Creamy Polenta with Chicken Sausages and Peppers

Sweet babies that drink the morning dew this is it.

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I have now officially decided that I would like creamy parmesan polenta to coat the inside of my mouth, body, mind and soul, forever and ever.

Oh and, that whole babies that drink the morning dew thing? Would you believe me if I told you that I was like 22 years old when that image first struck my brain hole? It was an early spring morning back in 1999 (hence the morning dew part), and I was lying in bed in a little apartment in Fayetteville, Arkansas, when suddenly and randomly I imagined tiny little diapered babies swinging from tree limb to tree limb, tipping dark green leaves with huge droplets of morning dew into their little heads. Happy, gleeful, nourished. I’m not sure why I had that vision that morning. Maybe to remind me to seize each day? Maybe to help me stop and smell all of the roses? Maybe to instill in me the desire to lead a well balanced life with an even ratio of adventures vs. safety, and to be okay with my unfortunate mane of insane hai – OH CRAP we were talking about polenta.

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I love, love, love, love, love meals like this. With a capital S. Why? Mostly because I’m lazy and am a real stickler to a schedule and if I’m not on the couch by 6pm watching Friends I get a little cranktankerous.

But listen, if you’re looking for a meal that will have you singing The Hills Are Alive in fluent Bengali, look no further. I have just the meal for you. (said like Stefon on SNL. I even have my hands over my mouth right now.) Yes yes yes yes yes yes. This meal has everything. Polenta so soft you can form a 10-foot slip ‘n slide out of it and belly flop naked down a mountain in Peru; chicken sausages so packed with flavor you’ll want to attach them to a hook in the ceiling and hurl your body at them like punching bags; sautéed bell peppers so colorful and seared you’ll throw them above your head and let them gently fall all over you, in slow motion, just like that crazy roses/bed scene in American Beauty(hands back over mouth.)

Less than 30 minutes to make, cheelahs.

Comforting, creamy, EASY.

I like it.

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Oh yeah I do.

Creamy Polenta with Chicken Sausages and Peppers:

What it took for 4:

* 1 cup polenta (ground cornmeal)
* 2 cups milk
* 1 cup water
* 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan, plus more for garnish
* 2 Tbs. butter
* 1 pinch coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
* 4 chicken sausages (your favorite flavor!)
* 1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
* 1 green bell pepper, cut into thin strips
* cilantro leaves for garnish

In a medium saucepan, add the milk and water. Bring to a medium heat and add the polenta. Whisk continually until it becomes thick and creamy, pulling away from the sides of the pan. Off the heat, add the cheese, butter, a pinch of salt and pepper. Whisk to melt and combine.

In the meantime, add the chicken sausages (they’ll be fully cooked) to a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Brown all over, about 8 minutes total. Remove sausages from pan and cover to keep warm.

Back in the pan add the oil and sliced peppers. Sauté until the peppers have softened and are slightly charred all over. Toss in a pinch of salt and pepper.

Ladle the creamy polenta into bowls and top with a mound of peppers, a sausage, some fresh cilantro leaves and another dusting of parmesan. OMG.

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The babies that drink the morning dew told me they want you to eat this.

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42 Responses to Creamy Polenta with Chicken Sausages and Peppers

