Sausage, Beans & Greens Pasta

This is a great end of summer ~ early fall dish. I loved that it gobbled up my CSA collards and chard. I really love any dish that transforms greens into a crowd-pleaser! 🙂 The mashed beans made the sauce creamy.

This recipe was adapted from Bon Appétit, contributed by Claire Saffitz, via epicurious.com. I used garbanzo beans and a mix of collard greens, Swiss chard, and spinach. I also substituted sweet Italian sausage and modified the proportions. The fried rosemary garnish was essential.

Yield: Serves 6

• 1/3 cup (5 T) extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 sprigs rosemary
• 8 to 10 oz sweet or spicy Italian sausage, casings removed (I used 3 sweet sausages)
• 1 (15.5 oz) can chickpeas or cannellini beans, rinsed, patted dry
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 16 oz (1 pound) paccheri, rigatoni, or other large tubular pasta (I used pennoni pasta)
• Kosher salt
• 8 to 10 cups (lightly packed) cut or torn escarole, kale, or Swiss chard leaves (I used 1/4-inch ribbons stemmed and halved collard greens, 1/2-inch ribbons stemmed Swiss chard (stems cut into 1/4-inch pieces and reserved), & baby spinach)
• 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, divided
• freshly ground black pepper
• 3 T unsalted butter

1. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium to medium-high. (I used a large enameled cast iron Dutch oven.)
2. Fry rosemary, turning, until crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
3. Add sausage to same pot and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon and stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a shallow bowl.
4. Add chickpeas to pot and cook, tossing occasionally and mashing some chickpeas with a spoon, until browned in spots, about 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer about half of chickpeas to plate with sausage.
5. Add wine to pot (and add the Swiss chard stems, if using), bring to a boil, and cook until liquid is almost completely evaporated, about 2 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until very al dente, about 3 minutes less than package directions.
7. Using a spider or a slotted spoon, transfer pasta to pot with chickpeas and add the greens and 1 cup pasta cooking liquid. Cook, tossing often, until the greens are wilted, pasta is al dente, and sauce is thickened, about 4 minutes.
8. Add another 1/4 cup pasta cooking liquid, then gradually add 1/2 cup cheese, tossing until melted and dissolved into a luxurious, glossy sauce.
9. Thin with more pasta cooking liquid if needed. Season with pepper, and more salt if needed. Add butter and toss to combine, then mix in reserved sausage and chickpeas.
10. Divide pasta among bowls or place in a large serving dish. Crumble fried rosemary over top and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.

Summer Corn Pasta with Sausage & Basil

This is a crowd-pleasing and quick summer dish. It was a wonderful meal served with a giant green salad. The original recipe notes that any summer vegetable, or a combination, can be used instead of the fresh corn. Chopped tomatoes, broccoli, summer squash, or even green beans would work.

This recipe was adapted from Bon Appétit, contributed by Chris Morocco. I modified the proportions. Great!

Yield: Serves 6

• 16 oz rigatoni
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
• 8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 2 sprigs basil, plus 1 cup leaves for serving
• 1/2 tsp Aleppo pepper (or other mild red pepper flakes)
• fresh corn kernels from 3 large ears
• 5 T unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 2 oz (about 1/2 cup) freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for serving (I used Parmigiano-Reggiano)

1. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente; drain, reserving 2 cups pasta cooking water.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high.
3. Add sausage and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, 6–8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer sausage to a plate.
4. Reduce heat to medium and cook sliced garlic in same pot, stirring occasionally, until light golden around edges, about 2 minutes.
5. Add basil sprigs and Aleppo pepper; cook, stirring, until basil is wilted, about 1 minute.
6. Place an ear of corn upright in a medium sized bowl. Use a knife to cut off the kernels. (The bowl will prevent the kernels from flying all over the counter.)
7. Add corn and 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water to the pot and cook, stirring often, until corn is mostly tender, about 3 minutes.
8. Stir in pasta and 1 cup pasta cooking water.
9. Add butter and cook, stirring, until butter is melted and sauce is smooth and creamy.
10. Add the Parmesan in several additions, stirring after each addition until sauce is smooth.
11. Return sausage to pot and cook until flavors meld, about 1 minute. If needed, add additional pasta cooking liquid to loosen the sauce. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
12. Place in a serving bowl or individual shallow bowls. Top with basil leaves and more Parmesan and serve.

