Liverwurst, liver sausage or leberwurst or whatever you may call it, is most-known in a liverwurst sandwich. This type sausage is found in Northern and Eastern European countries, and also in countries where people of those regions migrated to. Like here in the US, or in South America. Also in the Netherlands, where I was born, there is a lot of German influence in our cuisine, and the liverwurst is one of them.
There are many different types of liverwurst, fine, coarse, different flavors, and different sizes. Traditionally eaten on an open-faced sandwich or as a snack, with a pickle or mustard on top. Another way to enjoy liverwurst is to pickle it.
Key Ingredients in This Recipe
You’ll find the complete list of ingredients and exact quantities in the recipe below.
- Liverwurst
- Vinegar
- Black peppercorns
- Bay leaves
- Cloves
- Onion
Making the pickled liverwurst is not difficult at all. But before you start on the liverwurst, you will need to prepare your jars.
- Clean and sterilize the glass jar(s) as you would do for any pickled vegetable or fruit you make. There are various methods out there, I prefer the oven method. Place the cleaned jars on a baking sheet and place in an oven that has been heated to approx. 275 degrees F. Leave in the oven for 10 minutes by which time the jars should be completely dry. Allow them to cool.
- Cook the lids in boiling water for about 10 minutes.
Important note: Do NOT add cold food to hot jars, or hot food to cold jars. Glass is not very flexible in that respect, the jar may break or even shatter.
How to Make Pickled Liverwurst
- Step 1 – Slice the liverwurst, nice and thick, about 1/2-inch. If you slice it too thin it may fall apart while floating in the liquid. I used the Golden Medal Pate; a very soft liverwurst and it was on the edge of being too soft for pickling, but it worked out just fine.
- Step 2 – Bring water, sliced onion, peppercorns, bay leaves and cloves and cook for a few minutes. Turn off the heat and add the vinegar. Allow to cool completely.
- Step 3 – Poor a little bit of the water-vinegar mixture in a jar, add the sliced liverwurst and add the remaining of the water-vinegar mixture. Make sure the liverwurst is submerged.
- Step 4 – Close jar and place it in the fridge.
That’s all. Now you have to wait for at least 3-5 days. The longer you wait the more flavor you will have in your pickled liverwurst.
If you take some of the slices out, but not all, please use a clean fork or spoon. You don’t want to contaminate the jar when you store it away again for a couple of days or weeks.
How long can you keep this? About 2-3 weeks, in the fridge.
Pickled Liverwurst
Pin Recipe FacebookIngredients
- 4 ounces liverwurst
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 cloves
- 2 bay leaves
- 6 black peppercorns
- 1/4 onion, sliced
Instructions
- Clean and sterilize the glass jar(s) as you would do for any pickled vegetable or fruit you make. There are various methods out there.
- I prefer the oven method. Place the cleaned jars on a baking sheet and place in an oven that has been heated to approx. 275 degrees F. Leave in the oven for 10 minutes by which time the jars should be completely dry. Allow them to cool. (NOTE 1)
- Cook the lids in boiling water for about 10 minutes and cool as well.
- Slice the liverwurst, nice and thick, about 1/2-inch. If you slice it too thin it may fall apart while floating in the liquid.
- Bring water, sliced onion, peppercorns, bay leaves and cloves and cook for a few minutes. Turn off the heat and add the vinegar. Allow to cool completely.
- Poor a little bit of the water-vinegar mixture in a jar, add the sliced liverwurst and add the remaining of the water-vinegar mixture. Make sure the liverwurst is submerged.
- Close jar and place it in the fridge. (NOTE 2)
- Wait for at least 3-5 days, before you enjoy the pickled liverwurst. The longer you wait the more flavor it will have.
Notes
- Do NOT add cold food to hot jars, or hot food to cold jars. Glass is not very flexible in that respect, the jar may break or even shatter.
- Always use clean utensils to take the slices out of the jar. You don’t want to contaminate the jar when you store it away again for a couple of days or weeks.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.