Cuban Liver Recipe – Hígado a la Italiana

cuban liver recipe

If you enjoy Latin cooking, then give this satisfying Cuban liver recipe a try. A simple preparation of liver and onions is a classic liver dish, but for this Cuban liver recipe, we’re going to bring the zing of vinegar to the dish, along with the color and flavor of bell peppers and garlic.

In Cuba, this liver dish is called Hígado a la Italiana which means “Italian liver”, although it’s Cuban through and through.

Ingredients for Cuban Liver Recipe

1 lb BEEF LIVER
1 RED BELL PEPPER sliced
1 or just ½ GREEN BELL PEPPER sliced (how much do you like green bell pepper?)
1 ONION thinly sliced
3-4 cloves GARLIC sliced
2 Tbsp FLOUR
½ cup WATER
½ cup VINEGAR (I like using rice wine vinegar)
Try these seasonings, but experiment with flavors you like:
1 Tbsp CUMIN POWDER
1 Tbsp SMOKED PAPRIKA
1 Tbsp GARLIC POWDER
1 tsp CHILI POWDER
SALT and PEPPER to taste
OIL for sauteing

cuban liver recipe

How to Cook Liver

  • Heat the oil in a skillet on medium heat. Check current prices for a non-stick skillet on Amazon.
  • Once hot, add liver to the skillet and cook 1 minute on each side, seasoning each side with salt and pepper before turning, then remove liver from skillet and set aside to rest.
  • Add onions and peppers and cook for 3-4 minutes.
  • Add sliced garlic and cook another minute.
  • Add flour and seasoning and mix well and let cook 2 minutes.
  • Raise temperature to medium high and add the vinegar and let cook for another minute. You can add a little white wine as well, but that’s optional.
  • Slice the liver and return to the skillet, tossing well with the ingredients.
  • Add water and bring to a bubble, then cover skillet with a lid, reduce the heat and cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Serve over white rice.
cuban liver recipe

If you’re interested in the traditional take on beef liver I grew up eating in the southern United States, then check out this Classic Liver and Onions Recipe.

liver recipe
Liver is a protein superfood packed with nutrition, and it tastes great, so take a chance and see if you like it!

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Fried Plantains Recipe …try Platanos Maduros!

fried plantains recipe

Try this easy fried plantains recipe. In the store, plantains are sold green and unripe, yellowing, or even totally black. A totally black banana is yucky, but a totally black plantain is okay. It’s fine to buy plantains at any stage of ripeness and use them for various recipes. For frying plantains, I like to buy the medium-ripe plantains and slice them into planks and fry in oil in a skillet. They have a nice sweetness and make a tasty side dish for breakfast, especially with rice and eggs.

What you need for this Fried Plantains Recipe

PLANTAIN …medium-ripe to ripe
OIL for sauteing
and seasoning is optional
…I like a bit of
CHILI POWDER
CINNAMON
SALT
and for an even sweeter
dessert-style side dish add
BROWN SUGAR
…but that’s crazy

fried plantains recipe
Fried plantains…sweet platanos maduros, and less ripe plantains used for twice-fried tostones

How to Fry Plantains

Choose ripe plantains for frying, and buy plantains that are yellow to black in color. Feel the plantains and select ones that are semi-firm to soft, you can buy the super soft blacker plantains, but I prefer more texture.

  • Heat a skillet on medium heat and add oil.
  • Slice the tips off of the plantain and peel away the skin.
  • Cut the plantain in half through the center, and then cut each half lengthwise into 3-4 planks.
  • Slide plantains into the hot skillet.
  • Season top half if desired.
  • Fry until the bottom begins to brown, then turn and brown other side.
  • Add more seasoning if desired, or even some sugar, if you’re crazy.
  • Once the plantains are cooked to desired color, remove and drain on a paper towel,
    Serve warm.

They are great alone as a snack, or a tasty side dish, especially with rice or a seasoned meat dish. Have you ever heard of the expression “a little sweet and some meat”? Plantains make a perfect combo for this dining idea. I really enjoy fried plantains for breakfast with fried eggs.
Give fried plantains a try and let me know what you think, and try green plantains, as well. Depending on the ripeness of the plantain, you can use them for a wide variety of dishes.

fried plantains recipe
I love fried plantains for breakfast, served with eggs and rice

How to Cook Green Plantains

Green plantains are a great ingredient, but unripe plantains definitely need cooking. They are not sweet, harder to peel raw, very starchy, and much like a potato. I like to boil green plantains, because it’s easy.

  • Slice off the very tips of the plantain, but leave on the peeling.
  • Cut the unpeeled plantain into three sections.
  • Bring a pot of salted water to boil and add the plantain sections.
  • Reduce the heat and let the plantains simmer for about 20-30 minutes, or until a knife passes easily into the plantain.
  • Remove the plantains from the water.
  • Make a slice along the length of the cooked plantain and remove the peeling.
  • The banana will be very starchy, savory, and neutral in flavor, and you can use it just like you might a potato.

One of my favorite ways to use boiled plantains is to mash them with onions and seasoning, kind of like a plantain version of mashed potato.
Experiment with green plantains a try them in some of your favorite potato recipes, and let me know what you think.

For more tasty vegetarian dishes, check out my Vegetarian Recipe Playlist, and if you liked the idea of green plantains, you might like trying this Easy Yuca Recipe, too.

yuca recipe

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–Chef Buck

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