Browsed by
Category: Sausages & Mixed Meats

Sausages and Grapes (salsiccia all’uva)

Sausages and Grapes (salsiccia all’uva)

This is a very simple version of this dish often found on trattoria menus in Italy.  Other variations include rosemary, garlic, onion, wine or balsamic vinegar.

8 sweet Italian pork sausages
½ C. water
¾ lb. red or black table grapes (or red wine grapes if you don’t mind seeds in the final dish)

Prick the sausages with a fork to poke a few holes in them. Put them with the water in a heavy 10-inch sauté pan, preferably cast iron, and place over medium heat. Cook, turning often until water evaporates and sausages begin to brown. Add grapes and cook, stirring until they release their juices and soften, about 10-12 minutes. Serve immediately with bruschetta or polenta to soak up the juices.

Rustic Tuscan-Style Sausage, White Bean, and Kale Soup

Rustic Tuscan-Style Sausage, White Bean, and Kale Soup

2 T. olive oil
1 lb. Italian sweet sausage, casing removed
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 large carrots, finely diced
1 large potato, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
2 (15 oz.)cans white cannelini beans, drained and rinsed
2 bunches kale, stems removed and roughly chopped
52 oz. good quality low-sodium chicken stock
Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste
1 loaf baguette bread
Gruyere and Asiago Cheese, shredded

In a large pot, heat 2 T. olive oil over medium heat. Add sausage and brown, stirring occasionally to break into smaller pieces, approximately 10 minutes. Add onion, carrots, potato, and bay leaves. Season generously with kosher salt and cook until vegetables begin to soften, stirring occasionally, approximately 10 minutes. Add garlic and beans, and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Add kale, and cook until it becomes slightly wilted. Add chicken stock, season with salt and pepper, and cover with lid. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and keep at a simmer for about 45 minutes, although a bit longer is completely fine. The soup will thicken as the potatoes begin to release their starch into the soup. *the soup tastes best the second day. If time allows, cool soup completely, and refrigerate it for the following day. Reheat before serving. When about ready to serve, slice baguette. Drizzle each slice with a little olive oil and season with kosher salt. Bake at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes, until toasted. Top with grated gruyere and asiago cheese and broil for about 2-3 minutes, until cheese is melted. It can go from melted to burnt pretty fast, so don’t leave broiler unattended. Divide soup among bowls and top with a few slices of cheesy baguette.

Farfalle with Sausage, Cannellini Beans, and Kale

Farfalle with Sausage, Cannellini Beans, and Kale

8 oz. uncooked farfalle (bow tie pasta)
1/4 C. oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
1 1/2 C. chopped onion
8 oz. hot turkey Italian sausage
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 (14-oz.) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (16-oz.) package fresh kale
1 (15-oz.) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 oz. shaved fresh Parmesan cheese (about 1/4 C.)

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain, reserving 1 C. cooking liquid; keep warm. Drain tomatoes in a small sieve over a bowl, reserving 2 tsp. oil; slice tomatoes. Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add sliced tomatoes, reserved 2 tsp. tomato oil, onion, and sausage to pan; cook 10 minutes or until sausage is browned, stirring to crumble. Add garlic to pan; cook 1 minute. Add seasoning, pepper, and broth to pan. Stir in kale; cover and simmer 5 minutes or until kale is tender. Stir in pasta, reserved 1 C. cooking liquid, and beans.

Campfire Sausage & Sauerkraut

Campfire Sausage & Sauerkraut

Campfire Sausage and Sauerkraut

 

1 lb. Smoked sausage, cut in 2” chunks

2 cans sauerkraut, drained and rinsed

2 T. brown sugar

2 T. maple syrup

 

Combine all ingredients in 10” Dutch oven. Arrange 6 hot coals in a circle and place Dutch oven on top. Cover with a flat lid and place 6 more hot coals on lid. Cook for 60 minutes, adding more hot coals as needed. Serve hot.

Skillet Pasta Roma

Skillet Pasta Roma

½ lb. Italian sausage, sliced or crumbled
1 large onion, chopped
1 large clove garlic, minced
2 cans Del Monte Diced Tomatoes with Basil, Garlic, & Oregano
1 can Del Monte Tomato Sauce
1 C. water
8 oz. uncooked Cavatappi or other spiral pasta
8 mushrooms, sliced
Grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley sprigs

Brown sausage in large skillet. Add onion and garlic. Cook until onion is soft; drain. Stir in undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, water and pasta. Cover and bring to a boil, reduce heat. Simmer covered 25-30 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in mushrooms, if desired, simmer 5 minutes. Serve in skillet garnished with cheese and parsley

