Let's Dish With Linda Lou

My recipe for Sweet Italian Sausage And Roasted Vegetables Over Creamy Polenta is one that 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: 2 sheet pans, 1 large saucepan, indoor grill pan, grill-pan

Ingredients:
2 pounds (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
5 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon Kosher salt
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup of Italian flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
Creamy Polenta (recipe below)

Directions 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 add the links to the saucepan, and cover. Bring the chicken stock up to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, poaching for about 10 minutes, turning them once halfway through the process. Transfer the sausage links onto 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 to 5 minutes per side. You may need to do this in two batches. Once the links all have nice grill marks, transfer to a cutting board and slice on the bias. Set aside.

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

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

Ingredients For Creamy Parmesan Polenta:
3 cups of chicken stock, unsalted
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 freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup of Mascarpone cheese, room temperature
1/2 cups Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
3 tablespoons of room temperature unsalted butter, diced

Directions For Creamy 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 very slowly add the cornmeal, whisking continuously to make sure there are no lumps.

Switch to a wooden spoon, add 1 tablespoon and 2 teaspoons pepper, and simmer over very low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until thick. (cooking time may vary slightly). Make sure to scrape the bottom of the pan thoroughly while stirring. Off the heat add the Mascarpone, Parmesan cheese, and butter. Taste for seasoning.

Transfer all veggies and sausage to a large bowl, add Italian flat-leaf parsley and toss. Serve over hot creamy Polenta. There you have it my Sweet Italian Sausage And Roasted Vegetables Over Creamy Polenta.