Cotechino Sausage with Cous Cous Saute

Last week I went to hear Mario Batali talk at Harvard, and everything he talked about brought me right back to Italy this summer, and my god I missed it.  After listening to him talk and watch him cook for an hour, I kicked myself for letting my passion for cooking and maintaining this blog fall by the way side. But it is a new month, soon to be a new year, and the time to change is now. This recipe took parts from what I saw while at Mario, and turned it into a new dish.  This sausage was what Mario made for us and I am obsessed.  It has so much flavor, probably from how many types of meat are in it and it also comes from Modena, so naturally it is fantastic. This can be made vegetarian and is a simple fantastic meal to enjoy whenever.

Ingredients:

• Cotechino sausage (or other Italian Sausage)
• 1 zucchini
• 1/2 white onion
• 3/4 cup cooked cous cous
• 1/2 tablespoon butter
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons Parmesan
• salt and pepper
• balsamic vinegar

How to:

1. Slice the sausage into disks.
2. In a pan, place your butter in and then cook the sausage until crispy and a dark/golden brown on the edges.
3. Remove the sausage from the pan and place on the side.
4. Take your zucchini and onion and shred them.
5. Then add them into the same pan your were cooking the sausage in, add in the garlic
6. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and cook down until everything is tender.
7. Add in the cous cous and continue to cook for a few minutes until incorporated.
8. Add in the parmesan and cook on low heat until everything gets cheesy.
9. Remove from heat and add the sausage back in.
10. Drizzle with a bit of balsamic dressing and more cheese, and enjoy!