Author Notes: Like so many offal dishes, chicken hearts should never be cooked beyond medium-rare, after which point they become chewy and unpleasant. You should aspire to a heart that’s sizzling brown on the outside and pink within. I keep a couple of half-pint containers of chicken hearts in the freezer—they thaw quickly under warm running water, making this a great last-minute meaty starter for a vegetable-heavy meal. I usually plan for about three hearts per person, which guarantees you won’t have leftovers. If my daughter is in attendance, I need to make at least five for her—it’s probably her favorite meat dish after lamb chops. – Anya Fernald. From Home Cooked: Essential Recipes for a New Way to Cook by Anya Fernald with Jessica Battilana (Ten Speed Press, 2016). —Food52
Serves: 6
Ingredients
-
2
tablespoons unsalted butter
-
1 1/2
cups chicken hearts
-
Flaky salt, such as Maldon, for serving
Directions
- In a small cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter.
- When the milk solids are beginning to brown and the butter has a rich, nutty smell, add the chicken hearts and cook, tossing them around in the pan as if you’re making popcorn, until browned on all sides, no more than 2 minutes.
- Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon, sprinkle with flaky salt, and serve immediately.
Photo by Brown W. Cannon III