Pork Sausage Chili

We have a new favorite chili in our house! It may double as a new favorite Super Bowl meal too. 😉 I was a little concerned about using sausage as such a primary ingredient but the end result was very balanced. It was hearty, full-flavored, and a perfect compliment to our mandatory guacamole appetizer. I also loved that it could be prepared in advance.

I was initially drawn to the recipe because it was titled “BLT Chili” which sounded intriguing and delicious. After reading further, I realized that it was not related to a BLT but was created by chef Laurent Tourondel of BLT Burger in Las Vegas. Funny.

The recipe was adapted from Food and Wine, contributed by Laurent Tourondel. I modified the proportions, used sweet Italian sausage, and served the chili over brown rice. We also had cornbread muffins on the side. Our dessert of After-School Specials completed our festive meal. Perfect.

Yield: Serves 8 to 10

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 1/2 to 3 pounds sweet Italian pork sausage, casings removed
• 2 medium or large yellow onions, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 6 to 12 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 T tomato paste
• 2 T chili powder
• 2 T sweet paprika
• 1 T cumin seeds
• 1 T dried oregano
• Two 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes
• Two 16-ounce cans kidney beans, drained
• 1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
• 4 cups water
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• shredded sharp cheddar cheese, sour cream, chopped red onion, pickled jalapeños, cilantro and hot sauce, for serving, as desired
• brown Basmati rice, for serving, optional

1. In a large, enameled cast-iron Dutch oven or casserole, heat the oil.
2. Add the sausage and cook over high heat, breaking it up, until browned, about 15 minutes.
3. Add the onions, bell pepper and garlic; cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until the onion is translucent, 8 minutes.
4. Add the tomato paste and cook for 3 minutes.
5. Add the chili powder, paprika, cumin and oregano and cook for 1 minute.
6. Add the tomatoes, beans, corn and water and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 1 hour.
7. Season with salt and pepper.
8. Serve the chili over rice, if desired, with shredded sharp cheddar cheese, sour cream, chopped red onion, pickled jalapeños, cilantro and hot sauce as optional toppings.

Michael & Bryan Voltaggio’s Cornbread Stuffing

My husband and I traditionally celebrate our wedding anniversary by having an extravagant dinner at VOLT in Frederick, Maryland. It is the restaurant of Bryan Voltaggio, of Top Chef fame. On our 19th anniversary, we brought home an autographed cookbook after enjoying our lovely meal. Last Thanksgiving, I made two side dishes from this special book. ❤

This stuffing recipe was adapted from Home: Recipes to Cook With Family and Friends by Bryan Voltaggio. I modified the proportions and used prepared stock as well as store-bought sausage as shortcuts.

Both the cornbread and the poultry seasoning can be made days in advance, which is always helpful. It was interesting to me that the cornbread was made without a leavening agent, making it more dense than a typical cornbread. The stuffing had a deep celery flavor from the celery seed and chopped celery. Nice.

Yield: 10 servings

For the Cornbread:

• nonstick cooking spray
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 5 T (1/3 cup, 75g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 tsp (9g) fine sea salt
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tsp (12g) molasses, honey, or sorghum syrup
• 1/4 tsp (0.6g) freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 cup (240g) buttermilk
• 1 cup plus 2 1/2 T whole milk
• 2 2/3 cups (400g) all-purpose flour
• 2 cups (276g) cornmeal

For the Poultry Seasoning:

• 2 tsp (2g) finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tsp (0.5g) finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 tsp (1g) finely chopped fresh sage
• 1 tsp (1g) finely chopped fresh thyme
• 1 tsp (2g) ground celery seed
• 1 tsp (2g) ground coriander
• 1 tsp (2g) onion powder
• 1/2 tsp (3g) fine sea salt
• 1/2 tsp (1.5g) freshly ground black pepper

For the Topping:

• 2/3 cup (50g) panko breadcrumbs
• 2 1/2 T (25g) poultry seasoning (above)
• 2 T unsalted butter, melted

For the Stuffing:

