Mushroom and Sausage Ragu with Polenta

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 8 ounces hot turkey Italian sausage
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
• 2 1/2 cups fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup uncooked polenta
• 4 ounces 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
• 1 tablespoon butter

Preparation

1. 1. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons oil to pan; swirl to coat. Remove sausage from casings. Add sausage to pan; sauté 3 minutes or until browned, stirring to crumble. Remove sausage from pan.
2. 2. Add 1 tablespoon oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add mushrooms; sauté 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in sausage, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and tomatoes; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium; simmer gently for 15 minutes.
3. 3. Bring broth and 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add polenta, stirring well. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer 20 minutes or until thick, stirring occasionally. Stir in remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt, cheese, and butter. Serve with sausage mixture.
4. Wine match: Tempranillo At $3.99, who wouldn't jump for joy about the La Granja 360 Tempranillo (Carinena, Spain, 2008). Although a tad tight upon opening, this wine mellows to unveil a touch of licorice, tart cherry, and a dry spice rack concoction that echoes the mushrooms' depth, stands up to the spice of the sausage, and complements the creamy polenta. --Alexander Spacher