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!

The Ultimate Beef Liver Recipe - Paleo and Whole30 Compliant (3)

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

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 is the best cooking method for liver? ›

The best way I've found to cook liver is just a quick sear on both sides until the blood is cooked out, and a splash of salt. My recent favourite can is our cast iron pan. It takes a bit to get used to, but does a great job searing the livers and keep just enough heat to cook them fully.

Does cooking beef liver destroy nutrients? ›

Even better, the liver is raw so all the enzymes and nutrients are most potent. Eating cooked liver still provides your body with nutrients, but some delicate vitamins, like certain B vitamins, are decreased by cooking.

How much beef liver can I eat per week? ›

It's possible, and dangerous, to get too much vitamin A. Eating large amounts of liver can lead to symptoms of vitamin A toxicity, which happens when your own liver can't process the excess vitamin A quickly enough. Most doctors recommend that people without vitamin deficiencies eat just one serving of liver per week.

What are you suppose to soak liver in before cooking? ›

  • Soak the liver: Soaking the liver in milk or a mixture of milk and water for a few hours or overnight can help reduce its strong flavor and make it more tender.
  • Choose fresh liver: Fresh liver tends to have a milder flavor compared to frozen liver.

Why do you soak liver in milk before cooking? ›

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.

What makes the liver taste better? ›

This liver and onions recipe will turn liver haters into converts! 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.

What happens if you eat too much beef liver? ›

However, a 100 gram portion of beef liver contains more than six times the recommended dietary intake (RDI) of vitamin A, and 7 times the RDI of copper ( 33 ). Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin, meaning it is stored in our bodies. Therefore, an excess may cause symptoms of vitamin A toxicity.

Does beef liver heal the gut? ›

It is ideal for those with inflammatory or autoimmune conditions to support gut healing. It is also supportive for your immune system, skin, gut and may help prevent bleeding gums. Liver fact # 1: Organ meats are between 10-100 times higher in nutrients than corresponding muscle meats. gut-healing vitamins.

Why is beef liver hard after cooking? ›

If you overcook liver, it will develop a tough and grainy texture. The appropriate cook time for a beef liver will depend on the size of the meat and your cooking method.

Is 1 oz of liver a day too much? ›

12,000 micrograms of vitamin A per day can mean a toxic overload to your own liver, so if beef liver is your go-to, avoid eating large amounts. Keep your serving of beef liver to no more than 3.5 oz per day [2]. And for kids, eating liver once a week should be enough.

What time of the day should you eat beef liver? ›

We suggest taking organ meat supplements in the morning or early afternoon as you may experience a useful boost in energy (especially from pure liver) in the hours after taking them.

Can I eat beef liver 3 times a week? ›

Beef liver is highly nutritious but also high in vitamin A, so moderation is key. Nutrition experts recommend eating no more than 3 to 4 ounces of beef liver 2 to 3 times per week. Consuming more than 10000 IU vitamin A daily over time can lead to toxicity.

Are liver and onions good for you? ›

Also called offal, organ meats have been included in traditional diets for thousands of years, such as in the form of liver and onions. Packed with vitamin A, iron, B vitamins, protein and much more, liver may help prevent anemia, support fertility, aid in detoxification and prevent certain nutrient deficiencies.

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.

Is it better to soak liver in milk or lemon juice? ›

Milk. 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 ...

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

Traditionally, cooking liver requires slicing it into strips or diagonal slices that can cook quickly, helping minimize the risk of overcooking the meat. If you overcook liver, it will develop a tough and grainy texture.

Should liver be cooked well done? ›

Livers should be cooked until they are no longer bloody in the core. Colour is not a reliable indicator of effective cooking. Studies have shown that liver tissue can remain pink after it has reached a safe temperature (see figure 2). Ensure juice from uncooked livers does not leak onto other foods.

What is the healthiest way to eat liver? ›

Here are some suggestions on how to include it in your diet: Pan-frying it: Liver works well when pan-fried with onions. Using it in Spaghetti Bolognese: Liver can be chopped or minced and then mixed with regular ground beef. Calf or chicken livers work best.

Do you rinse off liver before you cook it? ›

Absolutely! It is also a good idea to lightly rinse the liver before patting dry and placing in whole milk (to cover), soak in fridge for about an hour before coating with flour and frying. After doing this, you'll find that the taste is unbelievable!

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Zonia Mosciski DO

Last Updated:

Views: 6592

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Zonia Mosciski DO

Birthday: 1996-05-16

Address: Suite 228 919 Deana Ford, Lake Meridithberg, NE 60017-4257

Phone: +2613987384138

Job: Chief Retail Officer

Hobby: Tai chi, Dowsing, Poi, Letterboxing, Watching movies, Video gaming, Singing

Introduction: My name is Zonia Mosciski DO, I am a enchanting, joyous, lovely, successful, hilarious, tender, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.