Italian Sausage, Red Pepper and Mushroom Risotto
Source: Browneyedbaker.com (adapted from Giada DeLaurentiis)
5 cups chicken broth
2 T butter
8 oz Italian sausage, casing removed (Cindy's note - I used 1 pound loose sausage)
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
4 oz white button mushrooms, coarsely chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
(Cindy's opt: cayenne pepper to taste)
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
3/4 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 T chopped Italian parsley
1. In a medium saucepan bring the broth to a simmer. Cover the broth and keep warm over low heat.
2. In a large heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sausage and saute, crumbling, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms and saute until tender, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Add the rice and stir to coat. Add the wine and simmer until the wine has almost completely evaporated, about 1 minute.
4. Add 1/2 cup of the simmering broth and stir until almost completely absorbed, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking the rice, adding the broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and allowing each addition of broth to absorb before adding the next, until rice is tender but still firm to the bite and the mixture is creamy, about 25 to 30 minutes total. Remove from the heat.
5. Stir in 3/4 of the Parmesan. Transfer the risotto to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with the parsley and the remaining Parmesan. Serve immediately.
Yield: 4-6 servings