Sausage and Wild Rice Hotdish

Step 1

For the hotdish: Into a medium saucepan, add the rice and cover with 2 1/2 cups of water. Add the bay leaf and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook over low heat, covered, until the rice is cooked through but still has a little bite, 30 to 35 minutes. Drain off excess water, discard the bay leaf and set aside.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Step 3

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the sausage. Using a wooden spoon, break up the sausage into smaller pieces and cook until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the leeks to the skillet and cook until just softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil if the pan is dry. Add the kale (or as much as will fit) and toss to coat in the oil. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Allow the kale to cook down enough to add the remaining kale and continue to cook until wilted but still bright green, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the sausage mixture to a large bowl.

Step 4

Add the butter into the pan to melt. Add the flour and stir to make a paste. Cook for 1 minute, then gradually whisk in the cream, whisking to thicken before adding more. Gradually add the chicken stock and season with nutmeg and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a gentle boil to thicken, about 1 minute. Stir in the wild rice and kale-sausage mixture. Sprinkle the fontina and Parmesan cheeses evenly over top. Mix the cracker crumbs with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and sprinkle all over the cheese to cover.

Step 5

Bake in the oven until nicely browned and bubbly around the edges, 18 to 20 minutes. (Note: depending on the variety of wild rice, you may need to cook longer.) Set aside to cool slightly for 10 minutes.

Step 6

For the arugula salad: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Add the arugula and toss in the dressing until coated.

Step 7

Garnish the hotdish with a sprinkling of fresh parsley and serve with a simple arugula salad on the side. Leftover gratin will keep in a covered container in the fridge for up to 3 days.