Egyptian · lunch, dinner
Kebda Eskandarani (Alexandria-Style Spicy Liver)
الكبده الإسكندرانى
Video by nadia elsayed on YouTube, in Arabic · Open on YouTube
- Gluten-free ingredients
- Dairy-free
- Nut-free
Contains: none of the common allergens in the listed ingredients. Check labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes.
About 32 g protein and 12 g net carbs a serve; beef liver is exceptionally rich in vitamin A, vitamin B12, folate and iron.
The printable card is ink-friendly, fits on one page and has a QR code back to this recipe.
Ingredients 11
Method
The cook speaks Arabic; every step is written here in English. Tap a time to watch that step in the video. The video’s English subtitles come on by themselves.
- Make the marinade: mince the garlic, squeeze the lime juice over it, then add the vinegar, salt, pepper, cumin, coriander and paprika or chilli and stir. 0:40
- Freeze the liver briefly so it firms up, then slice it into thin strips with a sharp knife. 1:54
- Toss the liver in the marinade and leave 10 minutes (no longer) while you slice the peppers. 2:30
- Heat the oil in a frying pan until very hot and add the liver in one layer so it sears rather than stews; stir until it takes colour and is nearly cooked, up to 10 minutes. 3:03
- Add the peppers and toss for about 10 minutes more, until they just soften and the liver is cooked through. 3:45
Tip. Alexandrians stuff it into bread rolls with tahini sauce; a crisp salad or grilled vegetables keep it low-carb. Serves 3 is our estimate. Liver is very high in vitamin A, so once a week is plenty.
The method is a summary in our words — the video shows every step.
One serve gives you 1 of 3
Where the energy comes from one serve
- Net carbs 14%
- Protein 36%
- Fat 50%
Low carb: under 26% of the energy is from carbs.
Vitamins & minerals % of a day, one serve · tap for more
Vitamin B12 High3334%
80 µg a serve, mostly from beef liver (100%). Keeps nerves and blood cells healthy. Found almost only in animal foods and fortified foods (some plant milks, nutritional yeast), so vegans need a reliable source.
Vitamin A High1192%
10728 µg a serve, mostly from beef liver (100%). Keeps eyes, skin and the immune system healthy. Orange vegetables and dark greens give beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A.
Vitamin C High98%
88 mg a serve, mostly from green capsicums (91%). An antioxidant needed for collagen, immunity and iron absorption. Long cooking destroys some, so raw herbs, citrus and capsicum help.
Vitamin B6 High83%
1.4 mg a serve, mostly from beef liver (80%). Helps turn food into energy and make brain messengers. Chickpeas, fish, poultry, potatoes and bananas are good sources.
Omega-3 High81%
1.3 g a serve, mostly from vegetable oil (95%). Omega-3 fats support the heart and brain. Oily fish give EPA and DHA; walnuts, flax, chia and canola give ALA, which the body converts only a little.
Folate High77%
307 µg a serve, mostly from beef liver (96%). Needed to make DNA and new cells — especially important before and in early pregnancy. Legumes and leafy greens are rich sources.
Selenium High75%
41 µg a serve, mostly from beef liver (98%). Part of the body's antioxidant enzymes and needed for thyroid hormones. Seafood, eggs, meat and Brazil nuts are rich sources.
Zinc High57%
6.2 mg a serve, mostly from beef liver (96%). Needed for immunity, wound healing, taste and growth. Meat, seafood, legumes, seeds and whole grains supply it.
Iron High45%
8.1 mg a serve, mostly from beef liver (87%). Carries oxygen in your blood. Iron from plants absorbs better with vitamin C in the same meal — lemon, tomato or capsicum.
Vitamin E High23%
3.5 mg a serve, mostly from vegetable oil (68%). An antioxidant that protects cell membranes. Nuts, seeds and plant oils such as olive oil are the main sources.
Vitamin K Source18%
22 µg a serve, mostly from vegetable oil (44%). Needed for blood clotting and bones. Leafy greens and herbs are very rich in it. If you take warfarin, keep your intake steady and talk to your doctor.
Potassium Source14%
650 mg a serve, mostly from beef liver (61%). Balances sodium to help control blood pressure and keeps muscles and nerves working. Beans, potatoes, leafy greens and fruit are rich sources.
Magnesium Source10%
44 mg a serve, mostly from beef liver (57%). Takes part in hundreds of reactions — energy, muscles, nerves, blood sugar and bones. Nuts, seeds, legumes and whole grains are good sources.
Show the other 2
Vitamin D7%
1.4 µg a serve, mostly from beef liver (100%). Helps you absorb calcium for bones and supports muscles. Few foods have much — oily fish, eggs, UV-exposed mushrooms, fortified milks. Sunlight is the main source.
Calcium3%
39 mg a serve, mostly from green capsicums (25%). Builds bones and teeth and helps muscles and nerves work. Dairy, calcium-set tofu, sardines with their bones and some greens supply it.
Estimated from the ingredient list with USDA FoodData Central values; % of a day uses the food-label daily values. How this works
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Recipe and video by nadia elsayed; the method summary, nutrition estimate and diet notes are Notbroken’s. General information about food, not dietary advice.