Sausage, Butternut Squash, Kale Casserole

QSis

Grill Master
Staff member
Gold Site Supporter
This was very good, except for the cornmeal in the topping. I am just not a big fan of cornmeal, and would leave it out next time.

Lee

Butternut Squash Casserole with Sausage, Kale, and Sage Breadcrumbs
A healthy casserole with butternut squash, chicken sausage, and kale, topped with a golden sage breadcrumb topping. This flavorful recipe is sure to be a family favorite!
Yield: Serves 6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Ingredients:
For the Butternut Squash and Sausage Filling
· 3 tablespoons Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided
· 1 pound chicken or turkey sausage, casings removed
· 3-pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced into 3/4-inch cubes
· 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
· 1 teaspoon minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
· 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
· 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
· 12 ounces kale, Swiss chard, or other hearty leafy green, tough stems removed and torn into bite-sized pieces
· 1/2 cup thinly sliced yellow onion (about 1/2 large)
· 1 cup low sodium chicken stock
For the Crumble Topping
· 3 slices whole wheat bread (or 3/4 cup breadcrumbs)
· 1/2 cup stone ground cornmeal or polenta
· 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
· 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage
· 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
· 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
· 2 tablespoons Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
· 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
· 1 large egg
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Generously grease a shallow 3-quart baking dish with softened butter or cooking spray.
2. Prepare the squash and sausage filling: Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Brown and crumble the sausage until fully cooked, about 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside. Being careful not to burn yourself, wipe out the pan with a paper towel.
3. Cook the butternut squash filling in two batches (this will ensure the ingredients brown properly): Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in the skillet, then add half of each of the following: the squash, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Sauté until the squash is beginning to brown, then add half of: the kale, the onions, and the garlic. Cook until the kale and onions begin to soften, about 4 minutes. Add the 1/2 cup of the chicken stock, stir, and let cook 1 minute so that the stock reduces slightly. Stir in half of the reserved sausage. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and press into a relatively even layer.
4. Heat the remaining tablespoon olive oil in the skillet, then repeat the above step with the remaining half of each of the ingredients. Transfer the rest of the filling to the casserole dish. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes or until the squash is soft when pierced with a sharp knife.
5. While the squash bakes, prepare the topping: Place the slices of bread in the bowl of a food processor and pulse into crumbs (if using ready-made breadcrumbs, simply add them to the food processor without pulsing). Add the cornmeal, Parmesan, sage, sugar, and salt. Plus a few times to combine. Drizzle in the olive oil, add the butter cubes, and pulse until crumbly and the butter is fully incorporated. Add the egg and pulse a few additional times, until the mixture just begins to clump together. (Alternatively, you can make in a mixing bowl, cutting in the butter by hand. In this case, you will need prepared breadcrumbs).
6. Remove the casserole from the oven, take off the foil, then sprinkle the top evenly with the breadcrumb mixture. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F, return the dish to the oven, then bake uncovered, until the bread crumbs are golden, about 20 minutes. Serve warm.
Recipe inspired by [ame="[URL]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1607742675/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1607742675&linkCode=as2&tag=thlastswi-20&linkId=BPPF7EW3ZDBUKPDG[/URL]"]My Paris Kitchen[/ame], by David Lebovitz
Sausage, butternut and kale casserole.JPG
Sausage 2, cooked.JPG
Sausage 3, plated.JPG
 
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