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What are your thoughts on pork liver? Well, if you’re here, chances are you’ve tried it before and liked it! This pork liver recipe is packed with nutrition and protein, perfect for a weekend dinner or a make-ahead meal.
Pork liver is a popular dish, served in stir fry, Menudo, and of course, as the classic liver and onions.
Today’s dish is based on the traditional liver and onions recipe that hopefully, you’ll find a little different and plenty tasty.
What does pork liver taste like
It’s pretty hard to describe; it is very rich, mildly bitter, with a hint of an earthy flavor. It has a totally different texture than any other meat, but not in a bad way.
The perfect way to find out what it tastes like is to try it yourself!
Is liver good for you?
According to this article, “liver is one of the most nutritionally dense foods on the planet.”
Pork liver is full of nutrition, containing massive amounts of protein, copper, iron, and vitamins A and B.
Liver, in fact, contains such a high amount of vitamin A that eating too much of it can lead to vitamin A toxicity.
Pork liver or beef liver
From a nutritional standpoint, pork and beef liver are very similar. Pork liver is said to have a more intense flavor than beef, though it does tend not to be quite as tender.
The age of the animal plays a significant role in the tenderness of the meat as well. The younger the pork or beef, the more tender it tends to be.
Of course, the way the liver is prepared will also affect the texture and flavor.
How to cook pork liver
We are going to start this pork liver recipe with a marinade. If you want the whole liver experience, skip the marinating step and continue from there.
Step 1: To begin, slice the meat into thin strips, about a quarter-inch or so thick.
Step 2: Then marinate the liver in a bowl or ziplock bag. Cover with Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar and avocado oil.
The apple cider vinegar in this marinade will really help with…we’ll call it a unique smell and flavor from the liver.
Step 3: Moving on, let the meat soak anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours—however, long time permits.
The following steps are pretty much the same for frying any meat; pork chops, beef, chicken, venison, etc.
Step 4: But, before frying the meat, cut an onion up into thick slices and separate the rings.
Step 5: Then fry the rings in the skillet with butter or oil for just a couple of minutes or until they start to brown.
Step 6: Now, back to the marinating meat. Drain the marinade off of the liver and pat dry.
Step 7: Dredge the strips of liver through the flour (I stir a dash of paprika and cayenne pepper in with the flour for an extra kick).
Step 8: Now, in a hot skillet over medium to medium-high heat along with a dash of oil, cook the liver, flipping often to avoid burning the sides for about 4 or 5 minutes or until the meat is cooked through.
You can also use a dutch oven for frying.
What temp is safe to cook liver to
Cooking liver to the perfect temperature is an absolute must. Overcook it, and it gets tough quickly. And liver, pork, or beef liver cannot be eaten rare.
The USDA recommends all organ meat, such as beef heart, to be cooked to a minimum of 160°F with the exception of chicken liver which must be cooked to at least 165°F.
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What skillet is best for this recipe
Preferably stick with a cast iron skillet; I am using a 12″ skillet which, fits all the liver strips quite nicely. Stainless steel pans will work; just be sure to keep an eye on the temperature.
Serving suggestions
Pork liver and onions make an excellent meal just as it is. Other tasty sides to compliment it include potatoes, Brussel sprouts, rice, or this delicious bacon and butternut squash dish.
Fried pork liver, like fried chicken, is a simple recipe that can be made and enjoyed any night of the week.
Questions you may have
Is pork liver healthy? Excellent question! Yes, pork liver is high in vitamin A, B vitamins as well as vitamin D and vitamin K2.
You’ll also be glad to hear cooking your own pork liver recipes will result in less fat than your average cuts of pork.
How many calories are in pork liver? 3 ounces of pork liver is about 140 calories, according to the USDA.
Is pork liver or beef liver better? It really comes down to personal preference. Pork liver definitely has a more intense flavor compared to beef.
Key takeaways
Fried pork liver, while it has a strong flavor, is highly nutritious, easy to prepare, and budget-friendly!
You’ll only need a few key ingredients that you likely have on hand already to make this pork liver recipe!
I know I love all things fried, and I am a firm believer that all things can be fried. If you don’t believe me, check out these deep-fried meatballs.
Let me know what you think of this recipe by leaving a review below!
Some more popular favorites:
- Venison backstrap
- Fajitas texanas
- Saucy pork ribs
- Juicy jalapeno burgers
- Homestyle meatloaf
Fried Pork Liver
Nate Ascher
Deliciously tender and full of flavor! This recipe is marinated and fried to perfection!
4.84 from 12 votes
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Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Additional Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 346 kcal
Ingredients
- Liver approximately 1 lb
- 1 onion cut into thick slices
- 1 tbsp of butter
- ¾ cup of flour
- ½ tsp of paprika and cayenne pepper
- ¼ cup of soy sauce substitute coconut aminos
- 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp of avocado oil plus 1 tbsp for frying
- ½ tbsp of Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
Slice meat into thin strips
Add to a bowl or ziplock bag along with all the wet ingredients. Let it marinate for 1 hr.
Heat the butter in the skillet over medium-high heat, saute the onion rings until they start to brown, then set aside.
Add the flour, paprika, and cayenne pepper to a small bowl.
Pat dry the meat, dredge through the flour, and pan sear in the skillet with the remaining avocado oil on medium to medium-high heat. Flip the liver pretty often, so it doesn't burn.
Once cooked through, approximately 5 minutes, remove from heat and let sit several minutes before topping with onions and serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ozCalories: 346kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 32gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 646mgSodium: 1006mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1g
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This website provides approximate nutrition information based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands, measuring methods and portion sizes per household. We recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer.
