Sautéed chicken livers on griddled sourdough

Serves 4 Starters and mains

Paprika liver 3395

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Ingredients

  • 3tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely grated
  • 1/2tsp smoked sweet paprika, plus extra to dust
  • 1/2tsp smoked hot paprika
  • 150g smoked pancetta or smoked lardons
  • 4 thyme sprigs, plus extra leaves to serve
  • 250-300g chicken livers, cut in half and trimmed, then patted dry with kitchen paper
  • 1/2tsp sea salt flakes
  • 1/2tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 5tbsp Manzanilla sherry
  • 3tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley

For the griddled bread

  • 4 slices sourdough bread
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 4tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Method

To prepare the bread, heat a ridged griddle pan on high and toast the bread slices, two at a time, to get charred lines on one side. Alternatively, toast under a grill. Turn the slices over and repeat. Rub the garlic over, then brush the oil over and set aside.

Heat 11⁄2tbsp oil in a frying pan, add the onion and fry for around 5 minutes, then add the garlic and continue to fry until soft and beginning to turn golden. Sprinkle both types of paprika over and tip the onion and garlic on to a plate.

Wipe out the pan with kitchen paper and set over a high heat, add the pancetta or lardons
and thyme and fry until golden. Transfer to the plate with the onion and garlic.

Heat the oven to a medium- low setting ready to warm
the bread.

Wipe out the pan with kitchen paper again and heat the remaining oil over a high heat, then add the livers, salt and pepper. Fry for around 5 minutes until golden on both sides but still soft, a little pink in the middle and not cooked all the way through. Take care as they will spit.

Off the heat, add 3tbsp sherry to the pan, then put back on a high heat and stir to reduce it for a few minutes. Meanwhile, briefly warm the griddled bread in the oven.

Transfer the livers to the plate with the onions and pancetta. Deglaze the pan with the rest of the sherry, then add the contents of the plate to the pan and stir in the parsley. Use to top the griddled bread slices and dust with extra paprika and sprinkle with thyme to serve.

Food styling : Linda Tubby. Photography and prop styling : Angela Dukes.
Paprika liver 3395
Food styling : Linda Tubby. Photography and prop styling : Angela Dukes.

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