Cooler temperatures demand a ragout
The fall is the perfect time of year for this ultimate in ragouts! Ragouts are usually heavily spiced and is usually considered a stew but I took this one step further, transforming this into a substantial meal with just the right amount of spice.
Peppery Sausage Ragout INGREDIENTS
2 links sweet or hot Italian sausage, sliced and halved 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 pound potatoes, diced small 1 small onion, diced 1 bell pepper, diced ½ cup whole kernel corn 1 large, hard, tart apple, peeled, cored and diced 2 tablespoons ketchup 2 tablespoons Dijonmustard 2 tablespoons water 1 teaspoon hot sauce Polenta: ¾ cupwater ¾ cup milk 3 tablespoons cornmeal ½ teaspoon each salt and cracked black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
In a large skillet over medium high heat, sau- sage, cooking and turning until completely cooked through. Remove sausage and set aside. Add oil until hot, then add potatoes, onion, bell pepper, corn and apple, stirring to combine well. Reduce heat to medium and cover. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until potatoes are tender.
Meanwhile, whisk ketchup, mustard, water and hot sauce; set aside.
When potatoes are ready, remove lid and add sausage back into the pan along with ketchup mixture. Stir well, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer while making polenta.
Bring water and milk to a boil over medium high heat in amedium saucepan. Slowly stream the cornmeal into water mixture with one hand and whisk with the other, until all cornmeal has been added. Immediately remove from heat and whisk in salt and pepper
To serve, ladle a third of the polenta on a plate along with a third of the ragout. Repeat with 2 additional plates and serve hot.
The Yankee Chef Jim Bailey is a thirdgeneration chef, food columnist, cookbook author and food historian. Bailey lives in Maine with his wife and four children.