Calves Liver and Onions Recipe & Apples – Oma's Leber und Zwiebeln (2024)

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Calves Liver and Onions Recipe & Apples – Oma's Leber und Zwiebeln (1)

by: Gerhild Fulson / Cookbook Author, Blogger, German Oma!

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This easy liver and onionsrecipe, akaLeber und Zwiebeln, has a secret ingredient: apples. A hubby and kid-pleaser, this one is quick to make.

It's a recipe I learned from my Mutti. It's what is popular in Berlin, the area she grew up in. With the added apples and onions, it was so good, that I used to wonder why other kids would make faces at me when I told them I had liver for dinner.

Mutti would often serve bacon alongside this. Now, THAT was a treat! Have a look at the Notes/Hints section in the recipe card below for info on this.

The best liver to use for this is calves liver. Although it is usually pricier, it really is worth it. It's the tenderest and mildest in flavor. Next in quality is beef liver, then pork liver, and then lamb liver.

Check out what Oma says below!

Calves Liver and Onions Recipe & Apples – Oma's Leber und Zwiebeln (4)

I love to serve this with fries and veggies. It's also wunderbar served on a bed of rice. Quick and easy dinner for sure! I think you'll love this!

The addition of the apples to this recipe brings a sweet taste to the finished dish. Add bacon … and everyone will be coming back for seconds.

There’s something absolutely mouth-watering about having a German meat-and-potato dinner. Get Oma's revised collection of her favorites inGerman Meat Dishes.

Calves Liver and Onions Recipe & Apples – Oma's Leber und Zwiebeln (5)

Take a peek at all Oma's eCookbooks. They make sharing your German heritage a delicious adventure!

Oma says:

If you are using a stronger flavored liver, such as beef, pork, or sheep, it is advisable to soak it for several hours in milk.

To use the liver, wipe it first with a damp paper towel, and then remove the thin outer skin and any veins. Never cook it too long, as it will become tough.

This is really nice if you fry up some bacon slices as well. Serve them alongside, just as shown in the above photo.

Ready for liver and onions?

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Calves Liver and Onions Recipe & Apples – Oma's Leber und Zwiebeln (7)

Calves Liver and Onions Recipe & Apples – Oma's Leber und Zwiebeln

This easy liver and onions recipe, aka Leber und Zwiebeln, has a secret ingredient: apples. A hubby and kid-pleaser, this one is quick to make.

The best liver to use for this is calves liver. Although it is usually more expensive, it really is worth it. It's the tenderest and mildest in flavor. Next in quality is beef liver, then pork liver, and then lamb liver.

This is really nice served with bacon. Check out the Notes/Hints below!

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

15 minutes

Total Time

30 minutes

Servings:

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

  • 4 slices calves' liver (about 5 ounces each)
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 5 tablespoonsbutter or oil, divided
  • salt, pepper, sugar
  • 3 apples, peeled, sliced ½-inch thick
  • 2 onions, sliced

Instructions:

  1. In saucepan, heat 2 tablespoonsbutter or oil.
  2. Add apple and onion slices and sauté until soft. Sprinkle with a bit of sugar.
  3. Remove from pan and keep warm.
  4. Remove any skin from liver. Dust with flour.
  5. In saucepan, heat 3 tablespoonsbutter or oil and fry liver on both sides about 4 minutes.
  6. Season liver with salt and pepper. Add a bit of water to the pan and stir to make a bit of gravy to pour over.
  7. Serve liver with onions and apples.

Notes/Hints:

  • Fry 8 slices of bacon in the frying pan. Remove from pan and set aside. Use the bacon fat to sauté the apple and onion slices, adding more butter if needed. Remove the crispy strips and serve them on top of the liver.
  • Like liver? Then do try the liver dumplings soup, a super traditional German recipe!

