Braised Sausage and Fennel

Braising is a cooking method that uses both dry and wet heat to cook foods, allowing for the deliciousness of browning to be combined with the intensifying of flavors in slow cooking. Searing the sausage and fennel before braising in broth gives the dish a delicious depth of flavor; serving it with creamy hummus mellows out the spice of the sausage.

4
2-3 tablespoons Natural Grocers® Brand Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4 hot Italian sausage links, pricked with a fork
2 large organic fennel bulbs, fronds removed and saved for garnish
2 organic garlic cloves, minced or crushed
1 cup organic chicken broth
1 cup prepared organic hummus

1. Heat a heavy saucepan, cast-iron skillet, or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once hot, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

2. Place the sausages in the skillet and cook, turning as needed until brown on all sides, 6-8 minutes. Once the sausage has browned transfer to a plate.

3. While the sausage cooks, cut the fennel in half from top to bottom, remove the core, and slice into ½-inch slices. Add the sliced fennel to the skillet, adding more olive oil if needed, and cook until the fennel begins to brown, 3-4 minutes total.

4. Add the minced garlic to the fennel and cook for 30-60 seconds, stirring constantly to prevent burning.

5. Add the chicken broth to the pan, stirring and scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the temperature to low.

6. Place the sausages back in the pan, cover, and cook until the fennel is tender, 25-30 minutes.

7. To serve, place 1/4 cup of hummus on a plate then top with 1 sausage and a scoop of fennel. Drizzle pan drippings over the sausage, top with sprigs from the fennel fronds, and serve with a side salad.

per one serving

Calories Carbohydrates Protein Fat Fiber
437 kcal 12 g 17 g 36 g 4 g

Recommended Beverage: Wine

Recommended Style: Red Blend

Recommended Brand: Sofos