Kozhi Karal Curry (chicken Liver Curry)

Liver curry is an exquisite delicacy in Kerala. In olden days according to my mother the only occasion where one ended up with a lot of liver was when the family gathered for celebrations like festivals and weddings. Then a lot of hens would be slaughtered and cooked in the backyard of the house of the bride or bridegroom. And what would one do with so many livers? This curry was made then on the wedding eve for the guests who attended the wedding eve ceremonies. Maybe this was also part of the cost cutting because serving chicken and other meats on wedding eve was indeed an added expense. And since the ingredients were purchased by the family themselves rather being outsourced to a caterer, the head of the family saw to it that nothing was wasted. These days' caterers buy cut pieces for wedding banquet and ordering a liver curry is considered exotic. But with the advent of malls selling meats and their various cuts exclusively procuring liver and gizzard has become easier. So occasionally when I miss the good old days I get some liver and prepare this curry.