MOM’S OLD WORLD HUNGARIAN CHICKEN GIZZARD
SPECIALTY
Here’s one of my very favorites since I was a boy. This recipe is the most savory recipe
here. Mom only made this once in awhile. I could never figure out why
since the ingredients are so inexpensive. Well now I know why. You can’t leave the
stove for one hour while making this dish or it might burn. But boy is it worth it! This is
a real old fashioned Euro-ethnic dish that will surprise you. The profound intense flavor
of this simple dish will delight any fan of the “old style” old world cooking. Great dish
for those who enjoy something to sink their teeth in to. You can substitute chicken hearts
instead of the gizzards and the recipe is even twice as great! Chicken gizzards can be
found in any supermarket poultry section for a couple dollars.
1 onion chopped
2 lbs. Of chicken hearts or gizzards or cubed beef stew meat
A half stick of butter
1 heaping tbs. of paprika, Salt and black pepper
A measuring cup kept handy at all times
If you use gizzards make sure to pick over each one to remove any yellowish tough
membrane that you come across that may be still attached. Usually they come already
cleaned in this way but I check each one carefully anyway. You do not have to do this if
using hearts.
Then rinse the hearts or gizzards with water. Cut each gizzard in two.
In a suitably sized pot to fit all your hearts or gizzards melt one half stick of butter.
Then
put in one chopped onion and cook somewhat until it just starts to brown a little.
Then
throw in one heaping tbs. of paprika powder. Stir well.
Then put in the cleaned gizzards.
Next toss in a half teas. of salt and black pepper. Stir
again well.
Adjust your heat to high (about a one inch flame on a gas range). You must
maintain this medium high heat throughout the whole cooking process. This is why you
can not walk away from the stove while making this dish or it will catch you off guard
and burn the contents of the pot.
Cover the pot. The pot must be covered throughout the
entire cooking process.
Even though the pot remains covered you should see steam
escaping from the pot while cooking.
The gizzards will soon make their own juices.
But look inside the pot every ten minutes and watch carefully that this liquid inside does
not boil down and burn! It happens quickly so watch out.
Just keep “enough” water in
the pot to keep it going and not burn. You can tell when to add water when the liquid in
the bottom of the pot becomes “thickened”. You must stir the pot to see and check this.
Look at the saucy liquid on the BOTTOM of the pot while doing this stirring and
looking. When this liquid boils down and becomes thickened (approx. every 10 minutes
for 1 lb.), add three quarters of a cup of water.
Always keep the cup handy and filled
with three-quarters of plain water during the entire cooking process (about one hour).
After one
hour the gizzards/hearts will be done. But before turning off the heat make sure that you
finish up the cooking when the liquid is thickened and boiled down, but this time do NOT
add the water, just turn off the heat and serve! This is what imparts the great flavor.
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