Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons lard or butter
  • 5 medium red onions, thinly sliced
  • 5 medium white onions, thinly sliced
  • 6 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 2 cups Chianti
  • 1 star anise
  • 1 3-inch cinnamon stick
  • 7 juniper berries
  • 3 quarts chicken broth
  • Kosher salt
  • freshly ground pepper
  • 3 ounces fresh crusty bread, cubed
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon lard or butter
  • 1/2 white onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon slivered garlic (about 3 cloves)
  • 1/2 tablespoon finely chopped thyme leaves
  • 3 sage leaves, finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Chianti
  • 1 pound calfs liver, peeled, deveined and cut into large cubes
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 13 cup minced chives
  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for serving

Method

  • Prepare the soup: In a large, heavy saucepan, melt the lard over medium-high heat.
  • Add the onions and garlic and cook, adjusting the heat as needed, until caramelized, 40 to 60 minutes.
  • Add the wine and reduce to a glaze.
  • Meanwhile, fill a piece of cheesecloth with the star anise, cinnamon and juniper and tie into a bundle; add this and the chicken broth to the onions.
  • Simmer about 20 minutes.
  • Remove the spice bundle.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.
  • Make the dumplings: In a bowl, soak the bread in the heavy cream.
  • In a medium saute pan, melt the lard over medium heat.
  • Add the onions, garlic, thyme and sage and cook until the onions are translucent.
  • Add the wine and let it boil off.
  • Let cool.
  • Bring a small saucepan of lightly salted water to a simmer.
  • In a food processor, blend the onion mixture, liver, egg yolks and soaked bread until a paste forms.
  • Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the bread crumbs and flour, seasoning with salt and pepper.
  • Using 2 soup spoons dipped in cold water, form an oval dumpling of the liver mixture.
  • Test it by dropping the dumpling into the simmering water and cooking for 5 minutes.
  • Lift from the water, slice in half and taste for seasoning and doneness.
  • (It should be barely pink in the middle.)
  • Bring the onion soup to a gentle simmer.
  • Continue forming dumplings with the liver mixture.
  • Simmer them in the soup; you may need to do this in batches.
  • Divide the soup among 8 bowls with 4 to 5 dumplings in each, then top with chives and a little olive oil.