posted by SandyOH 06-16-102 3:12 PM
Scalloped Potatoes with Sausage and Peppers
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
2 onions, thinly sliced
1 large green bell pepper (cored and seeded), cut into 1/3-inch strips
1 large red bell pepper (cored and seeded), cut into 1/3-inch strips
Coarse salt
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Pinch of crushed red pepper
1 cup canned tomatoes, with their juices
1-1/4 pounds all-purpose or russet potatoes
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino or Parmesan
Freshly ground black pepper
2 cups half and half
Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Crumble in the sausage and cook, stirring and breaking up the meat with the side of your spoon, until it loses its pink color. Spoon off all but a tablespoon of the fat.
Add onions and bell peppers. Season with salt, and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add a tablespoon or two of water if the pan dries out and the vegetables start to stick. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Then add the oregano, crushed red pepper, and tomatoes. Stir and break up the tomatoes with the side of your spoon and cook until very thick, about 7 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Heat oven to 350°F. Grease a 3-quart casserole.
Peel the potatoes and cut them into 1/8-inch thick slices. Combine the flour with 1/4 cup of the cheese. Place one-third of the potatoes in a layer in the casserole. Season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with half the flour mix. Spoon on half of the sausage and peppers. Again, layer potatoes, with salt and pepper, the rest of the flour mix, and rest of sausage and peppers. Top with a layer of potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Pour in the half and half and cover the casserole with aluminum foil. Bake 45 minutes.
Uncover the casserole and push the potatoes down with a spatula or back of a spoon to submerge them. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup cheese and bake another 40 minutes or so. The top of the casserole will be a rich brown, the potatoes easily pierced with a knife, and the dish will be very juicy. Let it rest for at least 20 minutes before serving.
Serves 4 to 6
Note: This is one sturdy casserole, a stick-to-your-ribs wintertime dish. And the combination of Italian sausage, peppers, and homey scalloped potatoes is about as American as you can get.
I like it juicy, but you can try russets, which will soak up more of the liquid in the casserole.
Source: "One Potato, Two Potato" - Roy Finamore and Molly Stevens (2001)