Sausage & Orecchiette with Ramps and Favas

Sausage & Orecchiette with Ramps and Favas

Orecchiette with Ramps and Favas

Kosher salt

1 pound fresh orecchiette pasta

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

1 pound spicy Italian sausage, removed from the casings if not bulk

1 cup peeled shelled fava beans

3 cups sliced ramps, bulbs and leaves (or an equal amount of leeks and 1 garlic clove)

Freshly ground black pepper

2 cups freshly grated parmesan cheese

 

In a very large pot, bring 5 quarts water and 3 tablespoons salt to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until just al dente, about 1 minute less than the package directions. Occasionally give the pasta a stir so it doesn’t stick together. Scoop out and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta.  Meanwhile, put a large skillet over high heat. Add the olive oil and sausage and cook, breaking up the meat as it cooks, 2 to 4 minutes. Add the fava beans and ramps, season with salt and pepper and cook for 2 minutes.  Add the pasta and reserved pasta water to the pan and cook for 30 seconds, stirring to blend. Remove from the heat and stir in the parmesan. Top with a good drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of freshly ground pepper.

Sausage Jambalaya (Children) with Shrimp (Adults)

Sausage Jambalaya (Children) with Shrimp (Adults)

Sausage Jambalaya (Children) with Shrimp (Adults)

1 T. olive oil
1/2 pound Cajun sausage (or kielbasa), sliced into coins
1 onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, seeded and chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
1 tsp. Cajun or Creole seasoning
1 bay leaf
1 14 1/2 – ounce can stewed tomatoes, Cajun style, or diced tomatoes with mild green chiles
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 cups long-grain rice

For each Adult Portion: 1 tsp. EVOO, ¼ lb. raw, cleaned shrimp, 1/8 tsp. Cajun Seasoning, pinch cayenne

Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil, then sausage, onion, pepper and celery. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until onion is soft. Stir in seasoning and bay leaf; cook 1 more minute. Add tomatoes, broth, 1-1/2 cups water and rice; bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 20 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Remove bay leaf.

For adult portion, heat oil in nonstick skillet. Add shrimp and seasonings. Cook 2 minutes, or until shrimp is pink; stir into jambalaya.

Halloumi Kebabs with Chorizo, Tomatoes and Honey Lime Dressing

Halloumi Kebabs with Chorizo, Tomatoes and Honey Lime Dressing

Halloumi Kebabs with Chorizo, Tomatoes and Honey Lime Dressing

 

8 wooden skewers soaked in water for half an hour

8 oz. (2 standard size) chorizo sausage, cut into 1” slices

1 punnet cherry tomatoes

16oz. halloumi cheese cut into 1” cubes.

a little olive oil for spraying or brushing before cooking

 

1 lime juice & zest

1 T. honey

1 T. white wine or cider vinegar

2 T. olive oil

salt/pepper to taste

To serve/garnish

1 lime sliced into segments

salad leaves of your choice

 

Heat up your broiler/grill (on high or to around 390F). Thread the tomatoes, chorizo slices and halloumi chunks onto the skewers alternately Whisk all the dressing ingredients together and scatter a layer of salad leaves over a large platter or plate. Lay the skewers on a grill/broiler pan. I usually line it with baking paper for easier clean-up. Spray or brush all over with olive oil. Grill/Broil for about 10 minutes, turning regularly (and carefully!) until the tomatoes and chorizo are golden in parts and the halloumi is crisp and browned. If a few pieces fall off as you turn the kebabs, just thread them back on after cooking. When the skewers are done, carefully lay them over the salad leaves, then drizzle the dressing all over. Garnish with extra lime segments if you like. Enjoy immediately with toasted bread with olive oil and salt, or another side dish of your choice.

Summer Squash, Tomato and Sausage Pasta

Summer Squash, Tomato and Sausage Pasta

Summer Squash, Tomato and Sausage Pasta

 

2 medium to large squash

2 medium to large zucchini

2 pints, cherry tomatoes

4 T. olive oil

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

6 Italian sausage links

1 (16 ounce) package rigatoni pasta (substitute 1 box of quinoa for a gluten-free alternative)

Parmesan cheese for garnish

 

Chop squash and zucchini into bite-size squares and place in large bowl. Cut cherry tomatoes in half for a juicier sauce, or leave them whole. Toss vegetables and tomatoes in 3 T. olive oil, sea salt, and freshly ground pepper. Swirl 1 T. olive oil in a saucepan on high heat and add sausage. Once sausage is partially cooked, drain fat and then add the vegetables to the saucepan. Turn heat to medium. Cover the sausage and vegetables and allow to cook for approximately 15 minutes. While sausage and vegetables are cooking, boil water and cook pasta according to package directions. When vegetables and sausage are cooked, remove sausage and cut each link into bite-size pieces, placing back into the saucepan once cut. Once pasta is cooked, drain and place in large bowl. Serve pasta on individual plates and spoon sausage, vegetables, and tomatoes (and naturally occurring sauce) over pasta. Grate parmesan cheese over each dish.

