Ah, the first bite of spreading liverwurst on a toasty piece of rye bread with some crunchy lettuce, pickled cucumber, and onions with mayo is a sweet, sweet feeling. It’s the most simple combination packed with strong and unique flavors.
Liverwurst is extremely popular in Germany. Interestingly, if you haven’t tried it, you too can make it yourself. You must be thinking if you can freeze liverwurst – yes, you can!!!
But that’s for later. Let’s first go over the health benefits of Liverwurst and how you can eat it!
What is Liverwurst Made of?
Liverwurst’s three key ingredients are organ meat, meat, and fat. The meat is usually sourced from pork or beef. Traditionally, when we say organ meat, we refer to the liver, specifically – exactly why the name of the product is liverwurst.
It is not unusual for liverwurst to be made with other organ meat such as kidneys or hearts. There are a variety of seasonings used to prepare liverwurst, including salt, black pepper, and onion powder. However, additional spices can also be used for seasoning the meat, such as coriander, nutmeg, allspice, thyme, mustard seed, etc.
Tip: It’s best to store it in the freezer after purchasing it. It is safe to consume it within 4-6 days of purchase, provided you keep it in the fridge.
If you intend to enjoy it for a longer period of time, please note you can freeze Liverwurst for a maximum of 2 months.
In the following section, you’ll learn about the nutritional benefits of incorporating liverwurst into your diet.
Nutritional Benefits of Liverwurst
Organ meat, especially the liver, is loaded with nutrients. Here are five primary benefits of eating liverwurst.
1. It’s Packed with Protein
According to the nutritional facts, there are 15 grams of protein per 100g of Liverwurst – which makes it an excellent source of protein. Food containing organ meat is also labeled as “complete” protein.
Complete proteins are basically any food item that contains an adequate concentration of the nine essential amino acids. Liverwurst, as already mentioned, has a combination of seasoning and added fat, which reduces the protein content in it.
However, it’s fair to say that it is still considered relatively high in protein.
2. Excellent Source of Vitamin B12 (and Other B Vitamins)
Liverwurst is a fantastic source of vitamin B12. According to the nutritional facts declared on the packaging of Liverwurst, every 100 grams contains 837% of the daily value.
Vitamin B12 has essential minerals which we must acquire from our food intake. In addition to all the other benefits, vitamin B12 contributes to the formation of red blood cells and prevents anemia. Moreover, it benefits the health of your nervous system tremendously.
3. Full of Iron and Selenium
The other two prime nutrients in liverwurst are iron and selenium – both excellent sources of essential minerals. There are numerous benefits to including iron and selenium in your diet. Number one is – it acts as a super-powerful antioxidant and vehicle for oxygen transport to essential organs, according to the health experts at Riti. Plus, it prevents heart diseases and cancers.
4. Loaded with Retinol (Vitamin A)
Liverwurst contains 469% of the daily value of vitamin A for every 100 grams. Amongst all the benefits of retinol (vitamin A) – it’s primarily great for your immune system and eye health.
5. Liverwurst Is Delicious
The most significant benefit of this particular product is the taste factor.
If you have tasted organ meats before, you know that it has a strong and unique texture that many people dislike. However, liverwurst has solved that problem for sure, it has been able to eliminate the *organy* texture. You can reap the benefits of eating organ meats and enjoy it too.
5 Ways to Incorporate Liverwurst into Your Diet
If you are considering including liverwurst in your diet for its nutritional benefits or just the fact that you love the taste of it – here are a few ideas for you to try.
1. Liverwurst Spread
The best way to have liverwurst is to spread it over your piece of rye bread or any other preferred bread. Just use it like peanut butter or vegemite.
Here’s what you could do with it other than eating with toast – use it as a base to stuff vegetables, add a layer of it on crackers. Yummy and filling!
2) Use Liverwurst for Soups and Stews
This one may sound a bit much for many, but wait till you try it. Liverwurst stew is quite delicious and filling.
You could follow a traditional recipe to make your stew and add liverwurst to it. The soup, especially a potato soup will instantly have a high texture full of richness. Just add a few slices to increase the protein content in your meal and flavors.
3. Pan-Fried Liverwurst With Onions
This particular dish requires you to slice the liverwurst. Then just simply pan fry the slices with butter and onions. You could serve it for breakfast with eggs and toast.
Pan-fried liverwurst demands no time to prepare and is extremely rich in nutrition. This is probably the most delicious way to have liverwurst.
4. Cheese and Cucumber Slice
Another creative way to enjoy liverwurst is to have it with cucumber and cheese—a delicious snack with multiple health benefits.
5. Liverwurst Dip
This one is a clever way to incorporate liverwurst into your diet. You can initially mash some liverwurst by adding some mayo or mustard. You want to blend it in a mixer to give you a meaty dip. You could serve it with other dips such as guacamole, sour cream, cheese dip, and many other savory dips to be enjoyed with chips, crisps, crackers, or salads.
Final Thoughts
As discussed in this article, liverwurst is known for providing sufficient nutritional benefits. This product is traditionally eaten in Germany. It’s safe to say that they take pride in it, almost like the Aussies with their vegemite.
Having said that, the product is widely available in the US too. If you don’t plan on eating it within 4 to 6 days, it’s best if you can freeze liverwurst, it will last up to 2 months. Bon Appétit!