These pork sausages with roasted grapes are a traditional Umbrian dish that juxtaposes rich sausage with sweet grapes.
This Umbrian comfort food is traditionally made during autumn when grapes are in abundance. In the traditional recipe, the grapes are cooked in a cast-iron skillet on the stovetop alongside the sausages, although here the grapes are roasted separately on a baking sheet, which concentrates and intensifies the flavor. Whatever way you cook the sausages and grapes, it’s a lovely dish, especially when served alongside the traditional polenta.–Renee Schettler Rossi
☞ Contents
Pork Sausages with Roasted Grapes
Ingredients
- 8 sweet Italian pork sausages
- 1/2 cup water
- 12 ounces seedless black or red grapes* stripped from their stems
- Olive oil
Directions
- Use a sharp knife or a fork to prick a few holes in each sausage. Place the sausages and the water in a seasoned cast-iron skillet or other heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Cook until the water has evaporated and the sausages have begun to color lightly, about 12 minutes. If the sausages become quite plump during cooking prick them again to release the excess fat. (Do not prick them too much or they’ll dry out.) Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook the sausages, turning them occasionally, until browned all over and cooked through, about 20 minutes more.
- Meanwhile… If you would like to cook the grapes separately from the pork sausages, preheat a toaster oven or an oven to 375°F (190°C). Wash and dry the grapes well. Toss them with a little olive oil in a toaster oven tray or a rimmed baking sheet and spread in a single layer. Roast the grapes until brown and bubbly, about 15 minutes. Note that they can burn easily because of their high sugar content, so keep an eye on them as they cook.
If you would like to cook the grapes in the pan alongside the pork sausages, add them to the skillet when the sausage cooking water has evaporated. Proceed as directed for the remainder of the cooking time. - Transfer the grapes and sausages to a large warmed platter, leaving behind any excess fat in the skillet, and serve presto.
Notes
*What Kind Of Grapes To Use In This Recipe
As anyone who drinks wine knows, a grape is most definitely not a grape is a grape is a grape. Although an open-minded mentality works quite nice in this recipe. It’s especially lovely when made with the large, robust black grapes available in fall, especially those found in Umbria, but it works just fine with plump domestic red grapes from California. To impart a little extra flavor, toss a sprig or two of fresh rosemary on the grapes after tossing them with the oil. Or you can pan-roast everything all together on the same baking sheet, rather than searing the sausage in a skillet, to let the flavors of the pork and the grapes mingle and meld.Show Nutrition
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We’d love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Originally published November 22, 2010
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If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We'd love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Yum! What an easy meal. I was looking for a way to use the Concord grapes that I bought at the market this weekend (I know – seeds! But flavor! But seeds! It was a conundrum.)
In the end, It was worth the crunching to get that deeply heavenly purple jammy flavor – delicious. And just like that, it’s Fall. 🍇
Janet, delicious looking. And what’s a few grape seeds between friends! xo
One of our family staples in the fall (thanks George & Johanne). I add a jot of balsamic in with the grapes & serve over/on some rough mashed potatoes, garnish with some snipped rosemary. Also tasty if you can take an extra minute, fire up the Weber & grill the sausages. Serve with some strong red wine…or bourbon. Either one…doesn’t matter.
Hi Rick, love your serving suggestions- my mouth is watering as I type. I may need to change my dinner plans for tonight.
Thanks for commenting!