Italian sausage, pepper and mushroom frittata {gluten-free}

SAWSIDGE 'N PEPPAH: it's a real New England Italian-American thing, a favorite street food or diner meal, and you have to pronounce it properly or we'll know you're not from here. Sausage, bell peppers and onions, pan-fried and stuffed into a long sandwich roll, a combination so good it's groan-worthy. There's not much better than that, unless you want to skip the bread, in which case this frittata is for you. Think of the egg as the sandwich roll, with some cheese to bind it together. And mushrooms, because everything tastes better with mushrooms. I've lightened the frittata a bit by using chicken sausage (there are so many great varieties available in the grocery store these days, so use your favorite, and be sure it's gluten-free if that's what you need), and low-fat cheese. If you have a very large frying pan (12 inches or larger), you can double the recipe for a brunch party, or refrigerate leftovers and reheat throughout the week for easy breakfast or a light supper.

Italian sausage, pepper and mushroom frittata

From the pantry, you'll need: onion, shredded cheese, fresh herbs, olive oil, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, eggs, kosher salt, fresh black pepper.

Serves 4.

Ingredients

2 tsp olive oil
1 small onion, diced
12 oz pre-cooked Italian sausage (I like Al Fresco "fully cooked" chicken sausage with sun-dried tomato); be sure it's gluten-free if that's important to you
1 medium bell pepper (any color), thinly sliced
8 oz sliced mushrooms, cremini or white button mushrooms
8 large eggs
7 oz shredded cheese (I like low-fat 4-cheese Italian blend)
2 tsp milk (nonfat or low-fat)
2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp fresh black pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, or more to taste

Directions

Preheat the broiler.

Heat an oven-safe, nonstick 10-or 11-inch frying pan over low heat, and add the olive oil, onion, sausage and bell pepper. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, until the onion is translucent. Then add the mushrooms, and continue to cook until the sausage is browned and the mushrooms have given off most of their liquid.

In a large glass measuring cup or bowl, quickly whisk together the eggs, shredded cheese and milk. Stir in the thyme, salt and pepper. Pour the egg mixture on top of the vegetables in the pan.

Cover the pan, and cook on low heat for 3 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, gently lift the edge of the frittata here and there, and allow the uncooked egg to run underneath. Cook covered, for 3-4 minutes more, or until the frittata is almost completely set but the top is a little bit runny.

Remove the pan from heat, and sprinkle with the parmesan cheese. Place the pan under the broiler until the cheese is bubbling and melted; how long that takes will depend on the type of broiler you have. (My infrared broiler took only one minute to melt the cheese, so keep an eye on it.)

Remove the pan from the oven, and let it sit for 5 minutes before cutting into wedges. Serve warm or at room temperature.

[Printer-friendly recipe.]

More eggy frittatas, for breakfast or supper:
Zucchini, goat cheese and basil frittata, from The Perfect Pantry
Herb and ricotta frittata, from The Perfect Pantry
Slow cooker frittata with artichoke hearts, roasted red pepper and feta, from Kalyn's Kitchen
Kale frittata, from David Lebovitz
Prosciutto-wrapped mini frittata muffins, from Nom Nom Paleo

Italian sausage, pepper and mushroom frittata

From the pantry, you'll need: onion, shredded cheese, fresh herbs, olive oil, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, eggs, kosher salt, fresh black pepper.

Serves 4.

Ingredients

2 tsp olive oil
1 small onion, diced
12 oz pre-cooked Italian sausage (I like Al Fresco "fully cooked" chicken sausage with sun-dried tomato); be sure it's gluten-free if that's important to you
1 medium bell pepper (any color), thinly sliced
8 oz sliced mushrooms, cremini or white button mushrooms
8 large eggs
7 oz shredded cheese (I like low-fat 4-cheese Italian blend)
2 tsp milk (nonfat or low-fat)
2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp fresh black pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, or more to taste

Directions

Preheat the broiler.

Heat an oven-safe, nonstick 10-or 11-inch frying pan over low heat, and add the olive oil, onion, sausage and bell pepper. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, until the onion is translucent. Then add the mushrooms, and continue to cook until the sausage is browned and the mushrooms have given off most of their liquid.

In a large glass measuring cup or bowl, quickly whisk together the eggs, shredded cheese and milk. Stir in the thyme, salt and pepper. Pour the egg mixture on top of the vegetables in the pan.

Cover the pan, and cook on low heat for 3 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, gently lift the edge of the frittata here and there, and allow the uncooked egg to run underneath. Cook covered, for 3-4 minutes more, or until the frittata is almost completely set but the top is a little bit runny.

Remove the pan from heat, and sprinkle with the parmesan cheese. Place the pan under the broiler until the cheese is bubbling and melted; how long that takes will depend on the type of broiler you have. (My infrared broiler took only one minute to melt the cheese, so keep an eye on it.)

Remove the pan from the oven, and let it sit for 5 minutes before cutting into wedges. Serve warm or at room temperature.

[Printer-friendly recipe.]

More eggy frittatas, for breakfast or supper:
Zucchini, goat cheese and basil frittata, from The Perfect Pantry
Herb and ricotta frittata, from The Perfect Pantry
Slow cooker frittata with artichoke hearts, roasted red pepper and feta, from Kalyn's Kitchen
Kale frittata, from David Lebovitz
Prosciutto-wrapped mini frittata muffins, from Nom Nom Paleo

Comments

I love that type of chicken or turkey sausage, so I'm sure I would adore this frittata! Thanks for the shout-out for my recipe too.

Kalyn, even this lightened-up version reminds me of the taste of great street food. Love the combination of flavors.