Chorizo Skillet Supper

This recipe showcases Capellini pasta.    Capellini is not something which I have had a very easy time finding here in the UK actually.

Capellini, or angel hair pasta traditionally cooks in a fraction of the time as regular pastas.  I decided to do an all in one pan dish, with the pasta actually cooking in the sauce.  I thought Capellini would be perfect for this because of it's shorter cooking time.

I used fresh chorizo sausage, which was easily crumbled and gave the sauce a bit of a kick.  Feel free to use the dried version as well.  Both are good.

Some tinned chopped tomatoes, a tin of drained borlotti beans, some frozen peas along with onion, garlic and stock and I had a very delicious entree indeed, and all in one pan.

I like it when I can cut back on the washing up don't you???   All in all it made for a lovely and fairly quick supper.  A scattering of grated cheddar on top and we were good to go.  The pasta worked very well and the whole dish was very tasty and colourful.  A pleaser all round!

*Chorizo Skillet Supper*

Serves 6 to 8

Printable Recipe 

A quick and simple supper that is not only easy to make but quite, quite delicious! 

1/2 pound chorizo sausage, cut into 1/2 inch pieces if it is the dried chorizo, skins removed and crumbled if it is the raw sausage like chorizo

1 TBS olive oil

340g of capellini pasta (12 ounces angel hair) or thin spaghetti, broken in half

1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped

4 cloves of fresh garlic, peeled and finely chopped (or to taste)

1 (400g) tin of beans (black bean preferred, or your favourite will do) drained and rinsed.  (15 1/2ounces)

1 (400g) tin of chopped tomatoes in juice, undrained (14.5 ounces)

675ml of chicken stock (3 cups)

1 TBS dried oregano

a coffee mug of frozen petit pois

120g of grated strong cheddar cheese (1 cup)

fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat.  Add the oil.  Heat and then crumble in the chorizo.  Cook for 3 to five minutes, until golden Scoop out and set aside.  Reduce the heat to medium.   Add the pasta and cook in the drippings for 2 to 3 minutes or until the pasta begins to toast.   Remove and set aside with the sausage.  Add the onions and garlic to the drippings.  Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until beginning to soften and very fragrant.  Add the tomatoes, chicken stock and oregano.  Return the  pasta and sausage to the pan.   Stir to combine.  Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 8 to ten minutes, until the pasta is cooked and most of the liquid has been absorbed.  Stir in the frozen peas and heat through.   Season to taste.  Sprinkle with the cheese and serve immediately.

Brat and Spud Autumn Warmer

   

I have a love affair going with the Bratwurst sausages that you can buy at Aldi.  They are very lean and I think they are delicious, with the flavour of fennel and spice.  Oftimes I will treat us to a meal of sauerkraut and bratwurst.  We love German food in this house.  The Toddster lived in Germany several times . . . a couple as a soldier and once as a civilian.  I lived there as a small child, in the Black Forest, when my father was in the CAF.  As a couple we have gone on holidays a few times to Germany. It's one of our favourite places to go, so it's no surprise that we love German food.  

I often freeze half of the package of Bratwurst when I buy it, because well . . . there are only two of us and we can only eat so much.   One for me, one for Todd and yes . . . she is a spoiled pooch, one for Mitzie.    

I had bought a turkey crown for Christmas the other day and in order to fit it into the freezer, I had to take something out and so I took out some Brats I had frozen and a few other bits.   I didn't feel much like eating Brats and Kraut however . . . what to do, what to do.  

I decided to make a one pot supper, using the Brats,  potatoes and some sliced white cabbage.  I  sliced the Brats into coins and browned them on both sides along with a chopped onion.  I then added the potatoes, cut into cubes (no need to peel) and some sliced cabbage.  I braised the mixture in a bit of chicken stock until the potatoes were fork tender.    

I then added some double cream (just a touch) and some grated cheese, half stirred in with the cream  to make a creamy sauce. . . and other half sprinkled on top.  I then popped the whole dish under the grill to melt the cheese to a bubbling golden brown.  

Oh baby, this was some tasty! And so easy to make as well.  I love it when I am inspired to just take what I have and put it together into something magically delicious.  I guess I find that pretty easy because I have been cooking for years and years.  I kind of know by now what works and what doesn't.  It guess it comes with practice.  

Don't worry though I am always happy to share.  I do hope you will give this a go and that you come back and tell me how much you enjoyed it!  We thought it was fabulous and it's become a new favourite with us.  OH, and I used low fat cheddar which worked really well.  Normally the lower fat stuff won't.  It was Pilgrim 30% lower fat strong cheddar.  It worked wonderfully.  

*Brat and Spud Autumn Warmer*

Serves 4

Printable Recipe  

A deliciously easy pan fry that includes spicy bratwurst, cabbage and potatoes.  A touch of cream and cheese are it's crowning glory! 

1 TBS olive oil

1 pound bratwurst sausage, sliced into coins

1 medium onion, peeled and diced

2 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced

2 cup chicken broth

1/2 small white cabbage, thinly sliced

4 medium red potatoes, washed and cut into cubes
salt and black pepper to taste

cayenne pepper to taste

125ml of heavy cream (1/2 cup)

125g of grated cheddar cheese (1 cup)    

Add the oil to an oven safe skillet.   Heat over medium high heat just until it shimmers.  Add the bratwurst and onions.  Cook, stirring until the sausage is browned and the onions are softened.   Add the garlic and cook just until fragrant.Stir in the cabbage and potatoes.  Cook, stirring for a few minutes.  Season and then add the chicken stock.  Bring to the boil, then reduce to a slow simmer.  Cover and cook until the potatoes are fork tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.   Gently stir in the cream and half of the cheese.  Heat through.




Turn on the grill.  Scatter the remaining cheese over top of the mixture in the pan and then pop under the grill until the cheese is melted and bubbling and beginning to brown lightly.  Remove and serve.