- 1 teaspoon neutral cooking oil for frying
- 1 pound loose hot Italian sausage
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper optional
- 4 tablespoons butter divided
- 2 small leeks thoroughly washed, trimmed, and cut thinly into rounds
- 1½ cups arborio rice
- 4-5 cups hot chicken broth low-sodium
- 1 bunch Swiss chard stems removed, leaves chopped
- 2 ounces sage leaves chiffonaded
- ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Brown the Sausage:
Heat the cooking oil in a wide pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks, for 10-12 minutes until well-browned and cooked-through. Season with extra crushed red pepper, if desired. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
Drain off excess fat from the pot, reserving any fond stuck to the bottom of the pot.
Cook the Risotto:
Add 1 ladle of the hot broth (it should be enough to mostly cover the rice in the pot) and bring to a low boil. Reduce the heat to low and stir often for 2-3 minutes until most of the liquid is absorbed. Continue adding a ladle of liquid and stirring for a few minutes until absorbed until 4 cups of the liquid has been added. If you need more liquid, add another cup and allow the liquid to absorb.
Cook the Greens:
Once most of the liquid has been absorbed, add the chopped Swiss chard, sage, and reserved cooked sausage. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring regularly, until the Swiss chard is wilted. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
Calories: 520kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 30g | Sodium: 746mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 16mg