Skip to main content

Fusilli with Mushrooms, Liver, and Cherry Tomatoes

Ingredients

Salt
2 ounces fusilli or more, if wanted
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 medium cremini mushrooms, chopped
1 fat shallot, chopped
1 garlic clove, peeled and sliced thin
9 or 10 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 1/2–2 ounces leftover cooked calf’s liver, preferably pink in the center
Freshly ground pepper
2–3 tablespoons grated Parmesan

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    While the pasta is boiling in a large pot of salted water (see preceding recipe), heat the oil in a medium skillet, and sauté gently the mushrooms, shallot, and garlic, just until softened. Add the cherry tomatoes, and continue to sauté 3–4 minutes, until they have released their juice. Cut the liver into fairly small pieces, toss them into the pan, and season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat, because you don’t want the liver pieces to cook. When the pasta is done al dente, transfer it to the skillet with the sauce, and warm the two together, adding some pasta water if the sauce is too thin. Off heat, stir in half the cheese. Sprinkle on the rest just before eating.

  2. Variation

    Step 2

    If you don’t have that leftover piece of calf ’s liver, use three or four chicken livers, in which case the livers need cooking. So, after the mushrooms, shallot, and garlic have softened, push them aside in the pan and brown the livers in the hot center of the pan, then break them up and finish cooking with the tomatoes.

The Pleasures of Cooking for One by Judith Jones. Copyright © 2009 by Judith Jones. Published by Knopf. All Rights Reserved. Judith Jones is senior editor and vice president at Alfred A. Knopf. She is the author of The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food and the coauthor with Evan Jones (her late husband) of three books: The Book of Bread; Knead It, Punch It, Bake It!; and The Book of New New England Cookery. She also collaborated with Angus Cameron on The L. L. Bean Game and Fish Cookbook, and has contributed to Vogue, Saveur, and Gourmet magazines. In 2006, she was awarded the James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. She lives in New York City and Vermont.
Read More
A warmly spiced Ashkenazi charoset, perfect for your Passover seder—or spooned over yogurt the next morning.
Biscuits and gravy, but make it spring.
Like lemony risotto and tandoori-style cauliflower.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Like airy lemon chiffon cake and a Cadbury egg–inspired tart.
Grab your Easter basket and hop in—you’ll want to collect each and every one of these fun and easy Easter recipes.
Use this simple vinaigrette to dress a plate of greens, some steamed potatoes, or anything else that strikes your fancy.