Recipe: Andouille smoked sausage dressing

Andouille smoked sausage dressing Total time: 50 minutes, plus chilling time Servings: Makes about 6 cups Note: Adapted from “Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Louisiana Kitchen.” 1/4 cup olive oil 4 cups chopped onions, divided 2 cups chopped celery, divided 2 cups chopped green bell peppers, divided 1 1/4 pound andouille smoked sausage (preferred) or any other good pure smoked pork sausage such as polish sausage (kielbasa), ground, to yield 3 cups 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened 2 tablespoons minced garlic 2 tablespoons Tabasco sauce, or to taste 2 cups chicken broth 1 1/2 cup very fine dry bread crumbs (preferably French bread) 1. In a large skillet, heat the oil over high heat. Stir in 2 cups onions and 1 cup each celery and bell peppers. Sauté the vegetables until caramelized, stirring frequently, about 10 to 12 minutes. 2. Stir in the andouille and cook until the meat is browned, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the remaining 2 cups onions, 1 cup celery and 1 cup bell peppers, along with the butter, garlic and Tabasco. Reduce heat to medium and cook about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally to marry the flavors. 3. Stir in the stock and bring to a simmer; continue cooking until the oil rises to the top (until the water evaporates), about 10 minutes. Stir in the bread crumbs and remove from heat. 4. Place the dressing in a baking dish, cover and refrigerate until chilled before stuffing. (To bake the dressing on its own, place it in an ungreased 8-inch-square baking dish; bake uncovered in a 425-degree oven until browned on top, about 45 minutes, stirring and scraping the pan bottom very well every 15 minutes.) Each one-half cup dressing: 266 calories; 11 grams protein; 18 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams fiber; 18 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 36 mg. cholesterol; 4 grams sugar; 558 mg. sodium.