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Monday's Leftovers: Warm Kielbasa and Lentil Salad

YumSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 07:50:10 -0700

In Poland, pork sausage - like yesterday's leftover kielbasa - is traditionally served with fried onions, sautéed pierogi dumplings, or potatoes, but if you're looking for something that's a little lighter, consider an unusual kielbasa and lentil salad.

Here, the kielbasa is drained of most of its fat, combined with tender lentils and skillet-browned fennel, tossed in a mustard vinaigrette, and served with crunchy frisée leaves. Make this nutritious salad alternative when you read more.

Warm Kielbasa and Lentil Salad
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

1 1-pound package dried lentils
3 carrots, peeled, thinly sliced
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup malt vinegar or apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons coarse-grained Dijon mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup olive oil
1 pound fully cooked smoked kielbasa sausage, thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, peeled, flattened
1 large fennel bulb with fronds, bulb and fronds chopped and reserved separately
5 green onions, chopped
2 heads frisée lettuce or 1 large head curly endive, separated into leaves

Directions

Place lentils, carrots and celery in heavy large saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover. Stir in salt and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until lentils are just tender, about 20 minutes. Drain. Transfer lentil mixture to bowl.
Meanwhile, whisk vinegar, mustard and sugar in small bowl to blend; set aside. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add kielbasa and sauté until brown, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels. Cover to keep warm.
Pour off any fat from skillet and discard. Add remaining 1/2 cup oil to skillet; heat over medium heat. Add garlic and stir until golden, about 2 minutes. Discard garlic. Add fennel bulb to skillet and sauté until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Add green onions and stir 1 minute. Whisk in vinegar mixture and bring to boil. Pour fennel mixture over lentils. Toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
Line large shallow bowl with frisée leaves. Spoon in lentil salad. Arrange kielbasa slices atop lentils. Sprinkle with chopped fennel fronds and serve.

Serves 6 as a first course, or 4 as a main course.

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Sunday Slow Cooker: Kielbasa Stew

YumSugar — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 06:00:03 -0700

Make the most of the rest of your weekend by playing hooky and celebrating the luck of the Irish rather than laboring over a Sunday meal.

Using cooked pork sausage not only cuts down on your meat prep time, but it also provides a satisfyingly smoky depth to the other elements of the stew, such as carrots, cabbage, and chicken broth.

As an added bonus, the bold spices of the sausage pair really nicely with any full-bodied beer. To see the two-step recipe, read more.

Kielbasa Stew
From Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients

4 cups coarsely chopped cabbage
3 cups peeled, cubed potato
1-1/2 cups sliced carrots
1 pound cooked kielbasa, sliced
1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 14-ounce cans reduced-sodium chicken broth

Directions

In a 4- to 5-quart slow cooker combine cabbage, potato, and carrots. Top with kielbasa. Sprinkle basil, thyme, and pepper over kielbasa. Pour chicken broth over all.
Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 7 to 9 hours or on high-heat setting for 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 hours.

Serves 4 to 5.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Jambalaya

partysugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 06:50:44 -0800

Tonight, invite your family to celebrate Mardi Gras with this classic Creole rice dish. Although jambalaya traditionally simmers on the stove for hours, this simple variation takes some help from the store, cutting down the cook time.

It's not short of flavor, though; hot sauce, shrimp, and kielbasa sausage provide depth and deliciousness. To get the recipe now, read more.

Jambalaya
From Real Simple

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 16-ounce package kielbasa, cut into 4-inch rounds
1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, undrained
1 8-ounce box jambalaya, Spanish, or fiesta-flavored rice mix
1 1-pound package peeled and deveined raw shrimp
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional)

Directions

Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the kielbasa. Cook until browned, about 4 minutes.
Add the tomatoes along with 1/2 cup of water and their liquid and crush with the back of a spoon. Bring to a boil.
Add the rice mix. Reduce heat, cover, and cook for the time specified on the package.
Add the shrimp, stir, cover, and cook until pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the hot pepper sauce (if using). Spoon onto plates.

Serves 4.

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Reader Recipe: Corn and Kielbasa Chowder

YumSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:00:11 -0700

I was captivated when I first saw this TeamSugar photo - the potato and meat in the soup look chunky and hearty, and I can just taste the dill on the tip of my tongue. I was too enthralled to even notice that this recipe, with its step-by-step photos, was actually Syako's first attempt at food photography! If you, too, are tempted by the dinner possibility, then read more.

