Crock Pot Liver Recipe With Tomatoes and Bacon

Name: Crock Pot Liver With Tomatoes and Bacon
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 480 min
Total time: 495 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 1/2 to 2 pounds beef or calves liver (cut into cubes); 3 to 4 slices bacon (diced); 2 small carrots (sliced ); 2 ribs celery (chopped); 1/4 cup onion (chopped); 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) stewed tomatoes; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper; 1 bay leaf

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 8 hrs

Total: 8 hrs 15 mins

Servings: 4 to 6 servings

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When we hear liver we may instantly think of liver and onions, a dish that was commonly served—but not necessarily liked—during the mid-1900s. This combination became somewhat standard because cooks found out the onion cut through the "metallic" taste of the liver. But there is more than one way to prepare liver, and this slow-cooked recipe featuring bacon, carrots, celery, onion, and stewed tomatoes will change your mind about cooking liver. The liver is tender and delicious when simmered all day in this rich and flavorful sauce.

1 1/2 to 2 pounds beef liver, or calf liver, cut into cubes
3 to 4 slices bacon, diced
2 small carrots, sliced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can stewed tomatoes
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 bay leaf

Gather the ingredients.
Place liver in slow cooker; sprinkle with diced bacon.
Combine the remaining ingredients in a large bowl or measuring cup and pour over the liver and bacon.
Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours.
Remove bay leaf before serving.
Enjoy!

Calves Liver Vs. Beef Liver

Although calves liver and beef liver both come from cows, their appearance and taste are very different. Since the liver's job is to detoxify chemicals in the body, the younger the liver is, the fewer the chemicals that have passed through this organ. Thus, whereas a more mature cow's liver—or beef liver—will be red and tough with a strong flavor, calves liver is pink and tender with a more subtle flavor. And if the calf has been grass-fed and raised organically, the liver will be even more appealing.

Liver Is Good for You

If you still need some convincing to try liver, maybe you'll be swayed by the fact that it is a nutrition superstar. Liver is widely known to be high in iron (one serving has approximately 1/3 of the recommended daily intake), but it also is chock full of other healthy vitamins, like Vitamin A, B12, and B2 (riboflavin), and minerals, particularly selenium, an anticancer mineral. Vitamin A helps our immune system while B12 and B2 assist in the production of energy. B12 also works along with vitamin B6 and folic acid (also present in liver) to reduce the risk of heart disease. Liver is also a great source of protein.

Other Liver Recipes

If this recipe—or liver's health benefits—have turned you on to cooking liver, there are plenty of interesting ways to prepare it. A Moroccan fried liver and onions recipe brings warm spices to the dish, creating a comforting and flavorful meal. Fegato alla Veneziana cooks thinly sliced liver with golden onions and then finishes the dish with freshly ground pepper, chopped parsley, and a squeeze of lemon juice. For a tasty first course (or meze), try a Greek twist on fried liver, called Sykotakia Tiganita, which are simply fried liver morsels; you can use calves liver or try lamb or pork. If you are interested in making a chopped liver pate, you will want to buy chicken livers for any version of that rich-tasting spread.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
357	Calories
11g	Fat
16g	Carbs
48g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	357
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g	14%
Saturated Fat 5g	27%
Cholesterol 606mg	202%
Sodium 777mg	34%
Total Carbohydrate 16g	6%
Dietary Fiber 2g	6%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 48g
Vitamin C 10mg	52%
Calcium 48mg	4%
Iron 11mg	61%
Potassium 819mg	17%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.