Originally, tjvjik was made by frying pieces of beef liver with large amounts of onions that have been seasoned only with salt and pepper. Today, the dish is also made using lamb, pork and chicken liver, with additional ingredients that include tomatoes (grated or pureed), a variety of vegetables, various fresh herbs, as well as other offal such as hearts and kidneys.

Similar types of dishes can be found throughout the Near East and the Balkan Peninsula. The importance of this dish in Armenia is reflected in the eponymous movie, Tzhvzhik, which is considered a Soviet-Armenian classic.