Name: Sautéed liver & apple salad with blackberry dressing
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 2 tbsp butter; 3 sharp eating apples such as Braeburn, peeled and cut into sugar-cube-sized pieces; 500g chicken livers trimmed (see tip, below left, for how to prepare); 3 tbsp plain flour seasoned generously; 100g bag salad leaves; 100g walnut halves toasted; crusty bread to serve (optional); 200g blackberries - smart tart berries are better than dessert ones; 2 tbsp red wine or Port; 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar; 2 tbsp golden caster sugar plus extra if needed; 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

Sautéed liver & apple salad with blackberry dressing

2 tbsp butter
3 sharp eating apples
such as Braeburn, peeled and cut into sugar-cube-sized pieces
500g chicken livers
trimmed (see tip, below left, for how to prepare)
3 tbsp plain flour
seasoned generously
100g bag salad leaves
100g walnut halves
toasted
crusty bread
to serve (optional)

For the dressing

200g blackberries
- smart tart berries are better than dessert ones
2 tbsp red wine
or Port
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp golden caster sugar
plus extra if needed
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

Method

step 1
Make the dressing first. Set aside 8 of the berries in a bowl. Put the rest of the berries, the wine, vinegar and sugar in a medium pan, cover and simmer for 3 mins or until the berries are very soft. Mash the berries well, then pass the hot mixture though a sieve, on top of the reserved berries. Season and cool. It should be quite sharp and fruity, but blackberries vary hugely; if you need to, add more sugar and taste again.
step 2
Heat 1 tbsp butter in a large non-stick frying pan and add the apples. Cook for about 5 mins, turning the apples now and again, until golden and just tender. Can be done a few hours ahead.
step 3
When you’re ready to eat, dredge the livers in the seasoned flour and tap off the excess. Heat the rest of the butter in the pan and fry the livers for 5 mins or until golden, turning them halfway through cooking. When red juices start to run from the livers, you know that they are almost ready. Toss the apples back in the pan to warm through, then take it off the heat.
step 4
Spread the salad leaves across 1 large platter or 4 plates, and top with the livers, apples and walnuts. Whisk the oil into the blackberry dressing and spoon this over generously. Serve with crusty bread, if you like.