It rained in LA! May I say that again? It rained in Los Angeles. It was the perfect kind of rain too. It built slowly all day, came down at night, and was gone by morning. The best part was, you could feel it in the air. You knew it was coming. By nightfall, I began to hear the pings and pitter-patters on the copper awning outside my kitchen window. It made me happy to hear the soft landing of so many little drops. Did they know how welcome they were? Did they feel the gratitude of millions of people in this parched city? Naturally, I was inspired to cook. So I set to work, surrounded by a warm kitchen and the rumbling of the rain. I came up with this Sausage and Red Pepper Polenta Cobbler. It’s basically a corn biscuit-topped casserole. But polenta cobbler has a much more romantic ring to it. Or should I say a more romantic ping to it– in honor of the rain?
Savory Polenta Cobbler
In North America cobblers are typically considered to be sweet, made with the best of the season’s fruit. But old-world versions were more likely to be savory. Since cobblers get their name from the cobble-stone streets common to old villages in Europe I thought a savory version deserved your attention. Mine has sausage and red peppers– classic Italian partners– baked under a polenta cobbler topping. It’s baked in the oven, and served fragrant and bubbling hot. The perfect accompaniment to rain.
It’s a simple one-dish-wonder too. Which is wonderful for both the cooks and the dishwashers in your house. I bring a variation of this recipe out whenever the weather allows. One-pot meals, like this polenta cobbler, are pure comfort food to me. Maybe I’m referring to the comfort of not having a load of dishes to wash (maybe), but it’s more complex than that. In fact, I think it has something to do with the rain. GREG
Sausage and Red Pepper Polenta Cobbler
Print This Recipe Yield 4Source From my book Savory PiesPublished
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4–5 spicy Italian sausage, removed from the casings (about 1 pound)
- kosher salt & freshly cracked black pepper, (as needed)
- 1 medium onion (peeled, halved lengthwise & thinly sliced)
- 2 red bell peppers (halved, ribs and seeds removed & sliced lengthwise)
- 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (divided)
- 2 cup chicken stock
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 3 cup loosely packed baby spinach (about 3 oz)
- ½ cup quick-cooking polenta mix or yellow cornmea
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 6 tablespoon chilled unsalted butter (cut into ½‑inch dice)
- 1 ¼ cup heavy cream (plus 1 tablespoon for brushing)
Directions
Heat oil in a 12-inch cast iron or ovenproof skillet set over medium-high heat. Add sausage, season with a pinch each salt and pepper. Cook, breaking meat up with a wooden spoon until browned, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon remove sausage from skillet. Pour off all but about 2 tablespoons fat.
Add onion to skillet. Cook stirring occasionally until somewhat softened, about 5 minutes. Add red bell pepper and cook an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl whisk together ¼ cup flour and tomato paste. Slowly whisk in chicken stock until well combined. Add this mixture to skillet. Stir in spinach and cooked sausage. Cook about 2 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat. Taste for seasoning. May be prepared several hours in advance to this point.
Place oven rack in center position. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
In a medium bowl whisk together remaining 1 ½ cup flour, polenta, baking powder, baking soda and ½ teaspoon salt. Using a pastry blender, two butter knives or your fingers, cut or rub the butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with various-sized but obvious chunks of butter scattered throughout. Add Parmesan, cutting or rubbing until lightly mixed. Stir in 1 ¼ cups cream until a rough dough forms. Drop 6 or 8 large mounds of polenta mixture over sausage mixture, 1‑inch apart. Brush the remaining 1 tablespoon cream on top. Bake in the hot oven until bubbly and polenta topping is golden brown. A knife inserted in the center of polenta should come out clean, about 25 minutes.
Bring skillet to the table and serve warm.
As they say where i come from: QUE RICO!
That’s a perfect rainy night supper! Makes me want to run home and make something comforting! Love this dish!
I absolutely love this idea. The polenta on top looks so cool. Will need to try out this recipe.
This is a brilliant concept I must say.…a savory cobbler. Love all the flavors in this dish, and working with instant polenta in this way is a revelation.
Sausage and peppers — a winning combo — perfect to tuck in with on a rainy day. Great recipe from a great cookbook. ~Bijouxs
Savory cobblers.…my eyes have been opened and you put everything I like into this one. I can’t wait to try this in some of the cold winterlike weather we are having this fall. I’ve been in a comfort food mode and this is certainly that. Good one, G‑dawg. That’s your new name for the week;)
This sounds perfect for a fall evening!
This looks so warm and delicious…yum!
I love savory cobblers too! But never used polenta. And I’ve had polenta on the brain lately. I’m so stealing this idea! Thanks.
The rain in Southern California was lovely, wasn’t it? 🙂 I don’t mean to be greedy, but it would be nice to have just a little more. Greg, this dish of savory polenta cobbler has to be one of the most delicious dishes I’ve seen a long time…I can almost taste and smell it from SD!
OMG — I think I need your book!
This is an exceptional dish, the kind Doug would go crazy for…Pinning to a bunch of my boards, starting with Man Food.
ooh, did someone say savory cobbler? I like that!
We too enjoyed the rain this weekend. And the chilly weather! I opted for the comfort of a big pot of soup; however, this savory cobbler would have been nice too. Especially with the sausage and peppers. That smell reminds me of my grandmother’s kitchen. She always had a skillet of Italian sausage and peppers going when we would visit her.
Sounds like the PERFECT MEAL for a cold fall/winter evening, with the fire roaring, and cozy socks! LOL!
I love it when it rains. And I agree, this savory cobbler is the perfect comfort food. Yay for one-dish meals.
I am all about one pot meals!!! Yay for your rain!
I was picturing ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ when you were describing the rain. Love the sound of rain on the roof! This cobbler looks great — I have to admit I’ve never really cooked with polenta before but I don’t see why I shouldn’t start!
Rain is my favorite weather event especially at night and if I at home a good all day rain suits me just fine. I can totally relate to your thoughts. I realize this is extra special because you live in the west.
You made the perfect dish to enjoy the rainy weather….Soulful and comforting. Love it.
Velva
I was so happy for rain too! I wish I’d been home that night to cook up something warm like this. I adore the idea of savory cobbler.