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Juicy Italian sausage, sweet bell peppers, and onions simmered in a savory tomato sauce, all served over a bed of rich, creamy Parmesan polenta. A hearty and satisfying Italian-American classic.
Brown the Sausage
Sauté Vegetables
Simmer the Sauce
Velvety, slow-cooked polenta forms a perfect base for earthy mushrooms sautéed with garlic and fresh herbs. A comforting and savory Italian-American classic, made heart-healthy with minimal sodium.
A vibrant and flavorful pasta dish where spaghetti and fresh vegetables cook together in one pot. This low-sodium version is perfect for a quick, healthy weeknight dinner, ready in under 30 minutes.
A rich and satisfying pasta dish featuring tender mushrooms in a velvety, garlic-infused cream sauce. Made completely without salt, this recipe relies on fresh herbs and black pepper for a surprisingly flavorful meal.
Enjoy a guilt-free creamy pasta dish! This recipe uses deeply browned mushrooms and a touch of low-fat milk to create a silky, savory sauce without the heavy cream or high sodium. It's a comforting weeknight dinner ready in under 30 minutes.
Juicy Italian sausage, sweet bell peppers, and onions simmered in a savory tomato sauce, all served over a bed of rich, creamy Parmesan polenta. A hearty and satisfying Italian-American classic.
This italian_american recipe takes 60 minutes to prepare and yields 4 servings. At 1021.14 calories per serving with 40.76g of protein, it's a moderately challenging recipe perfect for dinner or lunch.
Prepare the Creamy Polenta
Serve
Substitute the pork sausage with chicken or turkey sausage for a leaner option. You can also use plant-based sausage for a vegetarian version.
Add 8 oz of sliced cremini mushrooms or a large sliced zucchini along with the peppers and onions for extra nutrients and flavor.
Stir in a different cheese like Gruyère or smoked Gouda instead of Parmesan. A spoonful of mascarpone or cream cheese will make it even richer.
If you're not a fan of polenta, the sausage and peppers mixture is also delicious served in a crusty hoagie roll, over pasta, or with roasted potatoes.
Italian sausage provides a substantial amount of protein, which is essential for muscle repair, immune function, and promoting a feeling of fullness.
Bell peppers are packed with Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that supports the immune system, and Vitamin A, which is important for vision and skin health.
The polenta, made from cornmeal, offers complex carbohydrates that provide sustained energy, unlike the quick spike and crash from simple sugars.
A single serving of Sausage and Peppers with Creamy Polenta contains approximately 750-850 calories, depending on the specific type of sausage and amount of cheese used. It is a hearty and calorie-dense meal.
This dish is a satisfying comfort food. It provides significant protein from the sausage and vitamins from the peppers. However, it is also high in sodium and saturated fat. To make it healthier, you can use leaner chicken or turkey sausage and reduce the amount of butter and cheese in the polenta.
Yes, the sausage and peppers mixture is perfect for making ahead. Its flavor often improves the next day. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The polenta is best made fresh, but you can reheat leftover polenta on the stovetop with a splash of milk or broth to restore its creamy texture.
For the best texture, use coarse or medium-grind yellow cornmeal. Avoid 'instant' or 'quick-cooking' polenta, as it will not develop the same rich, creamy consistency.
The key to lump-free polenta is to pour the cornmeal into the boiling liquid very slowly while whisking vigorously. If you still get lumps, you can continue to whisk them out as it cooks. For stubborn lumps, pressing the finished polenta through a fine-mesh sieve will result in a perfectly smooth texture.
This recipe is naturally gluten-free. However, you should always double-check the labels on your sausage and chicken broth to ensure they are certified gluten-free, as some brands may contain gluten-based fillers or additives.