Friday, December 30, 2011

(Vegan) Sausage and Potato Goulash--A Delicious Winter Warmer

Winter dishes mean comfort food full of warming spices like cinnamon and paprika. This makes a dish like goulash perfect for this time of year. Over at I Heart Cooking Clubs we are cooking up recipes for a Winter Wonderland. Of course this being Hawaii, we don't have a cold weather and snow but it is definitely cooler this time of year and the last couple of weeks have been breezy, rainy and cool enough for a light blanket to snuggle with. Works for me!

Since I am not cooking or eating meat right now, I decided to make the dish using some good vegan sausages, but of course, you can make it with any kind of sausages you like. Or, if you can't find a good vegan sausage, you could sub out the meat for your favorite beans and still have a delicious and satisfying dish.


Tessa Kiros says, "This is a great, quick, tasty meal-in-one that will serve quite a few people or leave you with enough leftovers for the next day. Adults can serve theirs with a twist of pepper. This can be completely prepared in advance and just warmed up to serve. It's important to use good quality sausages--Italian sausages are also good."


(Vegan) Sausage and Potato Goulash
Apples for Jam
(Serves 8)

1 3/4 lbs good-quality sausages (I used Field Roast Italian Sausages)
2 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp butter (I omitted the butter)
1 large red onion, finely chopped
1 to 2 tsp sweet paprika
5 to 6 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup canned, diced tomatoes
1/2 cinnamon stick
1 bay leaf
2 cups hot water
salt
2 1/2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Slice the sausages into rounds about 1/2 inch thick. Heat the oil and butter in large heavy-bottomed pan (cast iron is good) and sauté the onion for a couple of minutes over medium heat. Stir in the paprika, cook for 30 seconds or so, and then add the sausages. Continue cooking, stirring fairly often, until the sausages turn golden in places. Add the potatoes, tomatoes, cinnamon, bay leaf, and 2 cups of hot water. Season with salt and bring to a boil.

Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes until the potatoes are softened and the goulash is thick and stewy. Stir with a wooden spoon from time to time and loosen the bits at the bottom to make sure they don't stick. If the potatoes are not quite done after that time, take the pan off the heat and leave it with the lid on it for the potatoes to continue steaming. Mix the parsley through and serve hot, or even at room temperature.


Notes/Results: The smell of this goulash bubbling away is pretty irresistible--the scent of the paprika and cinnamon linger lightly in the air and combine with the tomatoes, sausage and onions to make a thick, rich, and very flavorful sauce. I served the goulash on my usual bed of baby spinach to get those greens in, and it made for a very warming and filling dinner that came together in no time. I would make this again.


You can see what Winter Wonderland creations the other IHCC participants made this week by going to the post and following the links.



***A Discovery of Witches Giveaway***
Don't forget that I am hosting a drawing for a terrific winter read to curl up with on a winter's day; A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. Get all the details about the book & how to enter for a chance to win here.

12 comments:

  1. Aren't the Field Roast sausages awesome? They taste strikingly similar to real Italian sausage!

    What a superb comfort food. It was FREEZING here yesterday and I would have LOVED to come home to a bowl of this!

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  2. My men would love this. (With Italian sausages!) Definitely a rib-sticker, and very comforting.

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  3. It looks just lovely! Very warming and comforting. I'd make it after a day of hauling logs out of the bush. :)

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  4. Love the fact that this dish is veggie. Beautiful nad colourful.I would love to invite you to submit this dish to Lets cook for christmas red/green event @ simply.food.

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  5. Sausage and potatoes is one of my all-time favorite things to eat. I'll have to look for the Field Roast sausages. I wouldn't mind trying a non meat version. If I could have the taste and not all the fat from the real sausage it would be a blessing. Looks delicious!

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  6. I can almost smell it! Sausage and potatoes is a favorite combo of mine, as well...I'm marking this one.

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  7. Hearty and delicious! Hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve!

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  8. I still have some parsnip in my garden, hope the ground is not solidly frozen so I bring some in for this soup.

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  9. Oops, my comment was meant for the parsnip soup post.

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  10. This dish just looks amazing - so incredibly colourful and flavourful, I would love to just dive right into a huge bowl of that. Sausage and potatoes really is a "no fail" combo:-)
    Sue xo

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