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Sausage and Garlic Scape Risotto

June 29, 2016 by justalittlebitofbacon 20 Comments

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There are lots of wonderful uses for garlic scapes and one I love is risotto! Garlic scapes and sausage combine in this garlic scape risotto to make a dinner that has lots of yummy, crispy meatiness on one side and tender, mild garlic flavor on the other, all over a base of creamy rice.

Sausage and Garlic Scape Risotto - Love risotto? Want to try garlic scapes? Garlic scapes have a great, mellow, garlic flavor when they are sauteed as in this risotto with garlic scapes and sausage. | justalittlebitofbacon.com
jump to recipe I can’t believe that I’ve had this blog up for nearly a year and hadn’t added a risotto recipe yet! Various forms of risotto, like this garlic scape risotto, are a pretty standard weeknight meal around here. Sometimes vegetarian, others shrimp or leftover bits of roast chicken, but pretty frequently I use sweet Italian sausage as my meat of choice, and, of course, I always add a vegetable to keep things balanced. Garlic scapes here do double duty – they are a lovely and seasonal vegetable and they add in that garlic flavor you need in a risotto.

Or at least that I need in a risotto. It’s not dinner unless there’s garlic. (an old Italian proverb, okay not really but it could be 🙂 )

Sausage and Garlic Scape Risotto - Love risotto? Want to try garlic scapes? Garlic scapes have a great, mellow, garlic flavor when they are sauteed as in this risotto with garlic scapes and sausage. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Not familiar with garlic scapes? They are the flower stalk of a hard-necked garlic bulb, and you can find them in local farm stands in the late spring to early summer. If you look at the picture up there, you will see that the stalks are very smooth until they get near the top where they bulge out and then taper to a point. That’s the bud of the garlic. You cut that part off before chopping up the rest of the garlic scapes. It’s the stalk part which you use in the recipe. Garlic scapes are wonderful and you can use them in any recipe where you would like a garlic flavor, such as pestos, stir fries, gratins, and risotto!

I will note that if garlic scapes are unavailable or out of season, the sausage risotto does make a great risotto base for any seasonal vegetable you have at hand (along with some cloves of garlic) all throughout the year.

Sausage and Garlic Scape Risotto - Love risotto? Want to try garlic scapes? Garlic scapes have a great, mellow, garlic flavor when they are sauteed as in this risotto with garlic scapes and sausage. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

One thing you might notice about my risotto method is that I’m fairly relaxed about it all. I don’t take the completely hands off approach of adding all the stock and letting rice cook undisturbed (it doesn’t seem like a risotto to me), but I’ve never found it worthwhile to stand and stir constantly either. That would be dull, is unnecessary, and I couldn’t work on the rest of dinner! So, add a decent glug of stock each time, stir occasionally, and get other things done while your rice gently cooks.

– Happy Eating, Annemarie

Sausage and Garlic Scape Risotto - Love risotto? Want to try garlic scapes? Garlic scapes have a great, mellow, garlic flavor when they are sauteed as in this risotto with garlic scapes and sausage. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Sausage and Garlic Scape Risotto
 
Print
Prep/Hold time
10 mins
Cook time
30 mins
Total time
40 mins
 
Garlic scapes have a great, mellow, garlic flavor when they are sauteed as in this risotto with garlic scapes and sausage.
Author: Just a Little Bit of Bacon
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 4 sweet Italian sausage links (10 oz)
  • 1½ cups arborio rice
  • 4 cups low sodium chicken stock
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • ½ cup white wine or vermouth
  • 1 bunch garlic scapes, cut into ½ inch lengths
  • 1 oz parmesan cheese, finely shredded
Directions
  1. Add the sausage links to a small saucepan, poke them with a fork, and cover them with water. Bring them to a boil on high, then lower the heat and let them simmer for 15 minutes. Drain the sausage and let them rest until they are cool enough to handle. Cut the sausage into thin (about ⅓ inch) rounds. Heat a medium skillet on medium-high and saute the sausage rounds until they are deep brown and crisp on both sides.
  2. While the sausage is cooking, put the rice into a fine mesh strainer and place the strainer over a medium saucepan. Pour the chicken stock over the rice to wash the starch off the grains and into the stock. Put the saucepan on medium heat and bring it to a simmer. Once it's simmering, shut off the heat and cover the saucepan to keep it hot.
  3. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a large skillet or saucier. Let the butter foam up and subside and then add the onion and salt. Saute the onion until soft and golden, about 8 minutes. Add the rice and saute for 2 minutes, or until it smells a little toasty. Add the wine wine or vermouth; simmer until absorbed, 1-2 minutes. Add the stock a ladleful or two at a time, stirring occasionally. Allow each addition to be almost absorbed (you don't want the rice to get dry and stick to bottom) and keep the rice at a very gentle simmer. The risotto will be done when you have used most of the stock and the rice just tender but not mushy, about 20-25 minutes. Taste the risotto and add more salt if needed.
  4. Take the risotto off the heat; immediately and vigorously stir the garlic scapes, the remaining 2 tbsp of butter, and the parmesan cheese into the rice. The risotto should be glossy and creamy. Add in the sausage rounds. Serve with a grating of extra parmesan over the top.
Notes
When using garlic scapes you need to cut off the blossom end. Garlic scapes are smooth until they get to a point where they bulge out and then come to a point. This is the blossom. Just slice it off and use the rest of the scape.

