THE BEST: Chopped Liver

[SarahD]

Lo those many years ago, when I was growing up on the Upper West Side, my favorite 1/2-day-of-school go-hang-in-mom's-office lunch was chopped liver on a Kaiser roll. Recently having a yen for the same I was STYMIED. All the sandwich counters near my home or office don't carry chopped liver. I'm shocked, I tell you. Yeah, yeah ... it's a heart attack on a roll, but I like it.

SO, E-gullions, where are your favorite places to get chopped liver? Am I the only person who craves this on occasion? Am I weird? (Oh wait, don't answer that).

[slkinsey]

Welcome to eGullet, Sarah.

Um... I got nothing. Hopefully the others can provide some info.

Actually.... isn't Barney Greengrass supposed to have really good chopped liver?

[bloviatrix]

Your best bet for a sandwich is probably a kosher deli. I know for a fact that Mr Broadway (B'way and 37th) has chopped liver sandwiches. But I've never tried them. Personally, my favorite chopped liver comes from Super Sol (Amsterdam & 85th). It's basically liver, onion, and ground pepper. Schmear it on a challah roll, and I'm in heaven.

(All the kosher butchers/take-out places will carry chopped liver.)

And no, you're not weird. Blovie and I eat chopped liver more frequently than we publicly admit to. It's actually rare that we don't have in the house.

Edited December 30, 2003 by bloviatrix (log)

[Pan]

Sarah, I'd like to join Sam in welcoming you to eGullet.

I sure don't know the answer to what you're looking for, but I do want a report on the results of your quest.

[slkinsey]

Personally, my favorite chopped liver comes from Super Sol (Amsterdam & 85th). It's basically liver, onion, and ground pepper. Schmear it on a challah roll, and I'm in heaven.

Yum. I hope they're open on January 1.

[LJC]

1st prize goes to my mom. Unfortunately she only makes it two or three times a year.

2nd prize goes to Sammy's Romanian - Chunky, Shmaltzy with plenty of carmelized onions

3rd prize goes to Barney Greengrass - Great flavor but too creamy (IMO)

Second Ave. Deli makes a pretty good one too but I have only eaten it in a combination Sandwich.

[wesza]

Lo those many years ago, when I was growing up on the Upper West Side, my favorite 1/2-day-of-school go-hang-in-mom's-office lunch was chopped liver on a Kaiser roll. Recently having a yen for the same I was STYMIED. All the sandwich counters near my home or office don't carry chopped liver. I'm shocked, I tell you. Yeah, yeah ... it's a heart attack on a roll, but I like it.

SO, E-gullions, where are your favorite places to get chopped liver? Am I the only person who craves this on occasion? Am I weird? (Oh wait, don't answer that).

Sarah: Even though i'm from Seattle my care packages from Zabars, 2nd Ave Deli always include Chopped Liver.

Remember it good for you ! Gramma was always right. Enjoy it's naturally full of love, it's high protien and I hope made with Schmaltz.

Living in NYC your at Chopped Liver Heaven, it shoud be available at any Jewish Style place.

Don't forget that the majority of Dairy Restaurants offer a actually real good for you "Chopped Liver" [sort off] that tastes pretty good.

Eat in Good Health [enjoy] a treat since it's always a special occasion.

Irwin

[bloviatrix]

Personally, my favorite chopped liver comes from Super Sol (Amsterdam & 85th).  It's basically liver, onion, and ground pepper.  Schmear it on a challah roll, and I'm in heaven.

Yum. I hope they're open on January 1.

They should be. Thursday is a big food shopping day in the Orthodox Jewish community.

[Suzanne F]

Get a copy of the January 5, 2004 issue of The New Yorker and turn to page 34.

(I'd post a link to the Cartoon Bank but it's not up yet.)

[alacarte]

Another vote for 2nd Ave Deli's chopped liver. Straight up out of the container...mmmmmm......

[ludja]

Haven't compared it to a bunch of other NY delis, but I just had a great chopped liver sandwich at Carnegie Deli (7th b/t 54th and 55th) on Sunday. Yummmm! Split a sanwich w/my Mom; then shared an order of blintzes w/sour cream...

I need to start a thread on where to find chopped liver in the SF bay area; now that's a challenge.

[LESider]

I like Russ and Daughter's and Katz's. I think R&D might be a bit sweeter that Katz's

[Mulcahy]

This is my first post, so please excuse any mistakes on my part.