  1. Tieghan March 27, 2013 at 8:32 am #
    oh, this looks SOOO good! I love polenta and I love pepers!! Again, everyday is an amazing recipe!
  2. Deborah March 27, 2013 at 8:45 am #
    I want this. Right now.
  3. Katie March 27, 2013 at 8:46 am #
    Polenta for THE WIN.
  4. Kelly March 27, 2013 at 8:47 am #
    Yes please!! Looks delicious :)
  5. Heather @ Heather's Dish March 27, 2013 at 8:48 am #
    The babies vision is cracking me up! I think I would have had a panic attack if I'd had that one ;)
  6. Sarah Macon March 27, 2013 at 9:07 am #
    Gah this looks amaze! Gonna have to make it.
  7. Marie @ Little Kitchie March 27, 2013 at 9:58 am #
    Heaven help me this look incredibleeeeee
  8. Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet March 27, 2013 at 10:39 am #
    OH! Pure blissful comfort!
  9. Heather Christo March 27, 2013 at 10:57 am #
    I love your ramblings and I love this polenta.
  10. Jackie @ The Beeroness March 27, 2013 at 10:59 am #
    This makes me happy.
  11. Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking March 27, 2013 at 11:56 am #
    Oh man, this looks so mouthwatering!
  12. Sarah @ An Apple A Day March 27, 2013 at 11:58 am #
    This is literally exactly what I have been craving and after a description like that....I gotta have it.
  13. cindy March 27, 2013 at 12:27 pm #
    guess what we are having for dinner tonight????? yeaaaaa...polenta, chicken sausage, and peppers!!!! thanks
  14. Brandon @ Kitchen Konfidence March 27, 2013 at 2:15 pm #
    Mmmm, love that big fat sausage! Perfect with polenta.
  15. Cassie | Bake Your Day March 27, 2013 at 4:21 pm #
    Love this one, Bev. I have to try your method for polenta...I just can't get it down to where I like it. It is always too milky for me.
  16. Lisa | With Style and Grace March 27, 2013 at 4:28 pm #
    Mmmmm... I want this right NOW!! Going on the dinner menu for sure.
  17. Ruthy @ omeletta March 27, 2013 at 4:57 pm #
    I've been obSESSED with creamy polenta lately! Basically every vegetable I've purchased in the last few weeks has had the polenta treatment. So I'm with ya, sister.
  18. Katie @ Blonde Ambition March 27, 2013 at 5:16 pm #
    I was pretty sure you made a Stefon reference a couple of weeks ago, and I'm so glad you're doing so again now. I think you would make a fantastic SNL writer. But for now, please stick with what you do so well: placing pictures of droolworthy food in front of my face. Love!
    • Bev Weidner March 27, 2013 at 5:40 pm #
      If I made the Stefon reference, I didn't even know it! I guess he's just hanging out in my soul. And seriously, you made my day. Thank you. :)
  19. Jillian March 27, 2013 at 5:41 pm #
    I hope you don't "cease each day" that would be a bummer for us! ;) This recipe looks incredible!! I LOVE polenta!
    • Bev Weidner March 27, 2013 at 5:48 pm #
      OMG. This entire day I've thought, that does NOT look right to me. Thank you! Ugh!
      • Jillian March 27, 2013 at 7:32 pm #
        I'm a weirdo with noticing stuff like that! Seriously, love your writing style though!!
  20. Tina @ Tina's Chic March 27, 2013 at 5:54 pm #
    My mouth is watering! I love all these ingredients and so I'm sure I'll love this dish! Thank you for the idea. I cannot wait to try it. :)
  21. Cookin Canuck March 27, 2013 at 6:16 pm #
    Oh, those peppers...and oh, that polenta. What a gorgeous dish, Bev!
  22. Emily @ Hungry Delights March 27, 2013 at 9:54 pm #
    My mouth is watering - you have seriously just combined all my favourite foods into one. LOVE IT :) Can't wait to try this one!
  23. Brian @ A Thought For Food March 28, 2013 at 7:45 am #
    Oh you... cracking me up with your pop culture references. I now picture you as Stefan (why didn't we dress like him for Halloween? Major fail) Look at that sausage...so long and juicy!
  24. Jamison March 28, 2013 at 11:42 am #
    OMG... I made this last night for dinner and it was AMAZING!!! My timing was off and the polenta set up a bit too much... Used a Turkey Sweet Italian sausage! Om nom nom
  25. Nutmeg Nanny March 29, 2013 at 9:59 am #
    Oh my goodness! This is calling,no screaming my name. This dish is so gorgeous I can taste it :)
  26. Amy B June 11, 2013 at 7:37 pm #
    Made this for dinner tonight, but on the grill instead of a pan and Oh Em Gee.......... so so so so good!!!! Didn't have any green bell peppers so i used red and orange instead and it still was fantastic. Thanks for this quick, easy, and so yummy recipe Bev!
  27. Biz June 25, 2013 at 11:29 am #
    I have an awesome beef marinade, and have a steak marinating for dinner tonight. Was wondering what to pair with it, and found this creamy polenta - perfect! You might like the marinade - it has used coffee grounds in it! http://mybizzykitchen.com/2013/03/10/best-beef-marinade-ever/
  28. Amy Beebe January 8, 2014 at 11:22 am #
    Made this AGAIN last night but used grilled jalapeno and cheddar chicken sausages. OMG so so good!
  29. Diona Fuller May 4, 2014 at 5:54 pm #
    I just tried this recipe and it was amazing! I made very minor changes. I just added things here and there to suit my tastes, but as a whole this recipe was on point! Thank you!
  30. Sherrie | With Food + Love June 1, 2014 at 4:39 pm #
    Mmmm creamy polenta is my jam! This looks amazing!!
  31. chris September 17, 2014 at 10:31 am #
    Made this last night. Think the polenta needs more liquid, it stiffened up too firm. Box called for four cups, recipe says two cups milk and one cup water. Next time I think I'll use two cups milk and two cups chicken or veggie broth, to get the right creamy consistency. I also added some minced garlic (two cloves) to the peppers as they sauteed, just seemed like it would need more seasoning. We did enjoy it (I like the chicken sausage, used Roasted Garlic and Gruyere), I just didn't think the polenta was the right consistency based on the photo here.. Thanks for sharing!
  32. Mark March 16, 2015 at 7:35 pm #
    Made this for dinner today and have to say it was an awesome use for the chicken sausage. The flavor combo of everything, including the cilantro, was absolutely delicious! Thanks!

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Eating with the Armstrongs | Newly Bread - June 16, 2013 [...] Creamy Polenta w/ Chicken Sausage & Peppers [...]
  2. Stormy Weather | My Bizzy Kitchen - June 26, 2013 [...] adapted my polenta for two from Bev Cooks.  I do like her idea of making it with the chicken sausage and veggies though – I’ll have [...]
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  7. Stormy Weather - My Bizzy Kitchen - June 26, 2020 […] adapted my polenta for two from Bev Cooks.  I do like her idea of making it with the chicken sausage and veggies though – I’ll have […]

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