Did you know that liver is one of the most absurdly nutrient-dense ingredients on the planet? Although we’ve been conditioned to think of superfoods as vegetables or rare fruits and grains—think kale or acai berries or quinoa—any ranking of ingredients by healthy nutrient composition will put liver up near the very top. Beef and poultry liver both have crazy amounts of Vitamins B12, A and B9, as well as iron, choline, and many other important nutrients. It’s a terrific source of lean protein, and almost anyone would benefit from a little extra liver.
We think liver is the bee’s knees, but if you can’t get over the ick factor, we’ve got you covered too. “Hidden” liver recipes sneak a small amount of beef or chicken liver into familiar dishes, and spreadable liver recipes turn the organ into a luscious and approachable snack.
Hidden Liver Recipes:
Worried about liver? Put off by the texture or flavor or the very idea of it? You’re not alone. Only a tiny bit of liver packs an incredible nutrient punch; these recipes sneak in just a bit of liver for a secret superfood infusion. You’ll hardly know you’re eating it.
Rosemary Liver Burgers – Paleo Flourish
Ground beef and liver combine forces with pleasing Mediterranean flavors.
Tasty Beef and Chicken Liver Burgers – A Girl Worth Saving
An even sneakier recipe: chicken liver is milder than beef liver and only a quarter pound goes into these burgers flavored with coriander.
Beef Liver & Onion Meatballs – Primal Palate
Just a touch of beef liver goes into these juicy and delicately spiced meatballs.
Superfood Chili – Mommypotamus
Skip the beans for a rich and spicy pot of chili
Bolognese Sauce with Chicken Livers & Zoodles – Healing Family Eats
Believe it or not, great chefs have been sneaking liver into Bolognese and meaty ragús for generations, because it tastes so good.
Spreadables Liver Recipes:
Maybe the best way to enjoy liver is shmeared on veggies or some good keto crackers. A step up from the “hidden” recipes, these spreads bring all the nutrients in delectable form.
Beef Liver Pate – Primal Edge Health
Seared liver, butter and a food processor are just about all you need for this savory spread.
Chicken Liver Mousse – Real Everything
Simple, smooth and delicious, this creamy mousse is a fine dining staple for a reason.
Chopped Liver – Tori Avey
No need to keto-ize this one. Chicken liver, schmaltz, and all the good stuff go into this indispensable standard of the Jewish recipe book.
Classics Liver Recipes:
If you’re ready to go whole hog and put liver on the center of your plate, try one of these delicious low-carb preparations.
Liver in Bacon, Onions and Balsamic Vinegar – ASweetLife
Our own contribution to this list is the classic liver & onions combination, gilded with bacon and balsamic vinegar.
Crispy Lemon Liver – Jay’s Sushi Bar
A kind of liver scaloppini, here an almond-flour coating gives a crispy bite to beef liver and a great contrast to the buttery lemony sauce.
Moroccan Fried Liver & Onions – The Spruce
A cumin and paprika marinade lends a North African flavor to the usual suspects.
Warm Chicken Liver Salad – Good Housekeeping
Southern France is the feeling here with sautéed chicken livers, quality greens and a fresh vinaigrette.
“Fried” Chicken Livers – Buttoni’s Low-Carb Recipes
A classic Southern American side dish, this recipe somehow becomes even more Southern by replacing the standard breading with crushed pork rinds
Crispy Spiced Chicken Livers – Well Fed
This recipe takes fried chicken livers in an exotic direction, with coconut flour, cumin and smoked paprika.