I like garlic and cheese Italian sausage when I can find it.

Don't feel any need to stand over the risotto as it cooks. Keep an eye on it so the rice doesn't get dry and stir it every so often. but the risotto will cook just fine without much attention.

Rinsing the rise with the stock isn't strictly necessary. If you like your rice toasted (as I have instructed here), then rinsing the rice will make sure your risotto is creamy at the end. (As discussed in this post by Serious Eats.) If you are not a fan of toasted rice, skip the rinsing step.
3.5.3208
Sausage and Garlic Scape Risotto - Love risotto? Want to try garlic scapes? Garlic scapes have a great, mellow, garlic flavor when they are sauteed as in this risotto with garlic scapes and sausage. | justalittlebitofbacon.com
Sausage and Garlic Scape Risotto - Love risotto? Want to try garlic scapes? Garlic scapes have a great, mellow, garlic flavor when they are sauteed as in this risotto with garlic scapes and sausage. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

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Filed Under: 10 ingredients or less, gluten free, italian comfort food, italian recipes, main courses, meaty main dishes, recipe, rice & grains, summer Tagged With: garlic scapes, rice, sausage

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Comments

  1. Ree says

    June 5, 2018 at 6:23 am

    I know it’s been a couple years since you posted this, but I found it on Pinterest. I recently joined a CSA and got garlic scapes in my first delivery and had no idea what to do with them. I had never heard of them before. Thank you for this recipe, it was amazing!!

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      June 5, 2018 at 7:53 pm

      I’m always happy to get a comment on recipe no matter how long ago I posted it. 🙂 Garlic scapes are great, but not something most people have tried, so I’m glad my recipe could help you. I also have a nice dip using scapes if you need another idea.

      Reply
  2. Doyle Rendall says

    August 3, 2016 at 9:15 pm

    The result is a heavenly, hearty dish with a mild garlicky-ness to it. It won t overpower your senses, but rather tickle them just a bit Will, Paige, Shawn and I all ate it with gusto.

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      August 3, 2016 at 11:53 pm

      Great! I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it and thanks for letting me know. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Natasha @ Salt and Lavender says

    July 4, 2016 at 5:50 pm

    Ahh this looks so tasty!! I just love risotto but don’t make it nearly often enough.

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      July 5, 2016 at 10:08 pm

      Thank you! Me too. I was happy to pull out my risotto recipe for this. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Maria says

    July 4, 2016 at 11:12 am

    Wow… I love this recipe with the beatiful garlic flavour!!

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      July 4, 2016 at 1:14 pm

      Thank you! The garlic flavor is wonderful in this. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Cynthia Rusincovitch says

    July 2, 2016 at 9:40 pm

    What a beautiful dish. The risotto looks so good and creamy!

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      July 3, 2016 at 10:18 am

      Thank you!. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Amanda says

    July 2, 2016 at 9:16 pm

    Now..I am intrigued! I love garlic…I mean …LOVE but I’ve never heard of garlic scapes! I’m now going to be on the hunt for these! They look amazing and anything risotto is fab. I’m like you, I add in leftover chicken or sausage…whatever…risotto is fabulous no matter how you cook it! Thanks for this recipe!!

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      July 3, 2016 at 10:18 am

      Garlic scapes are one of those secret vegetables which I never see at supermarkets. And the season is short! So look for them at farmer’s markets and farm stands and talk to your local farmers to see who is growing them. And good luck!

      Reply
  7. Kim says

    July 2, 2016 at 8:50 pm

    This is absolute perfection. I adore garlic scapes so this is right up my alley.

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      July 3, 2016 at 10:10 am

      Thanks! I love them too.

      Reply
  8. Noel says

    July 2, 2016 at 7:45 pm

    I was just reading about garlic scapes this afternoon in one of my herb books. I’d heard them mentioned before, but wasn’t certain what they were …exactly. Thanks for the simple explanation and great photo. That helped my education!

    I’ll be trying this out soon!

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      July 3, 2016 at 10:09 am

      Glad I could help. I love learning about unusual veggies. 🙂

      Reply
  9. jacquee | i sugar coat it says

    July 2, 2016 at 5:26 pm

    We are grilling scape as I write this comment! Love how you have used it here. YUMMMMM…

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      July 2, 2016 at 6:30 pm

      Thanks! It’s a versatile vegetable that’s fun to try in different recipes.

      Reply
  10. Sandy @ The Girl Loves To Eat says

    June 29, 2016 at 12:50 pm

    Beautiful, beautiful recipe! And hooray for the garlic flavour. I definitely need it in a great risotto (and in soooo many other things).

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      June 29, 2016 at 1:58 pm

      Thank you so much! And I don’t think I could cook if there were no garlic. It’s the foundation of almost every savory dish I make. 🙂

      Reply

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Hello, I’m Annemarie

Welcome to my kitchen! I’m a Italian-American girl who loves fresh foods, local ingredients, and all sorts of comfort foods. Here you will find Mediterranean flavors and recipes from a New England perspective.

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