Are you looking for new ways to incorporate organ meats into your diet? Sadly, the tradition of eating organ meats and utilizing as much as possible from animals (including bones and gelatin) has fallen out of favor in our modern culture and many people may have never had the pleasure of eating liver, heart, or other types of offal. Nose-to tail-eating and not letting any part go to waste not only respects the animal, but it also provides your body with an incredible amount of nourishment that is difficult to obtain elsewhere. Certain critical nutrients, such as Co-Enzyme Q10, vitamin B12, and vitamin A, are found in incredibly high doses in organ meats. Traditionally, organ meats were never discarded or thought of as disgusting the way we treat them now -- in fact they were some of the most prized parts of an animal.
To get into the details of the health benefits of including organ meats in your diet is beyond the scope of this post. This is meant to be a recipe resource. The majority of these recipes do contain additional information about the organ or odd bit that they feature. If you would like to learn more I'll leave you with a few links: Meat, Organs, Bones, and Skin; The Health Benefits of Consuming Organ Meats; The Benefits of Organ Meats; and The Liver Files.
In an effort to help you start to include more organ meats and odd bits in your diet, I've compiled this huge list of paleo-friendly recipes that cover the whole animal: organs, bones (for broth), bony/cartilaginous/meaty bits (necks, tails, trotters, etc.) and gelatin (derived from skin/hides, bones, and connective tissue). If you are squeamish about getting started with organ meats, check out the very first section, which features recipes that hide their flavor so you don't even know they are present in the recipe. These recipes give you the nutrition from the organs without the taste. Later, you can experiment with recipes in which the flavor of the organs is prominent. Trust that, over time, you will become accustomed to their unique flavors and learn to appreciate and enjoy them without trying to mask them with other ingredients. You may even start to crave them!
And eating nose-to-tail isn't just about savory dishes like plates of liver and onions or bowls of chili with hidden ground heart; it includes dessert, too! Gelatin can be used in a wide variety of desserts (not just homemade Jell-O!) Check out the end of the post for a nice variety of dessert recipes that utilize gelatin.
Finally, if YOU have a recipe that you would like to see included in this round-up post, please tell me! I will be adding to this post over time to make it as comprehensive a resource as possible for tasty recipes that utilize the whole animal. At the time of publication, there are actually 128 recipes here, and I can't wait for it to grow to 200!
Slow Cooker Cuban Picadillo (hidden heart, liver, kidney) --- The Curious Coconut
Oh Yes, It’s Taco Night (hidden liver) --- Divine Health from the Inside Out
Asian-Infused Lettuce Wraps (hidden liver) --- Divine Health from the Inside Out
Hidden Beef Liver Burgers --- Hollywood Homestead
Paleo Liver Bacon Meatballs --- The Nourished Caveman
Beef Heart Meatloaf Muffins (hidden heart) --- Real Food RN
Love Your Body Chili (with hidden liver) --- Food Your Body Will Thank You For
Nutrient Dense Meatloaf (hidden liver) --- Holistic Squid
Magical Chili (hidden heart and/or liver) --- Holistic Squid
Ultimate Beef and Liver Chili --- Mommypotamus
Beef and Liver Burgers --- A Girl Worth Saving
Mama’s Ultimate Chuckwagon Chili --- Nourishing Joy
Easy Paleo Baked Meatballs (with hidden liver) --- Real Food Guide
Beef “Plus” Chili For a Crowd (hidden heart, liver, kidney) --- Cultured Palate
Nourishing Chicken Nuggets (hidden liver) --- Natural New Age Mum
Beef and Kidney Shepherds Pie --- Salixisme
How to Integrate Organ Meats (raw liver pills tutorial) --- It Takes Time
How to Sneak More Liver Into Your Diet --- Divine Health from the Inside Out
Using More of the Animal --- Learning and Yearning
