Skip to main content

Liver with Vinegar

This Lebanese specialty is served as an appetizer, but it is also good as a main course accompanied by mashed potatoes. Calf’s liver has a better flavor and texture, so use it if you can.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 3-4

Ingredients

1 pound calf’s or lamb’s liver, cut in thin slices
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed dried mint (optional)
1/4 cup wine vinegar

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    If serving as an appetizer, cut the liver slices into 1 1/2-inch pieces, but leave the slices whole if serving as a main dish.

    Step 2

    Sauté the liver in a mixture of butter and oil over medium heat very briefly, for a minute or so, adding salt and pepper and turning the pieces over, until lightly colored but pink inside. Remove from the pan and put aside.

    Step 3

    Add crushed garlic and mint, if you like, and when the aroma rises, stir in the vinegar. Return the liver to the pan and cook 1/2 minute more, turning the pieces over. The liver should still be a little pink inside.

  2. Variations

    Step 4

    A different sort of tartness can be obtained by sprinkling with 1 tablespoon ground sumac instead of adding vinegar.

    Step 5

    Fry 1 sliced onion in the butter and oil until soft, before adding the liver.

Cover of Claudia Roden's The New Book of Middle Easter Food, featuring a blue filigree bowl filled with Meyer lemons and sprigs of mint.
Reprinted with permission from The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, copyright © 2000 by Claudia Roden, published by Knopf. Buy the full book on Amazon or Bookshop.
Read More
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
Put that half-full tub to use with recipes that go beyond the Italian American classics.
Like Sri Lankan cashew curry and vegan stuffed shells.
Glossy, intensely chocolaty, and spiked with coffee and sour cream, this Bundt is the ultimate all-purpose dessert.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Use this simple vinaigrette to dress a plate of greens, some steamed potatoes, or anything else that strikes your fancy.