Solar Braised Chicken Sausage Recipes

HARD CIDER-BRAISED SAUSAGES WITH SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Brown the sausages all over, in batches if necessary, about 5 minutes per batch. Remove to a plate as they brown. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 4 minutes.
• Add the sauerkraut and toss to combine with the onions. Add the thyme, coriander and allspice and stir to combine. Season with pepper. Pour in the cider and reduce by half. Add the stock and brown sugar and return to a simmer. Tuck the sausages back into the pot and simmer, uncovered, until the kraut is very tender and the sauce is flavorful and slightly reduced, 25 to 30 minutes. Season with salt, if needed.
• Bring the sauce to a boil, add the butter and swirl to melt and combine. Serve topped with the parsley.
• Remove any loose leaves from the cabbage head and reserve. Quarter the cabbage and thinly slice, on a mandoline if you have one. (The shreds should be about the thickness of a quarter.) Toss the cabbage in a large bowl with the pickling salt. Work the cabbage through your hands and massage for a minute or two, until the cabbage begins to "sweat" and release some water.
• Thinly slice, then julienne the green apple, leaving the peel on. (Again, use a mandoline if you have one.) Slice the ginger into coins and press with the side of your knife to bruise them slightly and release their oils. Add the apples, ginger and allspice berries to the cabbage and toss well. Let sit for an hour or two, until the cabbage has released quite a bit of water.
• Pack the cabbage mixture into a large, wide-mouthed crock and press down very firmly until the liquid the cabbage has released covers it. (Depending on the age of your cabbage, it may release less water; a fresher cabbage will release a lot of water, while a cabbage that has been stored all winter will release less.) If the cabbage is not covered, mix together 1 quart cold water and 4 1/2 teaspoons pickling salt until dissolved and pour over enough to cover the cabbage.
• Use a couple of the reserved whole cabbage leaves to cover the surface of the cabbage. Cover with a plate (or the weight provided, if you have a fermenting crock) and set something heavy on top to weight it. (You can use cans. Many people like to use a resealable plastic bag filled with the same salted water solution used above because it weights evenly and if it leaks, it doesn't ruin the fermentation process.) Store the crock in a cool, dry place.
• Check the kraut after 2 days. There should be a few bubbles around the sides. Skim any scum that has risen to the surface. Check the kraut every few days and repeat skimming, if needed. Depending on the temperature of your room, the kraut should be ready after about a week. (Some people ferment for a couple of weeks or more, depending on how funky they want their kraut to be.)
• Divide the kraut and pack into jars. Store in the refrigerator. Drain and rinse the kraut well (discarding any ginger pieces) before using.

BALSAMIC BRAISED CHICKEN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Put sausage and red onion in a large skillet. Add chicken broth, EVOO, and balsamic vinegar until it comes about half way up the sausages.
• Cook over medium high heat until all of the liquid is evaporated. If you like balsamic vinegar you may want to add more to make more of a glaze.
• I served with mashed sweet potatoes and put some of the extra glaze on the potatoes like a gravy!

5-INGREDIENT CHICKEN SAUSAGE WITH BRAISED RED CABBAGE

Steps:

• Heat a large, wide-based pot over medium heat. Add 2 teaspoons neutral high-heat cooking oil, like canola, rice bran or grapeseed oil. When the oil is shimmering, add the sausage and brown on one side, about 3 minutes. Turn and brown another side, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn and brown another side if possible, about 2 minutes. Remove from the pan.
• Add the apple, onion and cabbage to the pan, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon as the water releases from the vegetables. Cook until wilted, stirring occasionally and reducing the heat to medium-low as needed, about 10 minutes. Add the vinegar, 1/4 cup water (or broth for added flavor, if you have some) and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Place the sausage on top. Partially cover and simmer until the fruit and vegetables become wilted and are fork-tender, about 5 minutes. Slice the sausage on a cutting board and serve over the fruit and vegetables.

SOLAR BRAISED CHICKEN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Set Global Sun Oven out to preheat. Combine sauerkraut, wine, and caraway seeds in a dark, light-weight pot. Place sausages on top of sauerkraut mixture. Cover and cook in GSO until sausages are heated through; about 45 minutes.