Liver Florentine is a classic dish that brings together sautéed liver and a rich tomato base, seasoned with onions and spices for a warming and economical meal. Though "Florentine" often refers to dishes featuring spinach, this vintage take skips the greens and focuses on a comforting, tomato-forward preparation popular in mid-century kitchens. The liver is lightly simmered, ground or finely chopped, and cooked with onion and seasoned tomato sauce. Traditionally served over noodles, it’s a satisfying dish that bridges frugality with hearty flavor.
Ingredients
- ¾ lb beef liver (or pork liver)
- 1 tbsp fat (such as butter or lard)
- ¼ cup onion (finely chopped)
- 1½ cups tomatoes (canned )
- 1 bouillon cube
- ⅓ cup tomato catsup
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 dash red pepper
- cooked noodles (for serving (optional))
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare Liver
- Remove skin and tubes from liver
- Drop liver into boiling water and simmer gently for 2–3 minutes, until no longer pink
- Drain thoroughly and chop fine or put through a meat chopper using a coarse blade
Step 2: Sauté Aromatics
- In a large skillet, melt the fat over medium heat
- Sauté finely chopped onions for 2–3 minutes until softened
Step 3: Combine Ingredients
- Add chopped liver, canned tomatoes (rubbed through a sieve), tomato catsup, bouillon cube, salt, and dash of red pepper to the skillet
- Stir to combine
Step 4: Simmer and Serve
- Bring mixture to a boil
- Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes
- Serve hot over boiled noodles if desired
Tips
- Substitute pork liver for beef liver as the card allows.
- Add a handful of sautéed spinach to make it more “Florentine-style.”
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium bouillon and rinsed canned tomatoes.
- Add garlic when sautéing onions for deeper flavor.
- Serve over rice, noodles (as suggested), or crusty bread.
- A splash of red wine can enrich the tomato flavor.
- For a smoother texture, fully purée the mixture instead of coarse chopping.
- Add crushed red pepper for a spicier version.
- Use butter instead of fat for a richer, vintage flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 184kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 19gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 237mgSodium: 549mgPotassium: 490mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 14949IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 4mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!