Ingredients

  • 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
  • 1 pound chorizo
  • 1 pound morcilla or Argentine blood sausage
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 1 ancho or pasilla
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 1 sprig basil
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 cups instant polenta
  • 1/2 cup shredded Spanish manchego
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced shallots
  • 4 garlic cloves, sliced thinly
  • 1 cup stemmed and quartered portobello (about 1 to 2 mushrooms)
  • 1 cup chanterelle strips (about 7 to 8 mushrooms) (stemmed and pulled apart with your fingers)
  • 1 cup stemmed and julienned shiitakes (about 7 to 8 mushrooms)
  • 1 cup Merlot
  • 1/2 pint currant tomatoes
  • 1 bunch basil, leaves picked
  • 1 tablespoon butter

Method

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In a large saute pan, saute sausages, and place in the oven at 350 degrees for about 7 to 8 minutes.
  • Lower oven temperature to 250 degrees F.
  • Meanwhile, start the polenta.
  • Combine milk, stock, chile, butter, herbs, salt, and pepper in a heavy saucepan.
  • Bring to a boil and remove herbs.
  • Slowly pour in polenta whisking constantly until thick.
  • Remove immediately and add the cheese, stirring until incorporated.
  • Pour into a lightly buttered bowl.
  • Place in 250 degree F oven until ready to serve.
  • Remove sausage from the pan and drain the fat.
  • To the same pan, add shallots, garlic, and mushrooms.
  • Cook until soft.
  • Add wine and tomatoes and place sausages back into the pan.
  • Reduce down 3/4 of the way; finish with picked basil and butter.
  • Remove polenta from oven, invert onto a large platter.
  • Place sausage mixture around the polenta.