Liver Tarragon Recipes

CALF'S LIVER WITH IRISH WHISKY AND TARRAGON

Steps:

• Wipe the liver dry with paper towels and dredge lightly with flour, shaking off excess.
• Melt the butter in a large frying pan and brown the liver pieces on both sides. Remove to a dish and keep warm.
• Add the garlic, saute for a minute, then add the Irish whisky and bring to a boil. Add the stock and cook, stirring, until thickened.
• Add the tarragon and heavy cream and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Return the liver to the pan and coat with the sauce. (Allow the liver to cook a little more if necessary, but beware of overcooking.)

CHICKEN LIVER AND TARRAGON PATE

Steps:

• Melt a large knob of the butter in a large frying pan and cook the chicken livers for 3-4 minutes on each side until well browned but still slightly pink in the centre.
• Place in a food processor and whizz until smooth. Remove the pan from the heat, add the brandy and swirl around to gather up the pan juices. Add to the food processor with the garlic, tarragon and the remaining butter and whizz again until well blended.
• Add some salt and pepper followed by the cream and process again until well mixed. Spoon into 6 ramekins, smoothing the surface level, and leave to cool completely.
• To finish off, melt the butter and pour over the surface of the pate. Drop in a few tarragon leaves as decoration.
• Cover with cling film and chill for at least a few hours, but up to a day or two. Serve straight from the fridge with hot, buttered toast, or melba toast if you're feeling posh.

CREAMY CHICKEN LIVER PASTA WITH WILD MORELS

Steps:

• Cut stems from mushrooms (reserve for making mushroom stock, if desired) and cut them to bottom into halves or quarters. If they seem at all sandy, swish them very briefly in a bowl of warm water and blot on kitchen towels, then set aside. Put a large pot of water on to boil for the pasta.
• Trim chicken livers: cut each liver into two lobes, discarding any veiny bits, then cut livers into 1-inch pieces. Put about 1 cup flour in a low bowl and add 1 teaspoon salt, a generous amount of black pepper and a pinch of cayenne. Dip liver chunks in flour mixture, then set them aside in one layer on a baking sheet.
• Heat olive oil in a wide skillet over medium high heat. Quickly brown liver pieces on all sides, then remove them from the pan and blot on paper towels.
• Add butter and shallots to pan and cook, stirring frequently, until shallots are softened and beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms, season generously with salt and pepper and cook them together with the shallots for about 5 minutes, until they are somewhat soft.
• Add sherry and cook for a minute or so, then add 2 cups chicken stock. Bring to a simmer and add previously browned liver. Cook for about 5 minutes. It should look quite saucy. Add more chicken stock, if necessary. Taste and adjust seasoning. Stir in crème fraîche and turn off heat
• Boil pasta until al dente and drain. While pasta is cooking, beat egg yolks, lemon juice and lemon zest together in a small bowl. Pour egg mixture slowly into chicken liver sauce, then stir for a minute or so over low heat until slightly thickened, being careful not to curdle egg.
• Divide pasta among bowls and spoon sauce over. Mix tarragon, parsley and chives together and sprinkle over each serving. Scatter prosciutto ribbons on top, if using, and serve immediately.

LIVER WITH MUSTARD TARRAGON SAUCE

Steps:

• Pat liver dry with paper towels and dredge in flour seasoned with salt and peper. Melt butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat and saute liver until brown on both sides but still a bit pink in the middle. Remove to plates and keep warm in the oven. Add onion to the pan and cook, stirring, until limp. Add beef stock, wine vinegar, tomatoes, and tarragon. Stir to pick up any brown bits from pan, then cook several minutes over high heat. Add cream and boil until you have a slightly reduced sauce. Stir in mustard well and pour over liver. Serve immediately.