I love Murray's Sturgeon Shop on Broadway between 89th and 90th for chopped liver. They won't put it on a roll because they don't carry rolls but will put it on a very excellent bagel. They also have vegetable chopped liver, an oddity (and some would say blasphemy) which I have not seen elsewhere. I have no idea what's in it (except it's meat free) but it does taste surprisingly like the real thing.

[Pan]

Expressing your opinion on a matter of taste is never a mistake, and welcome to eGullet, Mulcahy.

[Rachel Perlow]

So, Sarah, have you tried any of the places suggested to you? How did you like their chopped liver?

[mkultra]

I like Russ and Daughter's and Katz's. I think R&D might be a bit sweeter that Katz's

Here, here. Russ & Daughters has excellent chopped liver.

[Jason Perlow]

I love Murray's Sturgeon Shop on Broadway between 89th and 90th for chopped liver. They won't put it on a roll because they don't carry rolls but will put it on a very excellent bagel. They also have vegetable chopped liver, an oddity (and some would say blasphemy) which I have not seen elsewhere. I have no idea what's in it (except it's meat free) but it does taste surprisingly like the real thing.

Somebody asked me for a recipe for this today. Anyone got a good one? I assume this is heavily mushroom-based, like a duxelles.

[SuzySushi]

Somebody asked me for a recipe for this today. Anyone got a good one? I assume this is heavily mushroom-based, like a duxelles.

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I don't have a recipe for this, but I'd love to find the recipe I lost for vegetarian chopped "liver" that was made of lentils and eggs. The woman who gave it to me is long gone.

And while we're discussing chopped liver... what's the preference here? Chopped beef/calves' liver or chopped chicken livers? Mine is definitely for the latter.

[jackal10]

chicken; fried onions; hard boiled eggs; schmalz; salt and plenty pepper; hand chopped

Edited March 25, 2005 by jackal10 (log)

[emmapeel]

This is my first post, so please excuse any mistakes on my part.

I love Murray's Sturgeon Shop on Broadway between 89th and 90th for chopped liver.  They won't put it on a roll because they don't carry rolls but will put it on a very excellent bagel.  They also have vegetable chopped liver, an oddity (and some would say blasphemy) which I have not seen elsewhere.  I have no idea what's in it (except it's meat free) but it does taste surprisingly like the real thing.

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Thanks for the info Mulcahy, Murray's is one of my favorites too, and I have not had their chopped liver. Their tuna is also really good, as if I made it myself.

[Todd36]

Vegetarian Chopped Liver is usually made with string beans, walnuts and eggs. It's a traditional Jewish dish, its parve so it could be served with a dairy meal.

[MHesse]

Fairway sells a decent veggie chopped liver. The ingredients are on the label.

I miss Bagel Nosh (there was one around the corner from me). They had good (if it was fresh) C L which was great on a salt bagel.

[bloviatrix]

I've never made veggie chopped liver, but I have a couple of recipes for it if anyone is interested. One of my friends makes an excellent one - and she kindly makes it for me when we join them for meals.

[SuzySushi]

I've never made veggie chopped liver, but I have a couple of recipes for it if anyone is interested.  One of my friends makes an excellent one - and she kindly makes it for me when we join them for meals.

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If you have one that uses lentils, I'd be much obliged. I remember my friend's recipe as using lentils, sauteed onions, chopped egg... and I don't remember what else! It didn't have any nuts.

[bloviatrix]

I've never made veggie chopped liver, but I have a couple of recipes for it if anyone is interested.  One of my friends makes an excellent one - and she kindly makes it for me when we join them for meals.

←

If you have one that uses lentils, I'd be much obliged. I remember my friend's recipe as using lentils, sauteed onions, chopped egg... and I don't remember what else! It didn't have any nuts.

←

You asked for it, you got it.......(mind you, I've never made this. I have no idea how it will taste)

Hearty Vegetarian Chopped Liver adapted from Spice and Spirit

1 pound lentils

4 cups chopped onion

6 tablespoons oil

12-16 hardboiled eggs

2 tablespoons peanut butter

1/2 teaspoon white pepper

2 teaspons salt

Cook lentils until soft and drain. Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons of oil in large skillet and saute onions until well-caramelized. Combine lentils and eggs and chop to fine consistency. Add the lentil-egg mixture and remaining 3 tablespoons of oil to the onions. Add peanut butter, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.

Edited March 27, 2005 by bloviatrix (log)