Bigoli With Chicken Livers Recipes

Steps:

• Rinse the livers and pat dry with a kitchen towel. Clean the livers, by trimming and discarding any visible fat, green parts, or membrane. Set the livers aside.
• In a large saute pan, over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons of the chicken fat and add the onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer the onions to a plate with a slotted spoon. Wipe out the pan.
• Spread the livers out in a single layer on a sheet pan and season with the salt and pepper. Raise the heat to high, add 2 tablespoons of the fat to the pan and when the fat begins to shimmer, lay the livers in the pan in a single layer. Working in batches, cook the livers turning each over once, until browned, about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer the livers to the plate with the onions. Repeat with 2 tablespoons fat and remaining livers. Cool.
• Coarsely chop the livers with a knife (don't be tempted to use a food processor). In a medium bowl, gently combine the livers with the eggs, onions, and remaining 2 tablespoons fat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving. Serve with toast and cornichons if desired.
• Serving suggestion: Toasted rye or pumpernickel bread and cornichons .
• In a small saucepan combine the chicken fat or skin, thyme, garlic, and water. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-low to medium heat. Cook until the fat has rendered (liquefied) and the skin becomes crispy, about 35 to 45 minutes. (Adjust the heat, as needed, to keep the skin from browning too quickly.) Set the chicken fat aside to cool slightly. Strain into a small bowl. If desired reserve the crispy skin. Refrigerate, covered, for up to one week.
• Yields: about 1/2 cup

Steps:

• Place the chicken livers in a colander, and rinse with water. Drain the livers well. Whisk together the egg and milk in a shallow bowl until well blended. Place the flour, garlic powder, and salt and pepper in a resealable plastic zipper bag, and shake to combine.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Place the chicken livers in the bowl of egg and milk mixture, and coat each liver. Place the livers, one at a time, into the plastic bag of flour mixture, and shake the bag to coat the each liver completely.
• Gently place the coated livers, a few at a time, into the hot oil. Cover the pan of oil with a frying screen to avoid getting burned by spatters of oil that will pop out as the livers fry. Deep fry the livers until crisp and golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes.

Steps:

• To mix the dough in the food processor, put the flour (all purpose and whole wheat, if using) and salt in the work bowl and process briefly to blend. Drop the butter into ½ cup warm milk; stir to melt the butter, then mix in the milk and beaten eggs. Start the food processor running, then pour in the liquids through the feed tube. Process for 30 to 40 seconds until a dough forms and gathers on the blade, leaving the sides and bottom of the bowl clean. The dough should be soft but not sticky. If it is dry and crumbly, add a bit more milk and process. Turn the dough out of the bowl and knead into a smooth ball. Wrap the dough in plastic and let it rest at room temperature for a half hour before extruding the dough. If you have a torchio, fit it with the large-hole bigoli die. With a pasta extruding machine or attachment-or a meat grinder-use a disk with ¼-inch holes or as close to that size as you have. If using a meat grinder or attachment be sure to remove the rotary cutting before extruding the dough. Put the dough through a home pasta extruder and cut the strands of pasta into 8-inch lengths as they emerge. Immediately dust them with flour and lay them flat, not touching, on a floured tray or baking sheet. Keep covered with a floured towel until you cook them. (You can freeze the strands on the sheet pan, then wrap them together in plastic wrap, in portions for cooking. Keep in a plastic container to protect from breakage. Cook without thawing.)

Steps:

• Clean the chicken livers, removing all the fat, veins, and membranes. Chop them into small bits with a chef's knife.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil and all the butter in the large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion and the bay leaves, and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. When the onion is wilted and translucent, stir in the chopped chicken livers, and salt again lightly.
• Pour in 1/4 cup hot stock, raise the heat, and cook, stirring, until the moisture is nearly evaporated. Clear a space in the skillet, drop in the tomato paste, toast it in the hot spot for a minute, then stir the paste in with the chopped livers and onion. Scatter the frozen peas into the skillet, stir, then pour in the remaining stock.
• Bring the liquid to a boil, and adjust the heat to keep it bubbling steadily. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and generous grinds of black pepper. Let the sauce cook and reduce, stirring occasionally, until most of the moisture is gone and it has a thick, flowing consistency, 10 minutes or so. Adjust the seasonings, and have the sauce simmering when the pasta is dressed.
• Meanwhile, fill the large pot with 8 quarts of water, add 2 tablespoons salt, cover, and heat to a rolling boil. Shake excess flour off the bigoli, drop into the pot, and return rapidly to the boil. Cook, occasionally stirring, until the pasta is nearly al dente (time will vary with the thickness of the strands). Lift bigoli from the water with a spider, drain briefly, and turn it into the simmering sauce. Toss together until the pasta is fully cooked and dressed with sauce.
• Turn off the heat, toss in the parsley, the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, and a cup of the grated cheese. Serve immediately, passing more cheese at the table.