Sausage & Polenta (Easy & Rustic)

Very rustic Italian dinner you can whip up in 30 mins. Don't fear polenta- it's easy! But if you are worried or super strapped for time you can pick up some quick cooking polenta. Picture isn't that great, but it was really tasty- especially the sauce.

All these items you can have in your freezer and pantry.  That's why it is a great recipe to have in your back pocket in a jam- you can even substitute any other meat (like chicken) or even just add more beans for a vegetarian version.  Sometimes I like to throw in a handful or two of frozen peas in the polenta.

Sauce:

• 1 lb of sausage (or meat) I used hot Italian sausage
• 1 (28oz) can of crushed tomatoes
• water
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• salt and pepper
• basil, fresh if you have

1. Heat a sauce pot to medium high
2. Add the sausage to the pot (I sliced mine into smaller pieces- this is just preference).
3. Brown on both sides quickly.
4. Then add the garlic, heat about one minute
5. Add the tomatoes
6. Fill the tomato can half way up with water and add to the pot (just eyeball it)
7. Stir to combine.  Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and partially cover.  Stirring occasionally.
8. Cook for about 30mins (you don't have to cook that long- just make sure the sausage are cooked all the way through!) 
9. Before serving season with salt, pepper and basil to taste.

Beans:

If you have canned beans- wonderful! Use two cans of cannellini beans- just open the can, drain and rinse. Top the polenta with the beans and pour hot sauce over them

If you have dry beans- you had to soak overnight, then take about 2 cups and just cover with water.  Then add a big pinch of salt and bring to a boil and simmer for 30 mins (or until polenta and sauce is done).  Taste a couple beans to see if they are done.  Then drain and rinse quick.

Polenta:

• 4 cups of water
• 1 cup of cornmeal
• pinch of the following spices: onion powder, oregano, red pepper
• 1 tsp of salt
• 1/4 cup of parmesean cheese

1. In a pot add the water and salt.  Bring to a boil.
2. When the water is bowling grab a whisk and super slowly add the cornmeal a little at a time, whisking consistently.  This process is called "raining in" because you are adding like a light rain shower basically.
3. Stir, stir, stir until it comes together- will look like grits or grainy mashed potatoes almost. When it comes together swap your whisk for a wooden spoon (wooden is traditional).  Reduce heat to low and you need to stir pretty constantly (this helps break down the starches and make it yummy).  I don't but stir every couple minutes so the bottom doesn't burn.
4. Be careful because the polenta will turn thick and bubble and splatter a bit.  So just keep an eye out.  I cook for 30 minutes until smooth and creamy and it doesn't taste bitter anymore.  Should taste sweet and a touch grainy.
5. Right before you serve stir in your cheese.

Assembly: Polenta, top with beans, top with sausage sauce, and finally some extra parm cheese!

South-of-the-Border Salisbury Steaks w/ Polenta

So when someone says Salisbury Steak I think of TV dinners with a mini meatloaf thingy swimming in cheap gravy along side mac and cheese or mashed potatoes.  Just another classic American creation.  I wondered why they call it Salisbury Steak, because obviously it is not a steak. So of course I Wikipedia'd it.

Salisbury steak is a dish made from a blend of minced beef and other ingredients, which is shaped to resemble a steak, and is usually served with gravy or brown sauce.  Salisbury steak was invented by an American physician, Dr. J. H. Salisbury (1823–1905), an early proponent of a low-carbohydrate diet for weight loss; the term "Salisbury steak" has been in use in the United States since 1897. The dish is popular in the United States, where it is traditionally served with gravy and mashed potatoes or noodles.

Recap: a poor man's steak that helps cut carbs...

Anyway, the whole thing sounds a bit gross to me, so maybe I should have named the recipe something like Mexican Turkey Patties with salsa/guacamole comb alongside veggie packed polenta.  But that is wayyyyy to long of a title.  So really that is what I am going to make: a healthy, lighter, spicy and way more fun take on SS. (Which will serve about 4 people)  Make this when your tired of tacos (or chicken)!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb of ground turkey
• spices for turkey: 1 heaping tablespoon of cumin, 1 tsp of oregano, 1 heaping tablespoon of chili powder, 2 tsp of salt, couple grinds of fresh black pepper
• 1 chipolte in adobe minced
• 2-3 garlic cloves minced
• 4 slices of pepper jack cheese (or cheddar is good here too)
• 1 box of quick cooking polenta**
• 2 poblano peppers
• 1 cup of corn (fresh or frozen)
• 4 plum tomatoes
• 1-2 jalapenos
• 1 small red onion
• 1 avocado
• 1/2 cup of non fat plain yogurt
• 2 limes
• salt
• more cumin for salsa

Directions

1. Combine the first 4 ingredients in a bowl. Shape into something that looks like a steak.  About 1/2 inch thick. Kind of a like a burger, but thin.  (Some people like to add egg and breadcrumbs, I didn't find it necessary here, but do it if you like)
2. In a skillet heat some canola oil on high. Brown both sides and cook until done. (about 7 minutes each side, depending on how thick you made them)  Remember you need to cook ground turkey all the way through, if using beef you can cook until desired doneness.  As soon as almost done, top with cheese and let melt on top
3. Roast your poblano peppers over an open flame and then clean off charred skin and chop. Reserve in a bowl with the corn. (Roast them same as red peppers)
4. Meanwhile, chop tomatoes, jalapenos and onion and reserve in a bowl.  Squeeze first lime over the salsa. Add salt to taste and about a 1/2 to 1 tsp of cumin. Mix to combine.
5. Another bowl add the avocado, lime juice of second lime (I used only half the lime actually) and yogurt. Combine until creamy and almost saucy. Add salt to taste.
6. Quick cooking polenta should take about 5 minutes, follow the directions on the box.  When that is done stir in your reserved poblano peppers and corn.
7. To assemble: Take a steak and top with a dollop (yea had to check the spelling lol) of guac cream, then your chunky salsa.  Serve alongside your tasty polenta!

¡Buen apetito!

**Side note about polenta: ok so if you've never had it, its like corn grits- something like grainy mashed potatoes that taste like corn. Personally, I like the hard polenta cakes that you fry then eat, but I didn't have time. Also if you can't find quick cooking polenta all you need is cornmeal.  On every package of cornmeal I've ever bought it gave you directions for polenta- pretty easy just add cornmeal, salt and water and heat on heat until thick-stirring often. Anyway, hard polenta cakes are amazing- but you need to prep a day in advance.  Make the polenta then cover and put in the fridge over night.  It sets up and then you cut and fry in a pan until golden brown on each side and warmed through. Yum. Or you could always serve with rice :)

I made it in a sauce pot, then transferred to a baking dish and popped under the broiler for about 10 minutes to get all golden on top