Polenta With Spicy Sausage Veggie Sauce Food

POLENTA WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine 1 cup water and cornmeal. In a saucepan, bring salt and remaining water to a boil. Slowly stir in cornmeal mixture. Reduce heat; cook for 15 minutes, stirring frequently. , Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the sausage and garlic over medium heat until sausage is no longer pink; drain. Cool slightly. Cut sausage into 1-in. pieces; return to skillet. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste and parsley; bring to a boil. Remove from the heat., Spread half of the cornmeal mixture in a serving dish; top with half of the sausage mixture. Repeat layers. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

PAN-SEARED POLENTA WITH SPICY TOMATO-BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Place 15x10x2-inch glass baking dish on rimmed baking sheet. Combine 8 cups water, 3 tablespoons olive oil, and 2 teaspoons salt in dish. Gradually mix in polenta.
• Place baking sheet with polenta in oven. Bake polenta 1 hour. Add pepper and stir to blend. Bake 20 minutes. Stir again and spread evenly. Bake until polenta is very thick, about 20 minutes longer. Cool polenta to room temperature, 1 to 2 hours (polenta will become firm). Using metal spatula, press polenta all over to even thickness. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover with plastic wrap; chill.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Cut polenta lengthwise into 4 strips. Cut each strip crosswise into 6 squares. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add polenta squares. Sauté until crisp and beginning to color, about 8 minutes per side. Transfer polenta to small baking sheet; place in oven to keep warm. Repeat with remaining polenta, adding oil to skillet as needed.
• Divide polenta among plates. Top with warm Spicy Tomato-Basil Sauce. Garnish with fresh basil sprigs, if desired.
• Sold at some supermarkets and at natural foods stores and Italian markets. If unavailable, substitute an equal amount of regular yellow cornmeal.
• What to drink:
• A medium-bodied red Italian wine is great with the spicy sauce. One to try: Montresor NV "Il Veronese" Valpolicella ($14), a lovely red blend with dried fruit flavors and vanilla notes.

CREAMY POLENTA WITH PARMESAN AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Put oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add sausages and cook, turning occasionally, until well browned on all sides and cooked through, about 20 minutes. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, put cornmeal in a medium saucepan along with 1 cup water and whisk well to make a slurry; continue whisking mixture to eliminate any lumps. Put pan over medium-high heat, sprinkle with salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook, whisking frequently and adding water as needed to keep mixture loose and free of lumps, between 3 and 4 more cups. If mixture becomes too thick, simply add a bit more water; consistency should be similar to sour cream's.
• Polenta will be done in 15 to 30 minutes, depending on grind. Add cheese and butter. Taste and add salt, if necessary, and lots of pepper; serve topped with sausages.

POLENTA WITH SAUSAGE AND TOMATO PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a large nonstick pan until it is very hot.
• Remove sausage from casing, and break into bite-size pieces. Reduce heat to medium high; sauté sausage until it browns on both sides.
• Chop whole onion.
• Add oil to pan. Then, add onion and cook until it softens. Mince garlic, and add to pan.
• Bring broth to boil in covered pot.
• Wash, trim, seed and chop peppers. Add them and the hot pepper flakes to the onion as it cooks. Sauté a minute or two, and stir in thyme, oregano, tomatoes and sherry; reduce heat to low, and cook mixture.
• Slowly stir the polenta into the boiling stock. Cook over medium high heat until polenta boils and thickens. Season with pepper and salt. Serve topped with the sausage-vegetable mixture.

POLENTA WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Squeeze sausage out of casings into skillet, and saute over medium heat. Break sausage up into small pieces and cook until no longer pink.
• Remove sausage from skillet and discard drippings except 1 tablespoons.
• Saute onion and garlic in reserved sausage drippings until onion is soft. Add mushrooms and zucchini, stir frequently until all liquid evaporates. Stir in tomatoes, herbs, and red pepper flakes. Return sausage to skillet and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Spread an even scant amount of sauce (about 2/3 cup) on bottom of an 11x7 inch baking pan. Add a single layer of sliced polenta rounds. Layer with 2 cups of sausage sauce and 3/4 cup of Provolone.
• Finish with an additional layer of polenta rounds, all the sausage sauce, and all the Provolone. Sprinkle Parmesan on top.
• Bake uncovered at 350F for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Let cool 5-10 minutes before serving.

POLENTA WITH SPICY SAUSAGE-VEGGIE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source.
• Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray. Arrange the polenta slices on the sheet and spray them lightly with cooking spray. Broil until lightly browned about 5 minutes; turn and broil other side for 5 minutes. Keep warm.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage, breaking it up as it browns. When sausage has lost any pink color, add the onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, zucchini, and Italian seasoning. Cook until vegetables are crisp tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the spaghetti sauce and cook until heated through and just starting to simmer.
• To serve, spoon the sauce on slices of polenta. Top with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.

POLENTA WITH SPICY SAUSAGE-VEGGIE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source.
• Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray. Arrange the polenta slices on the sheet and spray them lightly with cooking spray. Broil until lightly browned about 5 minutes; turn and broil other side for 5 minutes. Keep warm.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage, breaking it up as it browns. When sausage has lost any pink color, add the onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, zucchini, and Italian seasoning. Cook until vegetables are crisp tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the spaghetti sauce and cook until heated through and just starting to simmer.
• To serve, spoon the sauce on slices of polenta. Top with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.