- Rachael Ray's non profit organization, Yum-o! - https://www.yum-o.org -

Chicken Sausage, Pepper and Onion Stoup with Tomato-Basil Gobble-‘Ums



Ingredients


  • 8 links fresh chicken sausages or packaged chicken sausages in an Italian or Mediterranean flavor
  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), divided
  • 1 large onion, quartered lengthwise, then thinly sliced
  • 2 cubanelle peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
  • 2 red bell peppers, seeded, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced
  • 4-5 cups frozen shredded potatoes 
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 can chunky-style crushed or diced tomatoes (28 ounces)
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 2 cloves garlic, cracked from skins and grated
  • 4 tablespoons softened butter
  • 3-4 tablespoons sundried tomato paste
  • 1 cup basil leaves (20 leaves), thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, plus some to pass at the table
  • 1/2 loaf good quality Italian bread or a long crusty loaf of whole grain bread, split lengthwise


Directions


  1. Pre-heat the oven to 425°F.

  2. In a high-sided skillet, arrange the sausages, then add about 1/2-inch water and a healthy drizzle of EVOO, about 1 tablespoon. Place the sausages over medium-high heat, allow the liquids to come to a boil and evaporate, then roll the sausages around to crisp the casings, 18-20 minutes total. You’ll need a little less water and the process will go faster for fully cooked packaged chicken sausage. 

  3. While the sausage cooks, heat a medium soup pot over medium-high heat with the remaining EVOO, 3 tablespoons. Add the onion, peppers and potatoes, season with salt and pepper and sauté for 7-8 minutes until the onion and peppers begin to soften andthe potatoes become lightly golden at edges. Add the tomatoes, stir in the chicken stock and bring the stoup to a bubble, then reduce the heat to medium-low, a simmer. If the stoup is too thick, add some water to thin it out a bit to your taste. The consistency should be between a soup and stew.

  4. Combine the garlic, butter, sundried tomato paste, basil and cheese. Slather the bread with the spread and cube it into large, bite-size pieces. Arrange the Gobble-Ums on a baking sheet and bake for 5-7 minutes, until toasted.

  5. Cut the sausages up and place the equivalent of 1 1/2 sausages into each of six soup bowls and cover with stoup. Top with a few Gobble-Ums and serve with tossed greens dressed with oil and vinegar. 

Photo credit: Tina Rupp