How to Eat More Organ Meats --- Chris Kresser
Powerhouse Pregnancy Foods Your Doctor Probably Forgot to Mention --- The Provision Room
How to Make Liver Pills --- Modern Alternative Mama
DIY Liver Pills --- An Organic Wife
The Easiest Way to Eat Liver, No Taste, No Fuss --- Empowered Sustenance
Raw Liver Shooters --- Holistic Squid
My 4 Favorite Ways to Eat Liver --- Holistic Squid
How to Eat Beef Liver Without Tasting It --- Kitchen Stewardship
Sneaky Way to Make Kids (and me) Eat Liver --- Intoxicated On Life
Paleo Liver and Mushrooms --- Paleo Diet Basics
Indian Spiced Liver --- Paleo Diet Basics
Chicken Liver Rumaki --- Divine Health From the Inside Out
Crispy Chicken Livers (uses raw milk) --- Divine Health From the Inside Out
Liver, Bacon, Goat Cheese Patties --- Fast Paleo
Beef Liver with Fig, Bacon, and Caramelized Onion Compote --- The Healthy Foodie
Potatoes with Bacon and Liver --- Nourished Kitchen
Bayou Dirty Rice (if you do white rice) --- Mommypotamus
Fegato con le cipolle (liver with onions) --- The Nourished Caveman
Paleo Liver Dumplings --- The Nourished Caveman
Leber Berliner Art (Liver Berlin Style) --- Modern Primitive Eats
Beef Liver Latkes --- The Curious Coconut
- Cajun-Spiced Chicken Livers with Bacon and Onion --- The Curious Coconut
Spicy Chicken Liver Pate --- GAPS Diet Journey
Zenbelly's Chicken Liver Pate --- The Curious Coconut
Rich and Creamy AIP Beef Liver Pate with Blueberry Jelly --- The Curious Coconut
Simply Divine Chicken Liver Pate --- Divine Health From the Inside Out
Liver Pate (beef) --- Cultured Palate
Double Bacon Liver Pate --- Common Sense Homesteading
5 Tips for the Best Liver Pate --- Real Food Carolyn
$5 Dish: Delicious, Flavorful Pate (Liver at its Best) --- The Nourishing Gourmet
GAPS Liver Pate --- Gutsy
Chicken Liver Pate --- Holistic Squid
French Pate Meatloaf --- The Nourished Caveman
Chopped Chicken Liver Pate --- Yummy Inspirations
Three Pates to Satisfy Every Palate --- Nourishing Joy
Learn more about Co-Enzyme Q10, your heart, and eating heart from this great post by Divine Health from the Inside Out --- Co-Enzyme Q10: The Heart Health Nutrient
Heart Healthy Chili --- Divine Health from the Inside Out
Easy Beef Heart Steak --- The Nourished Caveman
BBQ Chicken Livers and Hearts --- The Nourished Caveman
Moroccan Heart Stew --- The Nourished Caveman
I Heart Stew --- Primal Kat
Braised Grass-Fed Beef Heart (sub a paleo flour for the brown rice) --- The Polivka Family
Moroccan-Inspired Lamb Heart Stew --- The Paleo Mom
Asian Chicken Hearts --- South Beach Primal
Slow Cooker Chicken Hearts Stroganoff --- South Beach Primal
Simply Beef Hearts --- South Beach Primal
Beef Heart Jerky --- Real Food RN
Peruvian Anticuchos: Marinated Beef Heart Stir Fry or Kebabs --- The Curious Coconut
Slow Cooked “Heart on Fire” --- Mark’s Daily Apple < -- The first organ meat recipe I made!
Beef Tongue Creole --- South Beach Primal
Beef Tongue with Rosemary Mustard Reduction --- The Paleo Mom
Tender Beef Tongue with Onions and Garlic --- Mark’s Daily Apple
How to Cook Beef Tongue --- The Curious Coconut
Szechuan Style Beef Tongue --- Real Food RN
Corned Beef Tongue with Horseradish Cream Sauce --- Nourishing Joy
Spicy Shredded Beef Tongue --- PALEOdish
Beef Tongue with Cajun Gravy --- Cave Girl Eats
Sweetbreads (plus Rocky Mountain Oysters)
Grilled Sweetbreads --- Lisa’s Counter Culture
Sweetbreads --- Nose to Tail at Home
Crispy Sweetbreads --- Yes to Yummy
Can You Lend Me a Gland? Offal Good Sweetbreads with Sauce --- Primal North
Sweetbreads with Butter and Mushrooms --- Offaly Tasty
Sweetbreads and Rocky Mountain Oysters --- Jeremy’s Paleo Dining
Head Cheese and Brain Recipes
Head Cheese --- Mark’s Daily Apple
Head Cheese with Rosemary and Carrots --- Adventures in Cooking
Lamb’s Brain Terrine --- Nose to Tail at Home
Lamb’s Brain, Endive, and Shallots --- Nose to Tail at Home
Brains and Eggs --- Scrumptious Chef
Tacos de Sesos (brain) --- Guia de Tacos (I couldn't find a recipe in English -- sorry!)
