My recipe for Sweet Italian Sausage with Roasted Vegetables Over Creamy Parmesan Polenta brings bold flavors and comfort food together. Isn’t that really what you want to achieve in any dish? There are three components to this dish. Let me explain/show you how I pull this all together.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Yields: 6 to 8 servings
Equipment: large saucepan, indoor grill-pan, 2 rimmed baking sheet pans, chef’s knife, cutting board, meat-safe cutting board, whisk, large mixing bowl, rubber spatula, 1 pair of tongs

Ingredients for the Sausage and Roasted Vegetables:
2 packages (10 links) of sweet Italian sausage, grilled and sliced on the bias
1 1/2 cups of chicken stock (or broth), unsalted
2 cups of zucchini, 1-inch dice
1 red bell pepper, seeded, and 1-inch dice
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded, and 1-inch dice
1 orange bell pepper, seeded and 1-inch dice
1 red onion, diced into large chunks
5 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon Kosher salt
1 teaspoon of black pepper, freshly-ground
1/2 cup olive oil
Garnish:
1/4 cup of Italian flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

Ingredients for the Creamy Parmesan Polenta:
3 cups of chicken stock, unsalted, substitute chicken broth
3 cups half-and-half
1 tablespoon of garlic, freshly-grated
1 1/2 cups stone-ground cornmeal
1 tablespoon of kosher salt
2 teaspoons of black pepper, freshly-ground
1/4 cup of Mascarpone cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, freshly-ground
3 tablespoons of butter, unsalted and at room temperature

Instructions for the Sausage:
In a large saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, add 1 1/2 cups of chicken stock. Using a fork, prick all the sausage links on both sides (3 sets on each side) for faster cooking. Turn the heat to medium-high, place the links in the saucepan, and cover. Bring the chicken stock to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, poaching for about 10 minutes, turning once halfway through the process. Transfer the sausage links to a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb any excess liquid.

Preheat an indoor grill pan over medium-high heat. Arrange the links, placing a grill-press on top. Grill the sausages for 3-5 minutes per side. You may need to do this in two batches. Once the links all have nice grill marks, transfer them to a cutting board and slice on the bias. Set aside.

Instructions for the Roasted Vegetables:
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Place the vegetables, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and freshly-ground pepper into a large bowl. Toss to combine. Pour the vegetables onto two sheet pans, and spread out evenly into a single layer ( this way they will roast and not steam!). Roast for 30-40 minutes, tossing occasionally until the vegetables are tender and begin to brown.

Adjust oven temperature to 350°F.
Add the slices of grilled Italian sausage to the pans with the roasted veggies, and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Instructions for the Creamy Parmesan Polenta:
Combine the chicken stock, half-and-half, and garlic in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and slowly add the cornmeal, whisking continuously, to ensure there are no lumps.

Switch to a wooden spoon, add 1 tablespoon and 2 teaspoons pepper, and simmer over very low heat for 5-10 minutes, stirring constantly, until Polenta has thickened (cooking time may vary slightly). Scrape the bottom of the pan thoroughly while stirring. Off the heat, add the Mascarpone, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and butter. Finally, taste for seasoning.

Transfer all veggies and sausage to a large bowl, add Italian flat-leaf parsley, and toss. Serve over hot Creamy Parmesan Polenta.

There you have it, my Sweet Italian Sausage with Roasted Vegetables Over Creamy Parmesan Polenta.

Note:
1) Linda Lou Hamel is not a nutritionist or dietitian, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and nutritional value are important to you, I recommend running the ingredients through the online nutritional calculator of your choice. Calories and values can vary depending on the brands you choose.

https://lindalouhamel.com/2019/07/10/summer-time-flowers-and-herbs