau if I have one of those bevvies on hand.

Http://danamccauley.wordpress.com

posted by Dana McCauley on March 3rd 2009 at 9:44pm
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omg that terrine sounds like heaven!

posted by saltyc on March 4th 2009 at 1:20am
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Chicken livers got me through a very broke time in my early 20's. In Charlotte they were only 89 cents/lb and I would season, flour and pan fry them then deglaze the pan as a base for a tasty gravy to smother the livers in. Add sauteed onions and peppers and put it over a bowl of rice to make it last.

posted by swandiver on March 4th 2009 at 10:41am
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wonderful! i don't eat meat, but i've been looking for a chicken liver pate recipe so i can make a cheap but luxurious app/dinner party recipe. this will be it!

posted by lotusmoss on March 4th 2009 at 3:15pm
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uggghhhh its sooooo goood. Theyre are soooo cheap and an amazingly addictive snack when you saute with butter, thyme, wine, S&P and then thrown in the food processor for a few seconds until minced.

posted by matt manfredini on March 4th 2009 at 3:57pm
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Or does anyone remember Rumaki? Chicken livers with a slice of water chestnut, wrapped in a slice of bacon, marinated for hours in soy sauce and spices, and broiled?

Used to be a popular nibble in the '80s....

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/RUMAKI-106255

posted by mschatelaine on March 5th 2009 at 6:01am
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Cat food!?! They are delicious and delightfully cheap.

posted by Charlotte on March 5th 2009 at 7:57pm
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Even if I wasn't a vegetarian, livers filter toxins from the body, I would not want to be eating that!

But, to each their own! My Jewish family really enjoys their chopped liver spread...

posted by inertia on March 7th 2009 at 4:05pm
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