Polenta Sausage Pizza With Broccoli Rabe Recipes

DEEP-DISH PIZZA WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the broccoli rabe and blanch for 2 minutes. Drain in a colander and run cold water over. Drain well again and squeeze out excess liquid.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil, chili flakes and garlic in a large saute pan over medium heat and cook for 1 minute. Add the broccoli rabe, salt and pepper and cook until slightly tender, about 5 minutes.
• In a separate large saute pan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil over high heat until the oil begins to shimmer. Add the sausage links and using a wooden spoon, gently break up the meat into coarse pieces. Cook until deep golden brown. (You do not need to cook all the way because it will continue to cook in the oven.) Combine the sausage and the broccoli rabe and let cool slightly.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and oregano, bring to a boil and cook until the mixture thickens, about 15 minutes. Stir in the basil and season with salt and pepper. Let cool slightly.
• Dissolve the yeast and water in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the oils and mix for 30 seconds. Add the cornmeal, 3 cups of the flour and salt and beat for 5 minutes. Switch to the dough hook and mix in the remaining 2 1/2 cups of flour and knead, using the dough hook for 2 minutes. Add the butter and knead until incorporated. The dough is a very moist dough so do not add more flour unless absolutely needed.
• Place the dough in a large bowl lightly oiled with vegetable oil, cover with plastic wrap or clean kitchen towels and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Punch down the dough and allow to double in size again.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place 2 pizza stones into the oven to preheat as well. Generously oil 2 (9 or 10-inch) deep dish pie pans with olive oil (about 2 tablespoons for each pan).
• Divide the dough in half and press the dough out slightly on the counter top. Place the dough in the prepared pans and push out to cover the bottom and up the side of the pans. (If using the 9-inch pans, pinch a 2-inch ball off each dough to make a better fit.)
• Combine the cheese in a bowl. Place half of the cheese of the bottom of each pie crust. Divide the sausage filling over the cheese and then top with the remaining cheese, patting the cheese firmly down over the filling. Spoon some of the sauce over the top of the cheese to cover completely. Place the pans into the oven on the pizza stones and bake in the oven until golden brown, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the top with Parmesan. Let the pizza rest on a baking sheet for 5 minutes before slicing.

POLENTA SAUSAGE PIZZA WITH BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• For the polenta, bring 500 ml (approximately 2 cups) of water with the salt and the butter to a boil in a pot. Gradually whisk in the polenta, remove from heat and let soak for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Drain the mozzarella and cut into small cubes. Rinse and dry the broccoli rabe, trim stems and cut into small florets. Blanch for about 1 minute in boiling salted water, drain and rinse under cold water. Cut the tomatoes in half. Drain the olives. Remove casing from sausage and form meat into small balls.
• Preheat the oven to 200°C (approximately 400°F). Brush a baking sheet with oil and preheat in the oven.
• Spread the polenta into a round, about 26 cm (approximately 10 inches) in diameter on the sheet, using a springform pan as a guide if desired. Brush polenta thinly with oil and sprinkle with the mozzarella. Top with tomatoes, olives and sausage and bake for about 25 minutes. In the last 5 minutes, add broccoli rabe and continue baking. Cut into pieces to serve.

ITALIAN SAUSAGES WITH BROCCOLI RABE AND POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add sausages. Cover skillet and cook until sausages are brown and cooked through, about 8 minutes per side. Transfer sausages to plate; tent with foil to keep warm. Add garlic to drippings in same skillet and stir 30 seconds. Add broccoli rabe and 1/2 cup broth. Cover skillet and cook until broccoli rabe is crisp-tender, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add polenta; mash with potato masher until smooth. Mix in remaining 1/2 cup broth and cheese. Simmer until polenta is warmed through, about 5 minutes. Season polenta with salt and pepper.
• Spoon polenta onto 2 plates. Top with sausages and broccoli rabe.

BROCCOLI RABE AND SAUSAGE PIZZA

Steps:

• To make the dough, place the water in the bowl of a food processor, add the yeast and sugar, mix lightly, and let proof for about 5 minutes, until bubbles begin to form on the surface. Add the flour, bulgur, all but 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, and the salt, and process for 15 to 20 seconds.
• With the remaining teaspoon of oil, lightly grease the inside of large bowl. Remove the dough from the food processor, shape it into a ball and place it in the oiled bowl, turning it once to coat it with oil on all sides. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, prepare the pizza topping. Place the sausages and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a saucepan and saute for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the sliced garlic and pepper flakes, and stir for 10 to 15 seconds. Mix in the broccoli rabe, still wet from washing. Cover, and cook over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until the broccoli rabe is wilted. Add the salt and let the mixture cool, uncovered (to prevent discoloration), until lukewarm.
• When ready to cook the pizza, punch down the dough and spread it out by hand onto an aluminum cookie sheet to create a 12-by-14-inch rectangle, approximately 1/4-inch thick. Arrange the sausage and broccoli mixture on top, spreading it to within 3/4-to-1-inch of the edge of the dough. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil evenly over the surface of the topping, and set it aside at room temperature for about 20 minutes to proof the dough.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place pizza in oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until the crust is crisp and brown. Cut into wedges and serve.

SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI PIZZA

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the basil, 1/2 cup of the olive oil, the salt and tomato puree. Stir together until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours to allow the flavors to marry.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Place a rack on the highest level and leave space on the bottom of the oven for easy access.
• Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and the sausage and cook, breaking apart with a wooden spoon to form bite-size pieces, until golden brown and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Add the broccoli to the pan and stir to mix with the sausage. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.
• Dust an upside-down rimmed baking sheet with the flour. Gently stretch the pizza dough and place on the dusted tray. Continue to stretch out to 1/4-inch thick leaving it a little thicker around the edges. Spread 1 cup of the sauce over the dough and top with the mozzarella. Spread the sausage and broccoli evenly over the crust and top with the Parmesan. Place the sheet tray directly on the bottom of the oven and bake for 5 minutes. Move the tray to the top shelf and finish cooking until golden brown and the crust is cooked, 5 minutes.