Maghaz Masala (brain curry) --- Titli's Busy Kitchen
Kidneys
How to Prepare a Kidney --- Gutsy
Paleo Steak and Kidney Pie --- The Paleo Mom
Lamb Kidneys - why (and how) you should eat them! --- Following My Nose
Beef Kidney Biscuits --- Nourish Paleo Foods
Beef Kidney with Mushrooms and Garlic --- Critical Mas
Beef Kidney in Red Wine Sauce --- Food, Fitness, and Fotografia
Sauteed Beef Kidneys --- Nutty Kitchen
Chicken Gizzards
Paleo Gizzards Soup --- Paleo Porn
Slow Cooker Chicken Gizzards --- Fast Paleo
Paleo Fried Chicken Gizzards --- Rising Moon Nutrition
Miscellaneous
- How to Cook Beef Tendon for Soup and Ultra Rich Broth --- The Curious Coconut
Paleo Pork Neck Bones Recipe --- Paleo Porn
Oxtail Stew --- Paleo Porn
Paleo Short Ribs with Oxtails --- Paleo Porn
Lazy Girl’s Beef Cheeks --- Primal Kat
Cinnamon-Braised Beef Cheeks --- The Paleo Mom
Lamb Neck Stew --- Paleo Parents
Paleo Braised Oxtail over Rutabaga Mash --- Paleo Cupboard
Stewed Oxtail --- Food Snob 2.0
Chinese Crockpot Pork Trotters --- The Clean Palate
Beef Bone Broth --- My Heart Beets
Rich Bone Marrow Broth --- South Beach Primal
Herb and Garlic Chicken Feet Stock --- The Nourished Caveman
Using the Whole Chicken: Chicken Stock --- Ever Growing Farm
Making Chicken Bone Broth: From Basic to Adventurous --- Holistic Squid
How to Make Bone Broth --- Zenbelly
7-Day Bone Broth --- Real Food RN
Chicken Feet Bone Broth --- Real Food RN
Homemade Chicken Stock --- Whole Simple Life
How to Make Gelatin-Rich Bone Broth --- Hollywood Homestead
How to Make Oxtail Bone Broth to Build Bone Health --- The Natural Living Site
Beef Broth --- Deductive Seasoning (OMG I love her blog name so much, it makes my inner science geek go "squee!")
Chicken Broth --- Deductive Seasoning
Immune-Boosting Turkey Broth --- The Urban Ecolife
How to Make a Nourishing Beef Bone Broth --- The Urban Ecolife
Learn More About Gelatin
- The Benefits of Gelatin + Homemade Grape Jello --- Girl Meets Nourishment
- Gelatin - Your New Best Friend --- eat.play.love...more
- Why I'm Putting Gelatin in My Coffee (plus 20 additional recipes/uses!) --- Libby Louer
Gummies and Homemade "Jell-O"
- Raw Citrus Homemade "Jell-O" --- The Curious Coconut
- Homemade Vitamin C Gummies --- eat.play.love...more
- Homemade Fruit Snacks --- An Organic Wife
- Healthy Sour Kiwi Gummies --- Happy HealthNut
- Kombucha Jello --- GNOWFGLINS
- Turmeric Gelatin --- It Takes Time
- Homemade Strawberry Lemonade Gummy Bears and Lemon Gummy Bears--- Hollywood Homestead
- Orange Lemon Jello Stars --- Girl Meets Nourishment
- Orange Cream Layered Jigglers --- Girl Meets Nourishment
- Easy Strawberry Fruit Snacks --- Raia's Recipes
- Pumpkin Pie Gummies --- Raia's Recipes
- Kefir and Fruit Gelatin Dessert --- Real Food RN
- Kombucha Fruit Gummies --- Real Food RN
- Healthy Gummies for Cold, Flu, and Sleep --- Real Food RN
- Homemade Fruit and Veggie Gummy Snacks --- Live Simply
- Homemade Elderberry Gummies: Vitamin C Treats --- Naturally Mindful
- Jello Flu Shots --- Common Sense Homesteading
- Gerson Gummies --- Libby Louer
- Healthy Halloween Eerie Gummy Leeches and Worms --- Oh, the Things We'll Make!
