Welcome to day 2 of our Week of Comfort! While we are all so busy worrying, staying productive, working hard and ultimately trying to do our best to get through this very difficult time, we all have to admit to ourselves that we all could use a little bit of comfort.
Now, what is comfort food? The answer to that question comes in two parts. In cooking terms, comfort food has to do with textures so things that are generally very cheesy and warm or extremely tender are generally considered comfort food. From an everyday life perspective, comfort food is really anything that brings you back to a better time. Everything from pasta to steak, even seafood can be considered comfort food as long as it provides you with the feelings that come with escapism also known as going back to a better time.
Today, we are going to be making a very classic and hearty meal but with a little bit of a Bonaventure twist added into the mix. We are going to be making a delicious Italian Sausage Stew!
Stews have been a staple in comfort food for years as it is warm and is a lot thicker and bulkier than just a simple soup. First, a quick reminder that you can honestly put anything into a stew so if potatoes and carrots are just not your thing then do not be afraid to substitute with anything from various beans, peas or even squash and rutabaga! So let’s begin by talking about what you will need to make this delicious meal!
- 1 - 1 ½ pounds of Italian Sausages, Mild or Spicy depending on your preference. (Available Here!)
- 6 Potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
- 3 cups of water
- 4 Carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
- 3 Celery ribs, cut into chunks
- 2 small onions cut into wedges
- ½ a sweet bell pepper cut into chunks
- ¼ cup of Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon of Oregano
- ¾ cup of Ketchup
- 1 tablespoon of Cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon of cold water
Alright, now that we have everything listed off, now it is time to get cooking! First, start by cutting up your sausages into 1 inch thick pieces and brown them at the bottom of a large pot. Once your sausages have been browned, you can drain away the grease but make sure to place your sausages back into the pot.
Next up, add in your 3 cups of water and add in your Potatoes, Carrots, Celery and Onions. Then add in your Worcestershire sauce and your Oregano. Bring this mixture to a boil, reduce your heat to low and let this cook slowly for about 1 hour or until your sausage is no longer pink if it is or until all your vegetables are tender.
Now you can add in your Ketchup and your Bell Peppers and continue to cook this for roughly 15-20 minutes longer or until your peppers are tender. Finally, combine cornstarch and cold water in a small cup or bowl and stir this until it is completely combined, then add this into your stew. Bring your stew back to a boil and stir for another 2 minutes or until your stew has thickened.
There you have it, a beautiful Italian Sausage Stew that will have everyone in your home enjoying a warm meal and that can be saved as a great lunch for anyone working from home! As always, let us know if you enjoyed this recipe and if you made any changes to this recipe so that we can try them out for ourselves! Here’s to having a comfortable and relaxing day everyone!