Spicy Sausage Potpie

By LRay

Flecks of herb flavor the Cornmeal Pastry blanketing this one-dish oven meal. Beneath the crust you'll find a mouthwatering combination of ham, hominy, salsa, and Mexican chorizo sausage tucked inside.

Mexican chorizo adds zip, but it's OK to substitute Italian sausage if you can't fine chorizo in a grocery store or ethnic market. Remove any casings from the sausage before crumbling meat into the skillet for browning.

Ingredients

• Prep: 40 minutes. Bake: 40 minutes.
• 6 Ounces of Chorizo or Hot Italian Sausage, Crumbled
• 1 1/2 Cups Coarsely Chopped, peeled Rutabaga or Turnip (about 8 ounces)
• 1 Cup mild or medium salsa
• 3/4 Cup Cooked Ham, Cut into 1/2-inch cubes (4 ounces)
• 1/2 Cup Reduced-sodium Chicken Broth
• 1 14 1/2- or 15 Ounce can golden hominy rinsed and drained
• 1 Recipe Cornmeal Pasty
• Fresh Cilantro Sprigs (Optional)

Details

Preparation time 40mins
Cooking time 80mins
Adapted from recipesfromanormalmum.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. In a large skillet cook chorizo for 8 to 10 minutes or until brown. Drain fat. Stir in rutabaga, salsa, ham, and broth. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes or until rutabaga is crisp-tender. Stir in hominy. Spoon sausage mixture into an ungreased 1 1/2-quart casserole.

2. Preheat oven to 375º F. Prepare Cornmeal Pastry. Measure diameter of top of casserole; roll pastry about 1 inch larger than top of casserole. Place pastry on top of casserole. Turn pastry edges under and flute; cut slits in top for steam to escape.

3. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until pastry is golden brown. Garnish with cilantro sprigs, if desired.

Makes 4 Servings.

Cornmeal Pastry: In a medium mixing bowl combine 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in 1/3 cup shortening until pieces are pea-size. Stir in 2 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro or Italian parsley. Sprinkle 3 to 5 tablespoons cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, overt mixture, tossing with a fork after each addition until moistened. Form dough into a ball. Use pastry to prepare Spicy Sausage Potpie as directed above.

Nutrition facts per serving: 422 Calories. 38 g total fat, 14 mg cholesterol. 909 mg sodium, 48 g carbohydrates, 3 g fiber, and 22 g protein.