Description
Hearty Sausage and Potato Casserole delivers comfort from Polish kitchens with robust flavors. Layered ingredients blend perfectly, creating a satisfying meal that warms souls and connects diners to traditional culinary heritage.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 kg (2 lbs) potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
- 500 g (1 lb) sausage (pork, chicken, or turkey), casings removed
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsps butter
- 3 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (500 ml) milk
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Sausage Browning: In a large skillet over medium heat, thoroughly cook sausage, breaking it into crumbly pieces until fully done. Transfer to a separate plate while maintaining the skillet’s residual flavors.
- Aromatics Development: Utilize the same skillet to sauté onions and garlic until they become translucent, releasing their rich, savory essence. Set aside the caramelized mixture.
- Composition: Blend cooked sausage, caramelized onions, garlic, potato slices, sour cream, milk, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a spacious mixing bowl, ensuring all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Assembly: Transfer the harmonious mixture into the prepared baking dish, creating an even layer. Crown the casserole with a generous layer of shredded cheddar cheese, ensuring complete coverage.
- Initial Baking: Encase the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes, allowing potatoes to tenderize and flavors to intermingle.
- Finishing Touch: Remove the foil and continue baking for 15-20 minutes until potatoes reach fork-tender perfection and cheese transforms into a golden-brown, bubbling crust.
- Serving: Rest the casserole for 5-7 minutes post-baking. Optionally, sprinkle freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant garnish before presenting to eager diners.
Notes
- Slice Potatoes Evenly: Use a mandoline or sharp knife to create uniform potato rounds, ensuring consistent cooking and preventing some pieces from being undercooked or overcooked.
- Control Sausage Fat: Choose lean sausage varieties to reduce excess grease, or drain extra fat after browning to prevent a greasy casserole texture.
- Enhance Cheese Layer: Mix different cheese types like mozzarella or gruyère with cheddar for a more complex and rich flavor profile that elevates the dish.
- Dietary Modifications: Substitute dairy ingredients with plant-based alternatives like coconut milk and vegan cheese for lactose-intolerant or vegan dietary needs, maintaining the casserole’s creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Breakfast, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 445
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg