Wednesday 9 May 2012

Venison sausage, grape and chocolate bake

Sausage bake


Well, isn't this a delicious, autumnal-looking plateful? It's just a crying shame that it is mid-May, and that the weather is still so crappy that hearty comfort food is really appetising.

At first glance, sausages, grapes and chocolate may sound like a totally cracked-out combination, but there are lots of game & chocolate recipes, and salsiccia all’uva is a pretty classic Tuscan dish, so it really isn't that much of a stretch and it is totally delicious. Even if the grapes aren't really sweet when they are raw, after a time in the oven they become more concentrated and luscious and the juices meld with the chocolatey balsamic into something really special. I'd serve a green vegetable on its own, after this, rather than putting anything extra on the plate.

Venison sausage, grape and chocolate bake (serves 2)

splash of olive oil
2 red onions, peeled and cut into quarters
2 potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1 branch fresh rosemary
1 small celeriac, peeled and cut into chunks
6 venison sausages
1 large bunch of seedless red grapes (these were Crimson)
Salt & pepper

Put the onions, potatoes, rosemary and celeriac in a roasting tin with a splash of oil, and toss around well to coat. Roast at 180C for about 30 minutes.

Add the sausages and grapes and some salt & pepper (mostly pepper) and return the tin to the oven for another 20 minutes. Remove, turn the sausages and drizzle over the chocolate balsamic reduction, then return to the oven for another 15 minutes or until everything is sticky and brown and delicious.

You may need to lick the plate.

9 comments:

Elly McCausland said...

What a fantastic combination of flavours...I had never thought of grapes with sausages before and can't wait to try it! I've never cooked with grapes but I can imagine how lovely and juicy they go after being in the oven...this is such a great recipe!

hungryandfrozen said...

Intriguing! But I can definitely see it working. In my mouth.

Joanne said...

Doesn't sound crazy to me! Great combination of flavors!

Bettina Douglas said...

I can see how these flavours would work - and I suspect the celeriac is a key ingredient?

Alicia Foodycat said...

Elly - the baked grapes are excellent. I can imagine them also working with a baked camembert.

Laura - thanks!

Joanne - thank you!

Mother - certainly the celeriac is an important part. But you could probably sub parsnips.

Hotly Spiced said...

That looks wonderful Alicia. What great comfort food. I haven't had chocolate balsamic reduction before but I'd love to try this xx

grace said...

what an ingenious use for that chocolate balsamic reduction! my mouth is watering BIG time for this one. :)

Alicia Foodycat said...

Charlie - it's really good stuff!

Grace - thanks! High praise coming from the queen of mouthwatering recipes.

kat said...

Grilled grapes & sausage with a balsamic reduction is one of my favorite things so I know I'd love this

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