Hearty Italian Sausage and Pepper Stew with Creamy Polenta

1. Brown the Sausages

Start by warming 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Pierce the sausages with a small knife to prevent bursting, then brown them in the oil for about 8 minutes, turning to ensure they brown evenly on all sides. Once browned, transfer the sausages to a plate.

2. Sauté the Vegetables

Pour off most of the fat from the pan, leaving about 2 tablespoons. Add the sliced red onion, bell peppers, poblano chile, and red pepper flakes to the pan. Sauté the vegetables for around 8 minutes until they begin to soften and take on a bit of color.

3. Add Tomatoes and Wine

Add the canned tomatoes with their juices and the dry white wine to the pan. Simmer the mixture for about 5 minutes, using a wooden spoon to break up the tomatoes and combine everything.

4. Simmer with Sausages

Return the browned sausages to the pan, nestling them into the vegetable and tomato mixture. Cover the pan and let it simmer gently for 15 minutes.

5. Prepare the Polenta

While the sausage mixture is simmering, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped small onion and sauté for about 5 minutes until it becomes soft and translucent.

6. Boil Water for Polenta

Pour 4 cups of water into the saucepan with the sautéed onion. Add 1 teaspoon of coarse kosher salt and 1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Bring the water to a boil.

7. Cook the Polenta

Gradually whisk in the polenta to the boiling water. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, whisking frequently, for about 18 minutes.

8. Add Cheese and Marjoram to Polenta

Once the polenta is thickened and creamy, stir in the grated Romano cheese and 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh marjoram.

9. Finish the Sausage Mixture

By now, the sausage mixture should be ready. Increase the heat slightly to bring it to a gentle boil, then stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons of chopped marjoram. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.

10. Serve

To serve, spoon the creamy polenta onto plates or into shallow bowls, then top with the hearty sausage and pepper stew. Enjoy this comforting dish, where each bite combines the creamy, cheesy polenta with the robust, flavorful stew.