Description
Potato and sausage chowder brings warmth to winter dinners with creamy, rich flavors from Wisconsin potatoes and spicy Italian sausage. Homemade comfort awaits with this simple one-pot meal you will savor to the last delicious spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 400g (14.11 ounces) (6) sausages, any flavor
Vegetables:
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 3 tablespoons plain/all-purpose flour
- 750ml (3 cups) chicken or vegetable stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 100g (1/2 cup) wild rice
- 375ml (1 1/2 cups) single/light cream or half and half
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- In a large soup pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Liberate sausage from its casing, crumble into the pot, and sauté until golden brown and thoroughly cooked. Transfer to a separate plate, reserving about 2 tablespoons of rendered fat.
- Return pot to heat, introduce chopped onion, celery, and sliced carrots. Gently sweat vegetables for 10 minutes until softened. Incorporate minced garlic and thyme, cooking for an additional 30 seconds to release aromatic oils.
- Dust vegetables with flour, stirring to create a cohesive paste. Toast the mixture for 2-3 minutes to eliminate raw flour taste.
- Reintroduce cooked sausage to the pot. Gradually stream in chicken stock, whisking to prevent lumps. Add bay leaves and wild rice, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Reduce heat to low, allowing the chowder to simmer for 30 minutes, developing deep flavors and tenderizing the wild rice.
- Fold in cubed potatoes, continuing to cook for 15 minutes until both potatoes and rice reach perfect tenderness.
- Finish the chowder with cream, seasoning generously with salt and pepper. Warm through without boiling.
- Ladle into serving bowls, garnishing with freshly chopped parsley for a burst of color and herbaceous freshness.
Notes
- Customize Sausage Selection experiment with different types like spicy Italian, chorizo, or chicken sausage to create unique flavor profiles and suit various dietary preferences.
- Rice Alternatives swap wild rice with quinoa, barley, or cauliflower rice for gluten-free or lower-carb options that maintain the chowder’s hearty texture.
- Fat Management skim excess sausage fat to reduce calories, or use leaner sausage varieties without compromising the rich, robust taste of the dish.
- Dairy-Free Adaptation replace heavy cream with coconut milk, almond milk, or cashew cream to make the chowder suitable for lactose-intolerant or vegan diners while preserving its creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 70mg