This Rich Hanukkah Appetizer Has Been A Tradition In Andrew Zimmern's Family For A Century - Tasting Table

"With plenty to celebrate in the wintertime, planning out a family feast is no small task. Chef Andrew Zimmern knows quite a bit about both bizarre foods and entertaining for a festive gathering. Among the wide variety of delicious Hanukkah foods from around the world, one of his favorite appetizers is, itself, a unique delicacy to those who are unfamiliar. "If you want to cook like a baller Jewish grandmother," Zimmern explained on his website, "this chopped chicken liver is a great place to start.""

"This is one food you'll commonly find at a Jewish deli, as well as on the dinner table at many Hanukkah meals. Known as the "Festival of Lights," the Jewish holiday celebrates warmth, family, and community through food, storytelling, and remembrance. "When I was a kid, I would spend hours upon hours in my Jewish grandmother's kitchen, watching her cook for a small army," the celebrity chef explained elsewhere on his website regarding his family's most popular recipes."

"One of the most important aspects of Hanukkah foods is the symbolic element of oil, which takes center stage in a number of fried foods, including potato latkes and jelly donuts. Though this self-descriptive appetizer doesn't call for oil, it absolutely necessitates the ingredient of schmaltz, or rendered chicken fat, to achieve the optimal taste and texture. Additionally, Zimmern insists that purchasing real chicken livers from a butcher shop is paramount, stating,"

Chopped chicken liver is a savory appetizer commonly found at Jewish delis and served at Hanukkah dinners. The dish is presented as a family heirloom recipe served for holidays and prized for its texture and flavor. Hanukkah food traditions emphasize oil, evident in latkes and jelly donuts, while chopped chicken liver relies on schmaltz (rendered chicken fat) for optimal taste. Using fresh, real chicken livers from a butcher significantly improves taste and texture. The recipe evokes warm family memories of holiday kitchens and benefits from thoughtful accompaniments when presented as an appetizer.

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