Mock Chopped Liver

Mari Levine

Easy

Difficulty

Mock chopped liver! Just what we need for a Jewish holiday.

My younger sister and I are very similar. We both have dimples, an obsession with any four-legged creature, and an embarrassing love for reality TV. The place where we differ the most is when it comes to eating. I’ll try anything (and usually like it), while Jackie has a more, let’s say, limited palate. One of the best examples of this is chopped liver: I love it, but Jackie can hardly bear to utter the words. I think the closest she’ll ever get to eating it is with this vegetarian version. It uses three savory ingredients—mushrooms, walnuts and tomato paste—to add meaty flavor without the meat. Here is mock chopped liver.

  • 3 Tbsp. canola oil, divided
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 12 ounces white mushrooms, chopped
  • 3 hard-boiled eggs
  • ½ cup walnuts
  • ½ teaspoon tomato paste

Directions

1. Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and ¼ teaspoon salt and sauté until lightly browned and translucent, about 7 minutes. Transfer to food processor.

2. In same pan, heat 2 Tbsp. canola oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add mushrooms and ½ teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer to food processor.

3. Add eggs, walnuts, and tomato paste to food processor. Process until smooth, wiping down bowl as necessary. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with crackers or matzah.

Want to try the meat version? Get the recipe for chicken-liver terrine here.

Reprinted with permission from JewishBoston.com.

Mari Levine

Mari Levine is a freelance food writer and an editor for America’s Test Kitchen, where she combines her journalism and culinary degrees from Brandeis University and Johnson & Wales, respectively, with her restaurant and lifelong eating experience. When she’s not working hoisin sauce into everything she eats or binging on anything sandwiched between two slices of bread, she can be found on her bike, engrossed in a documentary, or playing sports that involve throwing and/or catching a ball (the latest: flag football).