Anodyne
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
 
Last night's dinner:

Calves' Liver With Broccolini, Spanish Onion Puree and Onion Confit (CJB after Waltuck)

Big pot. Hot. Four onions, 1/4" chunks. Big lump of European butter and a half cup of Gewürztraminer, though any good white wine would do. Turn to coat the onion pieces in the hot fat. Chicken stock. Simmer, never browning, for around an hour and a half. The idea is to make the onions as soft and sweet as possible, which leaves time for urban land economics homework, farting around with the cat, sweeping out the kitchen, etc. Onion mixture into blender, pulse to consistency of mashed potatoes. Fail to lock lower blender ring down; delight cat by spraying onion puree all over self and counter.

Three onions. Fine dice. Pan on high. Glug of neutral oil. Small knob of brown sugar. Onions into hot oil and left to brown. Deglaze with a couple glugs of balsamic vinegar, scraping all the tasty brown bits up off the bottom of the pan. Reduce by half to a "jammy" consistency, add a shot of sherry vinegar, pinch of salt, and pull off the heat.

Broccolini in microwave, 1.5 minutes.

Generously salt and pepper liver slices. Hot pan. Neutral oil. 1 minute each side.

Assembly: circle of onion puree on plate. Two slices of liver on top. Onion confit atop meat. Four green broccolini branches arranged to create diamond pattern & intriguing textual contrast. Serve with crusty bread and the rest of the wine.

This was delicious, inexpensive, and rivals anything I've ever eaten in a local "fine dining" establishment.
- posted by cjb @ 6:01 PM


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