Cherry

Rustic Cherry-Glazed Chicken Livers

by:
January 13, 2010
4
3 Ratings
Rustic Cherry-Glazed Chicken Livers
  • Serves depends on how hungry you are
Author Notes

One night I found myself with a bottle of excellent red wine that had a bright cherry note, and I created this dish to complement the wine. When I'm home alone I try to overcome the temptation to just have a peanut butter sandwich by making something really nice for myself. This dish has become one of my favorites, a nourishing and elegant use of one of the simplest and least expensive of ingredients. Use a good wine in the dish, and pour yourself a glass to have with it. Get the best chicken livers you can find, and if you haven't yet discovered a way to embrace chicken livers, this might just be it. And remember, when you eat alone you're always in good company, and everyone at the table likes the same things you do, so do yourself proud! —Abra Bennett

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 2 ounces dried cherries
  • 3/4 cup fruity dry red wine
  • 1 pound chicken livers
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/3 cup onion, finely minced
  • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
  • 1/2 cup walnut halves, toasted
  • 2 tablespoons fresh mint, in chiffonade or chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
Directions
  1. Warm the wine slightly in a small saucepan, remove from heat, and place the cherries in it to soften. Let soak for at least 20 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, toast the walnut halves at 350° for 8-10 minutes, until very golden and fragrant. When cool, break up the halves a little bit, leaving the nuts in large chunks.
  3. Rinse the chicken livers and blot them dry with paper towels. Trim away any bits of fat and membrane. Season the flour with salt and pepper and toss it with the cleaned and dried chicken livers.
  4. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add the chicken livers, placing them so they are in a single layer in the pan. Turn the livers gently to saute each side, until they are very browned and crusty on the outside but still slightly pink inside.
  5. Pour in the cherries and wine, and stir vigorously to deglaze the pan of browned bits. Add the toasted walnuts and mint, stirring briefly to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve with crusty bread or polenta.
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Abra Bennett
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6 Reviews

cincoymaya
cincoymaya December 25, 2015
This was absolutely delicious. I found I didn't have dried cherries but substituted some frozen tart cherries along with dried cranberries. Couldn't find the mint under the snow :-) Served it with a pasta topped with a cherry, date, garlic & goat cheese sauce. Here's the link for that recipe http://www.choosecherries.com/recipe/cherry-basil-orzo-pasta/
 
aimeebama
aimeebama May 18, 2015
Delicious. I tried it with fresh cherries steeped in a bit of wine. Very very good. Served it over orzo with butter.
 
leeny37
leeny37 January 23, 2010
If dried cherries are not available, would other substitutes like fresh or canned cherries work?
 
dymnyno
dymnyno January 15, 2010
This sounds delicious...definately a keeper for me...And...I love that you pair food and wine.
 
shayma
shayma January 13, 2010
it's a fascinating combination, one would have never thought of it; it sounds really lovely. sort of like foie gras with smthg sweet.
 
lastnightsdinner
lastnightsdinner January 13, 2010
Oh, I bet the cherries work beautifully with the chicken livers. Great dish!