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Closeup of Italian Sausage Risotto

Italian Sausage Risotto with Sweet Peas and Chicory

Print Recipe
Sweet or spicy Italian sausage softened with sweet peas and balanced by tender chicory.
Course dinner
Cuisine Italian
Dish Type risotto
Cooking Style One-Pot
Diet and Health gluten-free
Ingredient Arborio rice, sausage
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Homemade Chicken Stock 3 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4 people

Ingredients

Rich Chicken Stock

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 stalks celery cut in 1-inch pieces
  • 2 each carrots peeled and cut in 1-inch pieces
  • 6-8 cloves garlic peeled, cracked
  • 1 each medium yellow onion peeled, quartered
  • 1/4 cup tomato chopped (fresh or canned)
  • 4 ounces cremini mushrooms quartered
  • 3 lbs chicken parts bones, necks, backs, wings
  • 5 stems fresh parsley
  • 3 stems fresh thyme

Italian Sausage Risotto with Sweet Peas and Chicory

  • 4 each Italian sausage links removed from casing (or 1/2 lb. loose sausage)
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 each shallots chopped fine
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 cups Arborio rice
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 5 cups homemade or good quality prepared chicken stock (you may not use it all)
  • 6 oz fresh chicory greens, escarole, dandelion, or radicchio cleaned and torn into bite-size pieces
  • 1 cup cooked peas fresh or frozen
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese plus more for garnish
  • salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions

Rich Chicken Stock

  • Heat the oven to 400F.
  • Toss the chicken bones and parts in half of the olive oil. Lay them on a baking sheet and roast for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a stock pot.
  • Add cool water to the stock pot to cover the chicken by approximately 1 inch. Simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes while the vegetables roast.
  • Toss all the vegetables (known as mirepoix) in the remaining olive oil. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast them 15 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Before adding the roasted vegetables to the stock pot, skim off any floating impurities using a ladel large spoon (keep a bowl nearby to do this often through the cooking process). Add the roasted mirepoix and herbs.
  • Bring the stock to a boil then immediately reduce it to a gentle simmer. Skim frequently, as needed. Cook for 2 hours.
  • Carefully strain the hot stock into another pot, a large bowl, or roasting pan. Discard the solids.
  • For the risotto, hold the stock warm for use. Cool any remaining stock thoroughly before packaging to freeze or refrigerate.

Risotto

  • Heat a straight sided skillet or shallow pot (Dutch oven) over medium-high heat. Add a teaspoon of the olive oil then brown the sausage thoroughly. Careful not to burn the bits on the bottom. When cooked, hold warm in a bowl.
  • Have the chicken stock holding warm in a pot nearby, with a ladel.
  • If there is more than 1 tablepoon of fat, drain most of it off, leave at least 1 teaspoon (more for more flavor). Return pan to medium heat. Add the remaining olive oil. Add the shallots and some salt. Saute until tender.
  • Add the rice. Stir well with wooden spoon. Coat the rice with the oil and cook until the rice grains are chalky and opaque.
  • Add the wine and stir until it is fully absorbed/evaporated.
  • Once the wine is absorbed, add 3 ladels of warm stock. Stir frequently until all the stock is absorbed. Liquid should simmer. If it is at a full boil, reduce heat as needed.
  • Continue adding stock 1-2 ladels at a time, stirring frequently until the liquid absorbs before adding the next round.
  • Once you've used more than half of the stock, start checking for doneness. The rice should be al dente but not chalky in the center. Reduce heat to low.
  • Once the rice is al dente but not chalky, stir in chicory (or other greens) and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Stir, cooking 2 minutes until the greens are wilted.
  • Add the cooked sausage and any of its juices as well as the peas. Then add the butter and grated cheese. Stir well. Texture should be creamy, and slightly loose. If necessary, stir in 1-3 tablespoons fo warm stock to adjust consistency.
  • Adjust seasoning as needed with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately in warm pasta bowls.