Absolute Best Liver and Onions Recipe

Name: Absolute Best Liver and Onions Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Canadian
Ingredients: 500 g beef liver (sliced into 1 cm thick pieces); 1 cup milk; 2 large onions (thinly sliced); 2 tbsp butter; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp sugar; 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (for dredging); 1 tsp salt (divided); 1/2 tsp black pepper (freshly ground); 2 tbsp vegetable oil

45 min 4 servings Medium

All Recipes

Discover the absolute best liver and onions recipe, featuring perfectly cooked liver and caramelized onions for a traditional and flavourful dish.

Prep

15 min

Cook

30 min

Total

45 min

Servings

Difficulty

Medium

Liver and onions is a classic dish that brings back fond memories of home-cooked meals. This recipe aims to elevate the traditional version by focusing on the perfect balance of flavours and textures. The liver is tender and flavourful while the onions are sweet and caramelized to perfection. This version works because it respects the traditional preparation while adding a few modern tweaks to enhance the dish. It's perfect for those who appreciate hearty, comforting meals that are both nutritious and delicious.

Ingredients

Servings

For the liver

For the onion topping

For seasoning and cooking

Instructions

Prepare the liver

Place the sliced liver in a bowl and cover with milk. Let soak in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to remove bitterness. Drain and pat dry with paper towels.

Pro tip: Soaking in milk helps mellow out the liver's strong flavour.

Caramelize the onions

In a large skillet, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add sliced onions and sugar, cooking for 15-20 minutes until golden brown, stirring occasionally.

Pro tip: Cooking the onions slowly allows their natural sugars to caramelize.

Season the liver

In a shallow dish, combine flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Dredge liver slices in the flour mixture, shaking off excess.

Cook the liver

In another skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add liver slices and cook for about 3 minutes per side, or until browned on the outside and slightly pink in the center.

Pro tip: Avoid overcooking for tender liver.

Combine liver and onions

Reduce heat to low, add caramelized onions to the skillet with the liver, and sprinkle with remaining salt. Cook for an additional 2 minutes to combine flavours.

Pro tip: This step ensures the liver absorbs the sweet onion flavour.

Serve

Transfer liver and onions to a serving platter and serve immediately with your choice of sides.

💡

Tips & Tricks

Soak liver in milk to reduce bitterness.
Use a mix of butter and oil for better browning.
Cook onions slowly for deep caramelization.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this liver and onions dish with mashed potatoes or steamed vegetables for a complete meal. The richness of the liver pairs excellently with a light, crisp green salad on the side. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the onions a day in advance and store them in the fridge. Simply reheat them gently before serving. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

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