- Healthy Halloween Spooktacular Gummy Eyeballs --- Oh, the Things We'll Make!
Desserts
- Chocolate Custard (dairy-free) --- GNOWFGLINS
- Paleo Chocolate Coconut Milk Panna Cotta --- Matthew's Puzzle
- Chocolate Milk You Can Live On! (with gelatin) --- My Lamp is Full
- Cranberry Mint Mousse --- Happy HealthNut
- Immune-Boosting Elderberry Jigglers --- Rooted Blessings
- Homemade Gummy Vitamins --- Nourishing Joy
- Peppermint Mocha Pots de Creme --- Happy HealthNut
Other Recipes (Smoothies, Baked Goods, Velveeta)
Why are there baked goods here??! Well, gelatin can be used as a substitute for eggs! Perfect if you have an allergy or are following the autoimmune protocol.
- Homemade Healthy Velveeta --- An Organic Wife
- Real Deal Marshmallows --- An Organic Wife
- Silky Banana Bread Bites --- 20 Something Allergies
- Paleo Peach Cobbler --- Paleo Gone Sassy
- Paleo Egg McMuffins --- Paleo Gone Sassy
- Paleo Banana Pancakes with Gelatin --- Paleo Gone Sassy
- Super Coffee --- Girl Meets Nourishment
- Coconut Berry Smoothie or Popsicles --- Divine Health From the Inside Out
More Resources
If you really want to get in-depth with learning more about organ meats and how to utilize the whole animal, check out these books from my affiliate partner Amazon. Please note that in the cookbooks, you will have to make substitutions in some of the recipes if you adhere to a strict grain- or gluten-free, dairy-free, or legume-free diet. But, if you are following such a diet, you're probably pretty used to making those substitutions by now :) Also note that if you are from the US, the recipes may seem a bit foreign in Fergus Henderson's book, but it is lovely and inspirational regardless.
Recommended Sources for Organ Meats
I am a huge proponent of eating meat from animals that were raised humanely, allowed to eat a species-appropriate diet, and who lived their lives outdoors on pastures and wooded areas. Supporting this sort of farming is good for you and the animals: the meat is much healthier for you to consume and the animals are allowed to lead happy lives eating the foods they are designed to eat (cows are not designed to eat corn only, and in fact they die if they are fattened up on corn for more than about 3-4 months. They suffer numerous health problems being forced to eat a diet of corn). The animals are also allowed to express their unique instinctual behaviors (chickens are not vegetarians! They like to forage for bugs and sometimes even small amphibians or reptiles. And pigs like to root around outdoors in the ground for tasty tidbits).
It is especially important to source your organ meats from grass-fed cows, sheep, and goats, and from pasture-raised poultry and pork. The good news is that you can often find these cuts sold for a real bargain, especially if you contact your local farmers. I've procured tongues and hearts for $1/lb and even been given kidneys and sweetbreads for free by farmers who didn't want them and didn't think any of their customers wanted them, either. Use Eat Wild to locate pasture-based farmers in your area and get in touch with them to see what they can offer. Now, as organ meats are gaining in popularity, some farmers are charging more for theirs, but they are still an incredible buy due to the nutrient density.
If you don't have local farms, you can order online. Here are several sources that I recommend. I am an affiliate for US Wellness Meats but not the others.
Slanker's Grass-Fed Meats --> http://www.texasgrassfedbeef.com/buy_meat_online.htm
White Oak Pastures --> https://whiteoakpastures.com/store/Thompson
US Wellness Meats
