Careme

Ingredients

• Kroger® Country Pork Ground Sausage (or mild Italian-style pork meatballs, crumbled) 8 oz (about half the 16 oz pack) $4.29 (sale)
• Simple Truth Organic® Sliced White Mushrooms (or Whole Baby Bellas) 8 oz $3.99 (8 oz) or $4.49 (8 oz)
• Organic Kale 4–6 oz (about half a bunch) $2.99
• Organic Leek (or yellow onion) 1/2 large leek (or 1/2 small onion) $5.49 (bunch) or $2.19/lb
• Simple Truth Organic® Garlic Bulbs 2 cloves $2.79 (3 ct)
• Arborio rice 1 cup
• Broth (chicken or vegetable) 4 cups, kept hot
• Olive oil 1 tbsp (as needed)
• Butter 2 tbsp (divided)
• Dry white wine (optional) 1/3 cup (or use extra broth)
• Parmesan (optional but recommended) 1/3 cup, finely grated
• Lemon (optional but nice) 1/2 lemon (zest + 1–2 tsp juice)
• Salt & black pepper to taste
• Red pepper flakes (optional) pinch

Instructions

1. Warm broth: Heat broth in a small pot so it stays steaming-hot while you cook the risotto.
2. Prep veg: Slice mushrooms. Thinly slice leek and rinse well. Mince garlic. Strip kale from stems and slice into ribbons. (Optional) zest the lemon.
3. Brown sausage (stove): In a wide saucepan over medium-high heat, crumble in sausage and cook 5–7 minutes until browned. Use a slotted spoon to transfer sausage to a bowl. If there’s a lot of fat, spoon off all but ~1 tbsp (leave the browned bits).
4. Sauté leeks + mushrooms: Lower heat to medium. Add 1 tbsp butter (or a drizzle of oil if pan is dry). Cook leeks 3–4 minutes with a pinch of salt. Add mushrooms and cook 6–8 minutes until browned and their liquid evaporates. Add garlic (and pepper flakes) for 30 seconds.
5. Toast rice: Add arborio rice and stir 1–2 minutes until edges look slightly translucent and it smells nutty.
6. Deglaze: Add wine (if using) and stir until mostly absorbed.
7. Ladle + stir: Add hot broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring frequently. When liquid is mostly absorbed, add the next ladle. Continue 16–20 minutes, adjusting heat so it gently bubbles.
8. Add kale + sausage: Stir kale in during the last 3–5 minutes. Add the browned sausage back in to warm through. Add extra broth as needed to keep it creamy and loose.
9. Finish: Turn off heat. Stir in remaining 1 tbsp butter and Parmesan. Add lemon zest and 1–2 tsp lemon juice (optional). Taste and adjust salt/pepper. Rest 1 minute, then serve.