It ain't chopped liver ....

[shel]

... unless it's chopped.

Grandma Bessie and Mom used to make chopped liver with one of those old style, mezzaluna-shaped chopping knives and used a wooden bowl. Lately I've had chopped liver made with a food processor - it just ain't the same. Does anyone still use the old style method? Is there a way to get the food processor to more closely emulate the old, chopped texture?

Shel

[greenawalt87]

I like the old way useing 2 knives held together but you know when you are lazy I use the food processes the old way is better

[Mezzaluna]

MY Baubie (grandmother) Bessie used a chopper (hochmesser) and a wooden bowl. We used a wooden bowl and one of those choppers with the blades set at right angles.

What is your recipe? Here's ours:

Chicken livers (NO beef or calves' liver- ever)- sautee in a little schmaltz, chop finely but leave some texture
Finely minced raw onion
Chopped hard-boiled egg
Schmaltz
Salt and pepper to taste

This is one of the first things I learned to cook.

[shel]

Originally Posted by Mezzaluna

MY Baubie (grandmother) Bessie used a chopper (hochmesser) and a wooden bowl. We used a wooden bowl and one of those choppers with the blades set at right angles.

What is your recipe? Here's ours:

Chicken livers (NO beef or calves' liver- ever)- sautee in a little schmaltz, chop finely but leave some texture
Finely minced raw onion
Chopped hard-boiled egg
Schmaltz
Salt and pepper to taste

This is one of the first things I learned to cook.

Exactly the same - no measurements, everything by eye and taste and based on what's available at the moment. However, I don't recall blades set @ right angles, just that half-moon shaped blade with a nice, solid wooden handle - very gripable ;-))

Loved to eat the chopped liver warm, too.

I saw a show recently where the cook used a food processor and the stuff looked like a thick milk shake - serve with a straw

Shel

[KYHeirloomer]

Some things technology can't do, Shel. The problem with using a food processor is that it purees the livers instead of merely chopping them fine.

For chopped chicken livers you just have to do it by hand to get it right.

My mom also used one of those half-moons and a wooden bowl. I've still got both of them laying around, somewhere.

[even stephen]

Pop them in the freezer for just a little while, not solid frozen,
but almost. Helps a little.

[shel]

Originally Posted by KYHeirloomer

Some things technology can't do, Shel. The problem with using a food processor is that it purees the livers instead of merely chopping them fine.

For chopped chicken livers you just have to do it by hand to get it right.

My mom also used one of those half-moons and a wooden bowl. I've still got both of them laying around, somewhere.

That's what I figured. I'm pretty much a traditionalist anyway. Much prefer doing things by hand, using older style tools and techniques.

Oh, the chopped liver that I mentioned earlier was made with added Madiera wine, a bunch of herbs - I'm sure it was tasty, but, imo, it wasn't "chopped liver."

Kind regards,

Shel

[shel]

Originally Posted by even stephen

Pop them in the freezer for just a little while, not solid frozen,
but almost. Helps a little.

I'd be concerned that the freezing would alter the texture too much. In any case, when I next make a batch of chopped liver, I'll use the more traditional method.

Shel

[Mezzaluna]

Shel, we'd save up livers that came in our frying chickens by putting them in the freezer. Since we ate chicken three times a week at our house, that wasn't difficult. The livers' quality didn't suffer. But I would not freeze the finished product.

[shel]

Originally Posted by Mezzaluna

Shel, we'd save up livers that came in our frying chickens by putting them in the freezer. Since we ate chicken three times a week at our house, that wasn't difficult. The livers' quality didn't suffer. But I would not freeze the finished product.

Yes, that was my concern - the finished product. I often buy frozen chicken liver - mostly for my cats - and I sometimes sauté and enjoy a couple of pieces. The liver seems to have a decent texture and good flavor.

Shel