So what’s cooking tonight in my Minnie Winnie kitchen?

Spinach, Tomato and Sausage Risotto. (Italian rice)

Here's what you’ll need:
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes in juice 1 cup Arborio rice (Trader Joe’s)

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (bring from Italy)

½ cup dry white wine (Chardonnay)1 cup for the chef

¾ pound sweet Italian sausage (3-4 lg) (casings removed. option to use turkey sausage)

1 bunch/bag flat-leaf spinach, washed,chopped, stems and e-coli removed.

1 small onion, finely chopped. Green onions would work well, also.

½ cup plus cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese. (save some or grate more as you serve it)

course ground salt and pepper (to taste, of course)

2 tablespoons of butter, unsalted

Some Directions:
1. simmer the tomatoes and 3 cups of water in a separate sauce pan.

2. in a large saucepan, heat oil over medium. add sausage and onion, seasoning with salt and pepper. break up sausage while it cooks about 5 minutes.

3. add rice, stirring until until well coated. 1-2 minutes. Add wine, simmer until absorbed.
(two - tree minutes)

4. Add about 2 cups of hot tomatoe mixture stirring over medium-low heat. Stirring occasionally, until absorbed, 4-5 minutes. This is the key to great risotto, adding liquids a little at a time until absorbed. Then continue adding the tomatoe mixture, 1 cup at a time until rice is creamy and just tender, about a total of 25 - 30 minutes. You may not use all the tomatoe mixture. (don’t sweat it)

5. Remove pan from heat. Stir in spinach, Parmesan, and butter; season with ground salt and pepper, tasting as you go. Serve immediatley (risotto will thicken as it cools) and sprinkle with additonal freshly grated Parmesan. Serve with some hot Italian bread and your favorite wine.


Extra notes: I suggest you make this dish while your guests help. Prep-ing the spinach and grating the Parmesan can be a team effort. Have one of your guest open the wines as needed. Garlic and butter on the bread under a broiler won’t hurt. It would be easy to make this a vegetarian dish or substitute with turkey sausage I made this dish for less than $10. It makes at least 5 servings, so that’s about $2/serving. It’s also great in floor tortillas the next day, just add some hot sauce.
ENJOY!