PIZZA WITH BROCOLI RABE AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling water, blanch the broccoli rabe over high heat for about 4 minutes. Using tongs or a slotted spoon lift from the water and set aside to cool. When cool, chop coarsely. Bring the water back to a boil and cook the sausage for about 15 minutes, until cooked through. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove the sausage from the water and immediately plunge in cold water to stop the cooking. When cool, remove the meat from the casing and crumble. (You should have 6 cups of sausage.) In a large saute pan, over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil and cook the garlic for about 30 seconds, until browned. Add the broccoli rabe and red pepper flakes to the pan and season to taste with salt. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes, until very tender. In a bowl, mix together the Romano and fontina cheeses. Spread about 3/4 cup of the Romano-fontina mixture over each Pizza Crust, top each with equal amounts of broccoli rabe and sausage and then slide them back to the edge of the hot section of the grill. Rotate them for every 3 to 4 minutes until the bottoms are evenly golden brown. Cut the pizzas and serve.
• Mix the water, yeast, and molasses in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Let this stand for 12 minutes to activate the yeast (the water will foam slightly.) Add the salt and oil to the bowl and mix well. With mixer on low speed add the all-purpose flour and the whole wheat flour to the bowl and mix until all the flour is absorbed and the dough pulls away from the side of the bowl. Remove the dough from the bowl and cut the dough into 6 (5 1/2 ounce) portions. Roll the portioned dough into balls and place on an oiled baking pan. Brush the ball lightly with olive oil and cover with plastic wrap. If you are going to use the dough right away let the dough sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before using. You can store the dough after portioning for 1 day in the refrigerator, but you must let sit at room temperature for 1 hour before using.

SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI RABE WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the broccoli rabe until tender, about 2 minutes. Drain.
• Rinse under cold water and drain again. Cut into 2 inch lengths.
• In a large frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderately high heat. Add the sausage and cook, turning, until browned, about 10 minutes.
• Remove. When cool enough to handle, cut into slices.
• Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan. Reduce the heat to moderately low.
• Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the wine; bring to a simmer.
• Add the sausage, tomatoes, broth, thyme, and 1 ¼ teaspoons of the salt. Bring to a simmer.
• Cook, uncovered for 15 minutes. Add the broccoli rabe, parsley, and pepper to the sauce. Bring to a simmer.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring the water and the remaining 1 ¼ teaspoons salt to a boil. Add the cornmeal in a slow stream, whisking.
• Whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until very thick. Serve with the sauce.

SAUTEED POLENTA WITH SWEET ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• On a lightly oiled baking sheet spread warm polenta about 3/4 thick and cool to room temperature. Polenta may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered.
• In a large non-stick skillet heat 1 tablespoon oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and brown sausage. Add water and cook sausage, covered, turning occasionally, until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove lid and cook mixture until any remaining water is evaporated. Transfer sausage with tongs to a bowl and reserve fat remaining in skillet. Cool sausage slightly and slice diagonally.
• Cut polenta into 1 1/2-inch diamond shapes or squares. In skillet sauté polenta in 2 batches in reserved fat over moderately high heat, turning occasionally, adding additional oil to skillet if necessary, until golden on both sides. Transfer polenta as cooked with a slotted spoon to bowl with sausage and cover.
• In skillet heat remaining tablespoon oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté broccoli rabe with salt to taste, stirring, until just wilted. Add garlic paste and sauté, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in remaining ingredients and simmer, stirring, until tomato paste is incorporated and sauce is slightly thickened. Add sausage and polenta and cook until heated through.
• Serve polenta sprinkled with Parmesan.
• To make basic polenta:
• In a heavy saucepan bring water and salt to a boil and gradually whisk in cornmeal in a thin stream. Cook polenta over moderately low heat (it should be barely boiling), stirring constantly, until very thick and pulls away from side of pan, about 40 minutes for cornmeal and about 15 minutes for instant polenta. Remove pan from heat and cover to keep warm. Stir polenta just before using. Polenta will keep warm, covered, about 20 minutes. Makes about 3 cups.
• Note: In the traditional method of cooking polenta, forty minutes of constant stirring is required to achieve a lumpless texture and fragrant flavor. However, Italian-food expert Marcella Hazan has developed a method that involves very little stirring during this time. We believe it produces a very good polenta, one nearly as flavorful and smooth as the traditional procedure. To make satisfactory polenta in a real hurry, an imported instant polenta (precooked cornmeal) is available. This cooks in a mere fifteen minutes.

POLENTA WITH BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Cut off and discard tough stems from rabe. Wash thoroughly and drain on paper towels. Cut into one-inch pieces.
• Heat oil in a nonstick skillet. Saute the garlic for 30 seconds. Stir in rabe and coat with oil. Cook over medium heat until it begins to soften.
• Stir in raisins, pine nuts and red pepper. Cover and cook 5 to 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile bring water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Slowly stir in polenta and stir constantly for several minutes, until mixture begins to thicken. Do not let mixture become so thick that it cannot be stirred.
• Stir in the cheese and salt. Stir in rabe and spoon into a shallow baking dish. Place under broiler for about 2 minutes, just until the top begins to brown. Watch carefully.