The world is full of horrible forms of animal and vegetable products that, although they turn the stomach of the vast majority of humans, there is always someone, somewhere who will think it’s a delicacy. And usually that someone is Fred. In this instance we are showcasing “Ickies.” For our purposes ickies are any organic material that originate inside a chicken and can be consumed by some without immediate regurgitation. Examples of ickies are gizzards, hearts, liver, skin; things that a thinking, feeling human would immediately reject.
Ickie Ingredients:
2# chicken gizzards (or substitute hamburger for us wimps)
1 chopped onion
1 cup chopped carrots
1 tbsp olive oil
1 12 oz. can chicken broth
Sauté onions and carrots in olive oil until brown, about 3 minutes. Add gizzards and continue sautéing for 5 minutes. Add broth, bring to a boil and then lower heat to low. Gently boil for 1 hour until soft and broth has reduced by half. Set aside.
Risotto:
1 cup rice
1 chopped onion
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 Tbsp. Butter and Parmesan Cheese
Sauté rice and onions in 1 Tbsp. Olive oil for 4 minutes. Add tomatoes and bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium and stir in 1 cup of broth and cook until absorbed into rice. Keep adding broth until rice is cooked through. About 20 min. Total. Stir in butter and Parmesan cheese.
Serve gizzards over the risotto. Sprinkle green onions if desired.
I suggest pairing with an amusing bottle of the vintage antacid Pink Pepto Bismol. Enjoy!
