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Spiced Chicken Livers with Goat Cheese Grits, Sweet Onion Vinaigrette, and Chicory

This homey yet sophisticated dish is a beautiful contrast in textures and flavors. Gilmore recommends serving it for brunch, as a starter, or as a light dinner paired with hearty bread and, of course, good beer.
Print Recipe
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

LIVERS

  • 1 tablespoon coriander seed
  • 1 tablespoon fennel seed
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seed
  • 1 tablespoon smoked sweet paprika
  • ½ teaspoon allspice
  • 1 teaspoon chili flakes
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • Leaves from 3 sprigs thyme
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 8 ounces chicken livers preferably cage free/pasture raised, large veins removed, soaked overnight in milk

ONION VINAIGRETTE

  • 2 medium yellow onions thinly sliced
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 ounces sherry vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

GRITS

  • 2 cups whole milk
  • ½ cup uncooked stone-ground grits
  • 6 ounces fresh chèvre
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Kosher salt to taste

SALAD

  • 1 head frisée trimmed, cleaned, dark leaves discarded
  • 1 endive trimmed and thinly sliced
  • ½ green apple thinly sliced (wait until livers are cooking to do this, so the slices won’t brown)

Instructions
 

  • THE LIVERS: Toast and grind the coriander, fennel, and cumin seeds (a mortar and
  • pestle will also work). In a large bowl combine all the spices with the garlic, mustard, thyme, and olive oil. Drain and pat dry the chicken livers and toss in the mixture to coat. Set aside.
  • THE VINAIGRETTE: In a large sauté pan, slowly cook the sliced onions in 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-low heat until they caramelize. If they start to burn, add a little water as necessary. When the onions are a dark, golden caramel color (about 30 to 35 minutes), whisk in the vinegar, mustard, and remaining olive oil. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
  • THE GRITS: Heat the milk in a medium saucepan and stir in the grits. Cook, whisking often, until the grits are tender, then add the cheese and butter and stir until melted. Season to taste with salt.
  • TO SERVE: Heat the grill. Remove the livers from the marinade, and salt them. Grill until they are pink in the center, and set aside. In a large bowl toss the salad ingredients with the vinaigrette (re-whisk it first). Place a mound of grits on each of four plates and top with chicken livers. Place a handful of salad over the livers and grits, and serve immediately.