The man who works in the parking garage near my office was in a particularly bad mood this morning. I can’t say that I blamed him. Saturday’s warm sun had gone away, and cold rain settled in. The air was heavy and damp and everything looked gloomy. As he watched person after person head into their toasty warm offices filled with friendly colleagues, he was stuck sitting alone in his little booth (that is, until he had to come out in the rain to deal with my permit issues). On top of all that, it was Monday. I wished that had some of this hearty sausage and kale risotto to share with him – with it’s stick-to-your-ribs warmth, it would have been sure to cheer him up. I could have used some myself.
I have a ton of risotto recipes – a quick search shows that I’ve shared well over two dozen variations over the last few years – and I’ve always contended that, while it requires a half hour of near constant stirring, it really isn’t difficult to make. (It isn’t.) Most of the time, I actually enjoy standing over the stove, coaxing the rice into a creamy porridge. But sometimes, well, I just don’t feel like stirring the damn risotto.
I first heard of baked risotto a few years ago, but I never bothered trying it out. Like I said, I actually like stirring risotto. It makes me feel good, like I’m earning my keep in the kitchen. Last week though, a long day at work (in very cute but verrry uncomfortable shoes) made standing over the stove the last thing I wanted to do when I got home. As I transferred the pot of rice from the stove to the oven, I imagined a thousand Italian grandmothers rolling over in their graves.
But you know what? It worked. Really, really well. It wasn’t quite as creamy as risotto made on the stove I don’t think I would have known the difference had someone else served it to me. And the combination of sausage on the risottto and in the risotto, too? Wife of the year award, right there. Not bad, considering it cooked itself while I put my feet up.
Baked Risotto with Sausage and Kale
Ingredients
- 1 pound reduced fat Italian Sausage about 6 links
- 1 small Onion chopped
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- ¾ cup Arborio Rice
- ½ cup White Wine
- 2-1/2 cups Chicken Stock warmed
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan Cheese
- 3 cups chopped Kale
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425*F. Remove the casing from two sausage links and crumble the meat into an oven save skillet or enameled dutch oven set over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is browned. Add the onion and garlic and cook another 2 minutes. Stir in the rice and cook for 1 minute, or until the grains mostly translucent with a small white center.
- Stir in the wine and cook until it is all evaporated. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Cover and transfer to the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Stir in the cheese and kale, allowing the heat of the rice to wilt the kale. Bake an additional 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook the remaining sausage links. Sear them over high heat until the skins are deeply browned and begin to blister. Transfer to the oven until cooked through.
This was really tasty! To cut back even more on the fat I used Eckrich Skinless Turkey sausage. I was a little apprehensive about turkey sausage but it was good. Didn’t have an Italian sausage taste, more like kielbasa. Two 6.5-oz sausages came in the pack. I just used one and diced it all up and cut out Step 3. Probably because I cut out the sausage it only made 2 servings. I calculated it at 10 WW pts./serving. That’s points under the old system.
Thanks for a great, easy meal!
It is so difficult to create a healthy meal that truly looks delicious, but you have done it! I cannot wait to make this!!
Thanks for sharing this recipe! I found it via ziplist and made it tonight. Really good and simple to make. My risotto never made it to the translucent stage, but after five minutes I just moved to adding liquids and it turned out great. Thanks again!
This was easy to make and tasted awesome! I want to try it with mushrooms or lobster.
This was my first time making risotto. It was vey easy and very delicious.
I have cooked Risotto in my electric pressure cooker using the formula 1 cup rice to 2 cup chicken broth for 20 mintues and it always comes out as creamy as when I cook in on the stovetop.Great way to make Risotto when you are cooking it along and want it faster.
I use whatever I happen to have open, as long as it isn’t too sweet. Pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, or Chardonnay are good choices. (stay away from sweeter wines, like Riesling)
What white wine do you recommend??
Risotto with sausage? It is new for me! I’ll try it! Great blog. Greetings from Poland!
Interesting! This is the first time that I have heard of baked risotto. I’m all for saving time and work these days. Plus this dish looks so good! I hope you’re staying dry.