Rhubarb and Pancetta Pizza

Rhubarb and Pancetta Pizza

Rhubarb and Pancetta Pizza

 

1 whole Pizza Crust (homemade Or Purchased)

2 tsp. Olive Oil

3 ounces, weight Diced Pancetta (or Thick Cut Bacon)

1 cup Diced Red Onion

1-½ cup Rhubarb, Peeled And Diced

1 cup Chopped Red Apple

2 tsp. Fresh Rosemary, Minced

½ cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

2 T. Walnuts, Very Finely Chopped

 

Prepare your favorite pizza crust dough. I like a deep dish whole wheat, but any type will work. The listed prep time includes the time needed for homemade dough to rise, but store-bought dough will work just as well. While the dough is rising, heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add diced pancetta and cook until it begins to turn a golden brown, about five minutes. (If you don’t like pancetta or you don’t have it on hand, you can substitute diced thick cut bacon.) Drain excess fat from the pan and then add red onion. Cook until the onion is translucent, about three minutes. Add rhubarb, apple and rosemary to the mixture and cook until the fruit is just beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. I don’t peel the apple, but you can if you must. Remove from heat. Preheat oven to 450ºF. Prepare a pizza pan and roll or press out your dough. Spread the pancetta/fruit mixture directly onto the dough. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the mixture. Don’t go overboard with the cheese! (This isn’t that kind of pizza.) Finally, sprinkle the finely chopped walnuts evenly over the cheese. Bake the pizza for 15 minutes, or until the crust is cooked and the cheese is golden brown.

Penne alla Vodka Casserole

Penne alla Vodka Casserole

Penne alla Vodka Casserole

 

1 lb. penne

4 T. butter

1/2 med. onion, chopped in 1/4″ dice

1 T. red pepper flakes

1 qt. roasted tomatoes (or 1 28-oz. can tomatoes)

3 mild Italian sausages (~1 lb.) sliced crosswise in 1/4″ coins

1 c. vodka

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 c. sour cream or whipping cream

1 c. Parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated

Salt to taste

 

In a heavy-bottomed sauté pan or skillet, melt the butter and add onion and red pepper flakes. Cook over medium-low heat until onion is translucent. Stir in the whole tomatoes with liquid and simmer for one hour. Add the sausage coins, vodka and oregano and continue to simmer for another hour. Turn the heat to medium high, add sour cream (or cream) and stir constantly for 10 minutes. Reduce to simmer and to cook for another 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. During the final half hour of simmering the sauce, bring 4 quarts of water to boil in a large pot. Drop the pasta in the boiling water and cook, stirring frequently until tender but still firm to the bite, a little less done than usual “al dente.” Drain well, put back in pasta pot, add sauce, then toss pasta with sauce and 2/3 C. grated cheese. Adjust for salt. Pour into 2 3/4-qt. casserole dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and serve.

Sausages & Plums Braised in Red Wine

Sausages & Plums Braised in Red Wine

Sausages & Plums Braised in Red Wine

 

1 pound ripe purple or red plums

2 pounds sweet or hot Italian sausages

2 T. olive oil

1 large shallot, thinly sliced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp. minced fresh sage or 1/2 tsp. dried sage

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Pinch of sugar

1 C. light, fruity dry red wine, such as Beaujolais or Pinot Noir

 

Cut the plums into 1/2-inch slices, removing the pits and toss them with a few pinches of sugar, if needed. Set aside. Pierce each sausage in several places with the tip of a sharp knife (this will prevent the sausages from exploding). Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the sausages and sauté, turning often, until a golden brown all over, about 10 minutes. Remove the sausages to a plate. Pour off all but 1 T. of the fat in the pan and return the pan to the stove, over medium heat. Add the sliced shallot, and until tender, about 1 minute. Add the garlic and sage and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Add the plums with all of their juices and season with salt, and pepper. Sauté for 2 minutes, stirring often. Add the wine, increase the heat to medium-high, and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 3 minutes to meld the flavors. Return the sausages to the pan, cover the pan, and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 15 minutes or until the sausages are cooked through. To serve, remove the sausages and plums from the pan, using a tongs or a slotted spoon, placing them on a serving platter. Simmer the wine sauce in the pan over medium-high heat, about 2 minutes, or until the sauce is reduced and thickened slightly. Pour the sauce over the sausages and plums and serve.