Skip to main content

Pumpkin Polenta with Italian Sausage and Fennel

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

Omit

Black beans
Pimientos or roasted peppers

Swap

1 pound bulk sweet Italian sausage for the chorizo
Pecorino (Italian sheep’s-milk cheese) for the Manchego

Add

Another tablespoon of EVOO
1 large fennel bulb, quartered, cored, then thinly sliced
1/ 2 cup dry white wine
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated or ground nutmeg (eyeball it)

Preparation

  1. Prep Change

    Step 1

    Thinly slice the onion, rather than chop it.

  2. Step 2

    Brown the sausage in the 1 tablespoon of EVOO in a skillet and transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel. Place the pan back on the stove. Add another tablespoon of EVOO, the sliced onions, and the fennel. Sauté over moderate heat until tender but not brown. Add the wine to the skillet and add the sausage back. Cook the wine away, a minute or so.

    Step 3

    Cook the polenta as directed in the master recipe, #209, and stir in the nutmeg when you add the thyme and Pecorino cheese. Top the cooked polenta with sausage and fennel and garnish with chopped parsley.

Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats
Read More
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Like fattoush salad and strawberry shortcake roll.
Add a bag of potato chips and you've got yourself a party.
This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.
The most efficient method takes less than an hour, but you might not even need it.
Using two entire lemons—pith, skin, and all—cranks up the citrus flavor in this classic dessert.
Think a Hugo spritz, a gin basil smash, and plenty more patio-ready pours.