* * * * *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

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Calves Liver and Onions Recipe & Apples – Oma's Leber und Zwiebeln (20)

German Liver and Onions Recipe & apples made Just like Oma

By Oma Gerhild Fulson
Calves Liver and Onions Recipe & Apples – Oma's Leber und Zwiebeln (21)
This easy liver and onions recipe is so tasty with the added apples. A hubby and kid pleaser, this is quick to make.

Ingredients: liver,flour,butter,seasonings,apples,onions,

For the full recipe, scroll up ...

Words to the Wise

"The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise."

Proverbs 23:24 (NLT)

Top of Liver and Onions Recipe

Calves Liver and Onions Recipe & Apples – Oma's Leber und Zwiebeln (2024)

FAQs

Should you soak calf liver before cooking? ›

Some chefs insist on soaking in salt and lemon water. Others opt to soak in ice water or milk to lessen the intensity from an older animal. Others suggest that you should never soak a fresh liver and that its quick preparation is part of the appeal.

How do you tenderize your liver and calves? ›

Pat the liver dry with a paper towel before submerging it in whole milk, buttermilk or red wine in a covered container or resealable, plastic bag. Let the liver marinate in the liquid for 30 to 60 minutes in your fridge. The liquid will tenderize the meat and help minimize the liver's mineral taste.

What nationality eats liver and onions? ›

Liver and onions is widely eaten in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and in Germany, where it is usually eaten along with boiled or mashed potatoes.

Are liver and onions high in carbs? ›

Liver, Beef Or Calves, And Onions (1 slice with onions) contains 10g total carbs, 9.3g net carbs, 5.2g fat, 23.8g protein, and 184 calories.

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.

Why do you soak calves liver in milk? ›

Gently rinse liver slices under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Place in a shallow dish; pour in enough milk to cover. Let stand while preparing onions, or set aside for longer if you have time. Soaking will remove any bitterness.

How long to soak calf liver in milk? ›

Place the rinsed liver in a large bowl and cover with milk toss gently with hands to coat all the pieces evenly in the milk; place in refrigerater for 2 hours.

What do you soak calf liver in? ›

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.

Why do Jews eat chopped liver? ›

It's hard to figure out exactly how chopped liver came to be so deeply connected with Eastern European Jewish cuisine. Many have speculated that because Jews were often poor, they ate every part of a chicken in order to be thrifty, including parts like the liver that would otherwise seem unappetizing.

What country eats the most beef liver? ›

Egypt is the world's biggest importer of liver. In fact, Egyptians eat so much American beef liver that there's a market for American liver near Ramses Square in central Cairo.

Should I boil liver before cooking? ›

HOW TO COOK BEEF LIVER AS A SPREAD. Boil liver in salted water about 15 minutes until done; set aside. Sauté onion and garlic in melted butter until tender. Grind liver; add onion and remaining ingredients.

How often should you eat liver? ›

This means not eating liver and liver products more than once a week, or having smaller portions. It also means not taking any supplements containing vitamin A, including fish liver oil, if they do eat liver once a week. Pregnant women should avoid liver and liver products and vitamin A supplements.

Is eating liver bad for cholesterol? ›

Foods that contain cholesterol but are low in saturated fat.

For example, you could eat three or four eggs a week, and shellfish such as prawns up to once or twice a week. You should avoid liver and offal altogether because they are very rich sources of cholesterol.

Is liver and onions good or bad 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.

How long to soak liver in water before cooking? ›

Let it soak for 1-2 hours so that the liver isn't bitter.

How do you clean a calf liver before cooking? ›

Soaking liver in milk or saltwater can pull out any leftover blood and improve the flavor. I often cut the liver into cubes or strips, portion it into ziplock bags with milk, and then freeze the individual portions. This method has proven to be much more manageable and effective than attempting to soak an entire liver.

Should I rinse my liver after soaking in milk? ›

Remove your liver from the soaked milk. You can rinse it with cold water or cook it as it is to maintain the flavour. Slice your onions finely, then add cooking oil or butter to a sufuria. Saute until it starts to turn brown before adding in your garlic.

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