Chris Schlesinger & John Willoughby's Grilled Sausage and Cornbread Salad

Directions

1. Dressing and Salad
2. Build a fire in your grill and let it die down to medium. (You should be able to hold your hand about 5 inches above the grill rack for 4 to 5 seconds.)
3. To make the dressing: Meanwhile, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, chiles, cumin, and salt and pepper to taste.
4. To make the salad: Combine the tomatoes, avocado, onion, and cilantro or parsley and toss gently to combine. Add the dressing to taste, and gently toss again. Set aside.
5. To toast the cornbread, spread out the cubes on a baking sheet and bake at 325 to 350° F for about 10 minutes, turning once or twice, until golden brown.
6. Put the sausages on the grill and cook well, 5 to 8 minutes per side. To check for doneness, cut into one and peek to be sure it's cooked through, with no trace of pink inside. When the sausages are done, slice them neatly on the diagonal so they keep their shape. Alternately, you can keep them whole, and serve with a fork and knife.
7. Add the toasted cornbread to the salad and toss gently, adding more dressing to taste. Divide the salad among four plates, top with the grilled sausage, and serve.

1. Cornbread (adapted from the East Coast Grill, Cambridge, MA via Sam Sifton)
2. Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly oil a 9-inch cast-iron skillet and put it in the oven to heat up.
3. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and oil. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients, add the melted butter and stir together until just mixed.
4. Remove the hot cast-iron pan from the oven and pour the batter into it, then give the pan a smack on the countertop to even it out. Return pan to oven and bake, approximately 1 hour, until the cornbread is browned on top and a toothpick or a thin knife inserted into the top comes out clean. Let cool before turning out and cutting.