Submitted by TeamSugar member Syako

Corn & Kielbasa Chowder - perfect for fall
Rachael Ray Magazine

Last night I took my first stab at food photography. I was in the middle of making one of my favorite stand by's for cooler weather - this corn and kielbasa chowder. It's not only easy to make, it's delicious and it's a soup that only takes 30 or so minutes to make. You can't beat that! I decided I'd do a little photographic journey while cooking my favorite homemade soup. Enjoy!

Ingredients

8 ounces kielbasa, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
2 onions, finely chopped
1 tablespoon butter
One 14.5-ounce can chicken broth
1 large baking potato (about 12 ounces), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup half-and-half
One 1-pound bag frozen corn, thawed
Salt and pepper
Chopped fresh dill, for garnish

Directions
1. Heat a deep skillet or a wide 4- to 6-quart pot over medium-high heat. Add the kielbasa and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

2. Add the onions and butter to the pan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 6 minutes.

Add the broth and potato and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat, cover with a lid and simmer until the potato is tender, about 10 minutes.

Add the half-and-half and corn and cook, stirring, until heated through.
3. Using a blender or food processor, puree 1 cup chowder until smooth. Stir the puree back into the chowder along with the browned kielbasa and season to taste with salt and pepper. Top with the dill.

The final product:

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Couscous Paella

partysugar — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 05:28:11 -0700

Paella - Spain's most well known rice dish - is not necessarily a great option for a quick and simple dinner. However, using couscous instead of rice cuts the cook time in half without reducing the flavor or integrity of the dish. There is a lot of chopping and sautéing in the traditional version, but this couscous variation comes together rapidly with minimal chopping. Smoky kielbasa provides heat, and cherry tomatoes add freshness.

For the recipe, read more.

Couscous Paella
From Good Housekeeping magazine

Ingredients

1 can (14 1/2 ounces) chicken broth
1 package (10-ounce or 1 1/2 cups) couscous
1 package (10-ounce) frozen peas
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 red or green pepper, diced
2 ounces low-fat kielbasa (smoked Polish sausage), sliced
12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 clove garlic, crushed with garlic press
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, each cut in half

Directions

In 3-quart saucepan, heat chicken broth and 1/4 cup water to boiling over high heat.
Remove saucepan from heat; stir in couscous and frozen peas. Cover saucepan and let stand 5 minutes or until ready to use.
Meanwhile, in nonstick 12-inch skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add red or green pepper and kielbasa and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add chicken, garlic, salt, thyme, and black pepper, and cook until chicken loses its pink color throughout, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove skillet from heat, and stir in cherry-tomato halves.
Fluff couscous with fork; add to chicken mixture in skillet, and toss gently until combined.

Serves 4.

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Sunday Dinner: Cassoulet-Style Chicken Thighs

YumSugar — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 06:00:43 -0700

Filled with anticipation of the workweek, Sunday night can easily fall short of a relaxing evening. So, to keep my thoughts at bay, I'm going to prepare the ultimate in comfort food: cassoulet, a pork and bean casserole that hails from southern France.

Traditional cassoulet can be heavy and time-intensive, but I've found one that's luscious yet light - and takes less than an hour to prepare. Rather than using duck confit and pork sausage, the recipe employs boneless, skinless chicken thighs and turkey kielbasa. Interested yet? Check it out when you read more

Simple and Hearty Sauerkraut With Sausages

YumSugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:00:44 -0700

I wasn't able to celebrate Oktoberfest in Munich this year, but I still wanted to bring the holiday's festivities to my home. I wound up making a German-inspired dish with sauerkraut, smoked sausage, and beer. Even though I used smoked beef sausage, you could easily use knockwurst, bratwurst, kielbasa, or any other sausage link. For a sweeter edge, add a few tablespoons of brown sugar into the mix (I prefer savory dishes, so I left this out). Best of all, the rest of the beer is yours to drink while making it! To get the basic, no-brainer recipe, read more.

Sauerkraut With Smoked Sausages
Adapted from The Ultimate Beer Lover's Cookbook by John Schlimm

Ingredients

1 pound sauerkraut, rinsed
12 ounces beer, any variety
6 links (about 16 ounces) smoked sausage

Directions

In a bowl, combine all ingredients.
Place the mixture in a casserole dish. Cover with foil.
Bake at 350°F for 90 minutes.

Serves 6 to 8.

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