Chopped liver

Summary

Chopped liver (Yiddish: געהאַקטע לעבער, gehakte leber) is a liver pâté popular in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine. This dish is a common menu item in kosher Jewish delicatessens in Britain, Canada, South Africa, Argentina and the United States.

Chopped liver
Chopped liver with egg
Alternative namesGehakte leber
CourseHors d'oeuvre
Associated cuisineAshkenazi Jewish
Main ingredientsLiver, onions, schmaltz
  •   Media: Chopped liver

Preparation and serving edit

The dish is often made by sautéing or broiling liver and onions, adding hard-boiled eggs, salt and pepper, and grinding that mixture. The liver used is generally veal, beef, or chicken.[1]

The quintessential fat used is schmaltz, but different methods and materials exist, and the exact process and ingredients may vary from chef to chef.[2]

Chopped liver is often served on matzah, or with rye bread as sandwiches.[3]

Variations and alternatives edit

Chopped liver is high in protein, but also high in fat and cholesterol. There are low-fat, mock and vegetarian alternatives, often made of a combination of peas, string beans, eggplant, or mushrooms.[4]

Chopped liver as an expression edit

Since eating chopped liver may not be appreciated by everyone, the Jewish English expression "What am I, chopped liver?" signifies frustration or anger at being ignored on a social level.[citation needed]

An explanation of the expression is that chopped liver was traditionally served as a side dish rather than a main course. The phrase therefore may have originally expressed a feeling of being overlooked, as a "side dish".[5][better source needed]

The origin of the expression is difficult to trace, with many spoken references in older television, comedy and cinema not written down.[citation needed]

Similar dishes edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Chopped Liver - Traditional Jewish Recipe". Tori Avey. 2018-09-04. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  2. ^ "Great Chopped Liver". Canadian Jewish News. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  3. ^ "This Mock 'Chopped Liver' Is Even Better Than the Original | Institute of Culinary Education". www.ice.edu. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  4. ^ Vegetarian Chopped Liver (Pareve) http://kosherfood.about.com/od/vegetarianmaindishes/r/vegie_chopliver.htm Archived 2007-09-07 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Ask the Rabbi: What Am I, Chopped Liver? at Ohr Somayach