• nonstick cooking spray
• 3 T extra-virgin olive oil or canola oil
• 4 1/2 cups (300g) freshly baked and cubed cornbread
• 1 pound loose sweet Italian pork sausage
• 2 medium onions, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 3 medium carrots, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 4 to 6 stalks celery, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups chicken or turkey stock (preferably homemade)

For the Royale:

• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup (240g) milk or heavy cream

To Make the Cornbread:

1. Preheat the oven heat to 350 degrees F, preferably on convection. Spray or butter the bottom and sides of two 9-by-13-inch baking dishes. (One 13-by-18 inch casserole pan can be substituted.)
2. Put the sugar, 5 tablespoons butter and the salt in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, waiting until each one is fully incorporated before adding another.
4. Beat in the molasses and nutmeg.
5. Reduce the mixer to low speed, add the buttermilk and milk, and beat until incorporated.
6. Add the flour and cornmeal, and beat on low speed until well combined.
7. Increase the speed to medium and beat until the batter is well-blended and thick, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times, 2 to 3 minutes.
8. Pour the batter onto the prepared baking dishes. Tap each dish on the counter to settle the batter.
9. Bake until the cornbread springs back lightly when pressed with your finger, 22 minutes on convection or up to 30 minutes in a standard oven.
10. Cool completely in the dish on a wire rack.
11. The cornbread may be made 3 days in advance, covered with plastic wrap, and held at room temperature.

To Make the Poultry Seasoning:

1. Combine the parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme in a small bowl.
2. Add the celery seeds, coriander, onion powder, salt and pepper. Toss to combine.
3. The seasoning can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

To Make the Topping:

1. Put the panko breadcrumbs in a medium bowl and add the poultry seasoning (the remainder may be used to season gravies and other holiday dishes).
2. Drizzle with the melted butter and toss with your fingers to moisten the breadcrumbs. Set aside.

To Make the Stuffing:

1. Preheat the oven heat to 325 degrees F, preferably on convection. Spray a 9-by-13-inch flameproof casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Cube the cornbread and put into a large mixing bowl.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat.
4. Add the sausage and cook, stirring and breaking it up into small pieces with the back of a spoon so it cooks evenly, until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the sausage to the cornbread.
5. Return the same skillet with the drippings to medium heat and add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.
6. Once the oil is hot, add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and translucent, about 3 minutes.
7. Add the carrots and celery, season lightly with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until just tender, about 5 minutes. Add the vegetables to the cornbread and sausage.
8. Put the eggs in a blender to make the Royale. Start the blender on low-speed and mix until the eggs are just blended.
9. Put the milk or cream in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and heat until a thermometer registers 180 degrees F. Add to the eggs in the blender and mix on low speed until homogenized.
10. Add the egg mixture to the cornbread mixture.
11. Add 2 cups of stock. Season with salt and pepper.
12. Fold everything together with a rubber spatula until fully combined and the stock has mostly been absorbed. The stuffing will seem a little too wet before baking.
13. Spread the stuffing in the baking dish. Lightly tap the dish on the counter to even out the mixture in the pan.
14. Add the topping, letting it fall from your fingers in an even layer across the top.
15. Bake the stuffing until very hot and cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes.
16. Turn the broiler on high, and broil the stuffing until the crust is GBD (Golden Brown and Delicious), 3 to 5 minutes.
17. Serve family-style from the casserole dish.

Note: When blending hot liquids, first let cool for 5 minutes or so, then transfer to a blender, filling only halfway. Put the lid on, leaving one corner open; this will prevent the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Cover the lid with a kitchen towel to catch splatters and pulse until smooth.

Pasta with Sausage, Basil, & Mustard

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mom’s out there! ❤ I have a moment to share a recipe with you while my husband is making our celebratory pancake breakfast. 🙂

This is another dish from Food and Wine magazine’s 40th Anniversary Special Edition titled “Our 40 Best-Ever Recipes.” I’ve already made it twice because my son is obsessed! 😉

The recipe for this quick, easy and very tasty dish was adapted from British cookbook author Nigel Slater. I used a combination of sweet and hot Italian sausages. Fabulous!

