Beef Liver and Red Pepper Stir-fry

Stir-fry recipes are true weeknight heroes since they come together quickly and are packed with flavour. Plus, by pairing an iron-rich animal-protein, like beef liver, with a plant-based source of iron, like fresh spinach, this recipe has an impressive iron punch. Finish the dish with lemon juice to boost iron absorption and perk flavours. Liver is the most delicious when it is still a bit pink inside and is slightly springy to the touch.
Yield 6 Servings Prep. Time 10 min Cooking Time 15 min Total Time 25 min

Ingredients

Here are the following ingredients:

  • 4 cups (1 L) baby spinach
  • 2 tbsp (30 mL) vegetable oil, divided
  • 2 tsp (10 mL) EACH minced garlic and gingerroot
  • 1 red chili pepper, thinly sliced (optional)
  • 1 lb (500 g) sliced Beef Liver, about ¼ inch (5 mm) thick
  • 2 tbsp (30 mL) sodium-reduced soy sauce, divided
  • 2 sweet red peppers, thinly sliced
  • 1 onion, thinly sliced
  • 1½ cups (375 mL) broccoli florets (optional)
  • 2 tbsp (30 mL) fresh lemon juice
  • Green onions, thinly sliced

Shopping List

Here are the following shopping items to buy:

Method

Follow these cooking methods/directions:

  1. Arrange spinach in an even layer on a large shallow platter; set aside.

  2. Cut liver slices into ½-inch (1 cm) wide strips (similar to steak stir-fry strips). Pat dry with paper towel.

  3. Heat 1 tbsp (15 mL) oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook garlic, gingerroot and chili pepper (if using), stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant.

  4. Add liver to skillet. Pan-fry for 2 to 3 minutes per side or until lightly browned. Stir in 1 tbsp (15 mL) soy sauce. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until liver is evenly browned on the outside, still slightly pink on the inside and springy to the touch. (Liver is best when cooked to medium doneness, at most.) Spoon liver over the spinach and cover with foil to keep warm.

  5. Heat remaining oil in the same skillet set over medium-high heat. Add sweet peppers, onion and broccoli (if using). Stir-fry for 5 minutes or until softened. Add lemon juice and remaining soy sauce. Stir-fry for 2 minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp.

  6. Return liver with spinach to the skillet. Toss for 1 minute or until spinach is wilted. Garnish with green onion.