Chicken Liver Crostini with Pickled Eggs

Ingredients for Chicken Liver Crostini with Pickled Eggs

• 350ml red wine vinegar

• 120ml water

• 2 large shallots, sliced into rounds

• 4 fresh thyme sprigs

• 4 whole cloves

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 tablespoon salt

• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

• 6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled

• 120ml olive oil plus additional for brushing bread

• 4 fresh thyme sprigs plus 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme, divided

• 4 garlic cloves

• 3 peeled, 1 minced

• 2 bay leaves, divided

• 1/2 teaspoons salt

• 1 chicken heart and 1 chicken gizzard, trimmed

• 170g chicken livers, deveined

• 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter

• 240ml finely chopped onion

• 60ml dry white wine

• 45ml ruby Port

• 12 1/3-inch-thick diagonal baguette slices

Combine vinegar, 120ml water, shallots, thyme sprigs, cloves, bay leaf, salt, and sugar in medium saucepan; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer pickling mixture 15 minutes to allow flavours to blend. Remove mixture from heat and cool to room temperature.

Pierce hard-boiled eggs all over with thin skewer or fork to depth of 1/2 inch. Place eggs in 1-quart glass jar or medium bowl. Pour pickling mixture over eggs; cover and refrigerate overnight. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.

Combine 120ml olive oil, thyme sprigs, peeled garlic cloves, 1 bay leaf, and 1/2 teaspoons salt in medium skillet; heat over medium-low heat. Add chicken heart and gizzard to skillet and cook gently until tender, turning occasionally, about 30 minutes (do not allow oil mixture to boil). Transfer heart and gizzard to cutting board and cool completely, then chop finely. Reserve skillet with oil mixture.

Add chicken livers to oil mixture in same skillet and cook gently over medium heat until brown on outside but still pink in centre, about 10 minutes. Transfer chicken livers and garlic cloves from skillet to cutting board and cool, then chop finely.

Discard thyme sprigs and all but 2 tablespoons oil from skillet. Add butter, onion, 1 tablespoon chopped thyme, minced garlic, and remaining bay leaf to same skillet; sauté over medium heat until onion is soft, about 10 minutes. Add wine and Port and cook until almost evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add chopped gizzards and chicken livers and simmer 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Cover and chill. Rewarm over medium heat just until warm before using.

Preheat oven to 204°C. Arrange baguette slices in single layer on baking sheet; brush tops lightly with olive oil. Toast in oven until pale golden, about 12 minutes. Cool. DO AHEAD: Baguette toasts can be made 4 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.

Divide chicken liver mixture among crostini. Slice 2 to 3 pickled eggs into rounds. Top liver mixture on each baguette with 1 egg round and a few shallot rounds from pickling liquid. Sprinkle lightly with remaining 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme and serve.

Clause de non-responsabilité

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.