Chopped liver

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chopped liver is a food. It is made by

- sautéeing liver and onions in schmaltz (i.e., rendered animal fat);

- adding hard-boiled eggs, salt and pepper to the sautéed liver and onions, and

- grinding that mixture.

Chopped liver is a common menu item in Kosher delicatessens in the U.S. and Canada. Chopped liver is often served with rye bread as sandwiches.

The liver used is generally calves' liver or chicken liver. Shortening or oil is often substituted for the schmaltz.

[edit] Variations

Because of the liver, chopped liver is high in protein but also high in fat and cholesterol. Thus, low fat, mock, and vegetarian versions of chopped liver exist.

[edit] Chopped liver in popular culture

Because of its unusual taste and gray appearance, it is an acquired taste and not a favorite or comfort food with everyone at the dinner table. This has given rise to the popular Jewish-American expression "What am I, chopped liver ?", signifying frustration or anger at being ignored on a social level.

An alternate explanation for the etymology of the "What am I, chopped liver ?" expression is that chopped liver was traditionally served as a side dish rather than a main course. The phrase, therefore may have originally meant to express a feeling of being overlooked, as a "side dish."[1]