Chicken Sausages with Spicy Cheddar Polenta & Radicchio Pear Slaw

Ingredients

• 3 cups milk
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 sprigs fresh oregano
• 1 cup medium ground cornmeal
• 2 oz spicy cheddar cheese (or regular cheddar cheese + cayenne pepper to taste)
• kosher salt, as needed
• oil, as needed
• 4 raw, mild Italian chicken sausages
• 8 oz spinach
• freshly cracked black pepper
• 1 small head of radicchio, very thinly sliced
• 1 pear, very thinly sliced
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• fresh oregano leaves, to garnish

Instructions

1. 1

   --- Spicy Cheddar Polenta ---

2. 2

   Combine the milk, honey, and fresh oregano in a heavy-bottom pot. Bring to a bubble over medium heat and allow the honey to dissolve. Slowly whisk in the cornmeal until incorporated. Lower the heat all the way down and continue to cook the cornmeal until smooth and tender, stirring often. Remove the oregano sprigs. Stir in the spicy cheddar cheese. Season with salt to taste and keep warm until serving.

3. 3

   --- Chicken Sausages ---

4. 4

   Meanwhile, heat a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Add enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan. When the oil is sizzling hot, add the chicken sausages. Sear them on all sides until caramelized brown. Cover the pan with a lid, lower the heat to medium low, and let steam for about 5 minutes until the sausages are fully cooked through.

5. 5

   Remove the sausages from the pan, leaving the fat behind, and add the spinach. Quickly sauté the spinach until tender. Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.

6. 6

   --- Radicchio Pear Slaw ---

7. 7

   Meanwhile, toss together the radicchio, pear, lemon juice, and olive oil. Season with salt to taste.

8. 8

   --- To Serve ---

9. 9

   Plate the polenta first with the chicken sausages on top. Add a bit of spinach and radicchio pear slaw to each plate. Garnish with fresh oregano leaves.