Sausage And Clams With Polenta Recipes

CLAMS WITH SAUSAGE AND PEPPERS OVER RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium heat. If using a charcoal grill, build an even layer of hot coals on the bottom.
• For the rice pilaf: Melt the butter and olive oil in a large ovenproof pot or Dutch oven. Add the garlic and onions with a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the coriander, cumin and nutmeg and continue to cook to toast the spices, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the rice, stirring to coat, and toast, about 2 minutes. Add the bay leaf and chicken stock. Bring to a gentle boil then season with salt and cover the pot. Cover the grill and cook until the rice is cooked and all the liquid is gone, about 18 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the foil packets for the clams with sausage and peppers: Lay out a double layer of large heavy-duty aluminum foil pieces in an X formation, totaling 2 packets. Distribute the garlic, peppers and onions evenly between the packets. Top each with the clams and sausage. Bring up all 4 sides of the foil, but don't seal. Divide the stock, wine and butter between each packet. Season with salt and pepper. Tightly seal the foil.
• Remove the rice from the grill, remove the lid and fluff with a fork. Place a kitchen towel over the pot and place the lid of the pot back over the kitchen towel. Let sit for 10 minutes without opening. This will help absorb the moisture in the pot so the rice is fluffy and not mushy.
• Remove the ring from the grill if it has one so the coals are exposed and place the packets directly onto the coals. Steam until the clams open and everything is heated through, 7 to 8 minutes.
• When ready to serve, transfer the rice pilaf to a serving plate. Carefully open the foil packets and pour everything over the rice pilaf, making sure to get all the juices from the packets. Sprinkle with cilantro leaves, drizzle with some olive oil and serve!
• (Alternatively, you can cook the rice pilaf in a 350 degrees F oven for 18 minutes and bake the clams with sausage and peppers foil packets in a 375 degrees F oven for 8 to 10 minutes.)

CREAMY SLOW-COOKER POLENTA WITH SAUSAGES

Steps:

• Whisk together the polenta, roasted red peppers, marinara, garlic, olive oil, oregano, garlic powder and 1 teaspoon salt in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Whisk in 5 1/2 cups of water. Cook on low for 6 hours. (The polenta will keep very well on warm.)
• About 10 or 15 minutes before you want to eat, heat the oven to 450 degrees. Lightly coat an oven-safe skillet with olive oil, and roast the sausages in the skillet in the oven until sizzling and browned, about 10 minutes. Remove the skillet and put it over medium-high heat on the stovetop. Add a little more oil if the pan is relatively dry. Add the capers and pepperoncini to the hot skillet with the sausages, and let the capers pop, 1 or 2 minutes. Turn off the heat.
• Stir the Parmesan into the polenta. The polenta will continue to firm up as it cools; stir in a few tablespoons of water if you would like it to be looser. Serve the polenta in shallow bowls topped with sausages, capers and pepperoncini. Pass more Parmesan at the table.

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.

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.

SAUSAGE POLENTA BAKE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine cornmeal and salt. Gradually add boiling water, whisking constantly. Cook and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes or until mixture comes to a boil. Remove from the heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese. , Spread polenta into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook sausage in oil over medium heat for 5 minutes or until no longer pink; drain. Add spaghetti sauce; cook for 5 minutes or until heated through. , Spread over polenta; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake 12-15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting.

BAKED POLENTA WITH SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Combine water and milk in a large saucepan with polenta. Bring to a boil over high heat; add Parmesan cheese and butter. Stir constantly until thickened, about 3 minutes. Pour polenta into a large, round casserole dish, filling about 1 inch deep.
• Heat olive oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir sausage, mushrooms, onion, and garlic in the skillet until sausage is browned and crumbly, about 10 minutes. Add wine, tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, Italian seasoning, and oregano; cook over medium heat for 30 minutes.
• Pour tomato sauce mixture over polenta. Top with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 20 minutes.

CLAMS WITH ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add andouille sausage, poblano chiles, all bell peppers, and crushed red pepper. Sauté until sausage browns and vegetables begin to soften, stirring often, about 7 minutes. Add clams, Sherry, and cream. Cover pot and cook over medium-high heat until clams open, 5 to 6 minutes (discard any clams that do not open). Stir in 1/4 cup cilantro and Sherry wine vinegar. Season juices to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to large bowl. Sprinkle with remaining cilantro and serve. Adapted from Elliot's Oyster House.
• * Often called pasillas; available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores, farmers' markets, and Latin markets.
• Ingredient tip:
• Although native to Japan, Manila clams are becoming increasingly popular in the United States and can be found in the seafood section of most supermarkets. Pacific littleneck clams are a good substitute.

POLENTA WITH SAUSAGES

Steps:

• Cover the sausages with water, bring to a boil and simmer for 12 minutes. Drain thoroughly and return to the pan to brown. Turn the sausages once or twice to be sure they brown evenly on all sides.
• Oil an oval ovenproof serving dish and pour in the polenta. Top with the sausages and bake in a 375°F. oven for 15 minutes. Spoon a little tomato sauce over the sausages and polenta and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. Serve with additional tomato sauce and cheese.