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

• 1 pound penne, rigatoni or medium shells
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 hot Italian sausages, meat removed from casings and crumbled (about 3/4 pound)
• 4 sweet Italian sausages, meat removed from casings and crumbled (about 3/4 pound)
• 3/4 cup dry white wine
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons grainy mustard
• pinch of crushed red pepper
• 1 cup thinly sliced basil

1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente; drain.
2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet. Add the sausage meat and brown over moderately high heat, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the wine and simmer, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom, until reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the cream, mustard and crushed red pepper and simmer for 2 minutes.
5. Remove the skillet from the heat, add the pasta and basil and toss to coat. Serve at once.

Quick New Orleans Red Beans & Rice

This quick recipe results in a full-flavored replica of a classic version that has simmered for hours. I served it to my family for our past two Mardi Gras feasts- followed by a mandatory King Cake, of course! 🙂

This recipe was adapted from David Guas, a New Orleans native and chef-owner of Bayou Coffee Bar and Eatery in Arlington, Virginia, via The Washington Post.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

• 8 ounces smoked, cooked pork sausage
• 2 15-oz cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 T canola oil
• 1 medium green bell pepper, stemmed and seeded, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 1 medium sweet onion, diced
• 7-8 scallions, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
• 6 cloves garlic, sliced
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 3 fresh thyme sprigs or 1 tsp dried thyme leaves
• 3 bay leaves
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp ground cayenne pepper
• 2-3 stems flat-leaf parsley, leaves minced
• about 1-2 tsp coarse salt, to taste
• 1 cup white Basmati rice cooked in 2 cups chicken stock, for serving
• hot sauce, for serving, optional

1. Cut the sausage in half lengthwise, then slice into half-moons.
2. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat.
3. Add the sausage and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring a few times, so some of its fat renders. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the sausage to a shallow bowl.
4. Add the diced bell pepper, onion, scallions, and garlic to the rendered fat in the pot; stir to coat.
5. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook for 2 minutes, stirring, until just softened.
6. Add the beans, stock, thyme, bay leaves, black and cayenne peppers.
7. Reduce the heat to medium; cover and cook for 25 minutes.
8. Uncover and remove the bay leaves and thyme sprig stems with a slotted spoon.
9. Using the back of a wooden spoon, mash about 1 cup of the beans against the side of the pot, or until desired thickness is achieved.
10. Return the sausage to the pot. When heated through, stir in the parsley.
11. Serve hot, over cooked rice, with hot sauce, as desired. I have served it in individual bowls topped with a scoop of rice or in a serving dish over rice.

Pasta with Kale, Sausage, & Mushrooms

This quick weeknight dish makes kale a crowd-pleaser. 🙂 It was fabulous.

This recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by David Latt. I used my CSA red kale instead of black kale and I doubled the mushrooms and the garlic. I also modified the cooking sequence. This recipe could easily be adapted to make a vegetarian version by omitting the sausage.

• 1 bunch red or black kale, washed, ribs removed, sliced into 1-inch ribbons
• 1 pound sweet or hot Italian sausages
• 8 oz (½ pound) shiitakes mushrooms, washed, thinly sliced
• 8 oz (½ pound) cremini mushrooms, washed, thinly sliced
• 8 garlic cloves, peeled, finely chopped
• 4 shallots, peeled, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cups chicken stock or pasta water, plus more to adjust consistency of sauce
• 1 T unsalted butter
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• ½ cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
• 1 pound pasta (spaghetti, ziti, penne, or fusilli) (I used La Molisana Pantacce Toscane, 106)
• 1 T Kosher salt for the pasta

1. Sauté with olive oil or grill the sausages to put a crust on the outside, drain on a paper towel, cut into 1/4-inch rounds, then set aside.
2. In a hot pan lightly brown the kale with the olive oil and remove.
3. Add the mushrooms, shallots, and garlic; sauté until lightly browned.
4. Turn down the heat to medium. Return the kale to the pan along with the sausages, stock, and butter. Braise for 15 minutes. The liquid should reduce by half.
5. Taste and adjust the seasoning with sea salt and pepper.
6. Meanwhile, make the pasta in boiling salted water, drain, reserving 2 cups of the pasta water, drizzle with olive oil, season with sea salt and black pepper, toss.
7. Add the cooked pasta to the sausage mixture, toss to coat with the sauce. Adjust consistency with reserved pasta water, as desired. Serve with grated cheese.