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Creamy Polenta with Fennel and Italian Sausage Sauté


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5 from 1 review

  • Author: Erin Rebecca
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

If you aren’t already hooked on fennel, this dish with polenta and a kick of spiced sausage will do the trick.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lb bulk Italian sausage (use mild if you prefer less spicy)
  • 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 large fennel bulb, cut in half lengthwise, cored, and thinly sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tablespoon dried)
  • salt
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 quart chicken broth
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3/4 cup dry vermouth or dry white wine
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 cup quick-cooking polenta
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ½ cup grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Add in sausage, breaking it up as it cooks, until browned, 4-5 minutes.
  3. Add in the red onion, fennel, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper; cook, stirring frequently, for about 4 minutes or until the vegetables wilt and the onions become translucent.
  4. While the vegetables are cooking, start the polenta: In a saucepan, combine 2 ½ cups chicken broth and milk; season with salt and pepper.
  5. Place over med-high heat and bring to a simmer.
  6. Back to the vegetables: once the vegetables have wilted, add in the white wine and remaining 1 ½ cups chicken broth to the skillet; increase heat to high and bring up to a simmer.
  7. Cook about 4-5 minutes, to reduce liquids by half; stir in the chopped parsley.
  8. To the simmering chicken stock/milk, add in the polenta; whisk constantly until the cornmeal masses together.
  9. Add in the butter and grated cheese; stir to combine (if polenta becomes too thick, add more broth or milk).
  10. Serve polenta topped with ragout; garnish with more Parmigiano-Reggiano.
  • Category: Main