Baked Italian Sausage and Potatoes

I really love Morningstar Farms' Italian Sausage.  It is one of those vegetarian meats that I crave.  They really did a great job with the flavor and texture of the sausage.  I love to make Italian sausage sandwiches, but recently I wanted to try something new with the sausage.  After browsing recipe sites online, I settled on the idea to make something baked with potatoes.  I ended up making this dish, and I was very happy with the results.

Basically, it's a pile of potatoes, Italian sausage, bell peppers, onions, and other veggies, topped with a simple tomato sauce and then baked.  I melted cheese on top as well.  I suppose the same dish could be made with raw veggies and sausage and just baked for much longer, but I found it quite easy to par-cook everything and only bake it for a short time.  Finishing it all in the oven helped everything come together and allowed the potatoes to absorb all the great flavors. 

Baked Italian Sausage and Potatoes
4 Italian sausage links
2 medium russett potatoes, cubed
1/2 small onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3-4 fresh basil leaves, torn or chiffonade
dash each: salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, dried oregano
olive oil
16 oz diced tomatoes
8 oz tomato sauce
mozzarella and/or parmesan cheese (optional)

Boil the potatoes and carrots in salted water until just under al dente and drain well.  In the meantime, sautee sausage in a little oil until fully cooked and golden brown.  Add onions, peppers and celery to the sausage pan and cook just until soft.  Slice the sausages on the diagonal, making four pieces from each link. 

Drizzle a little olive oil in a medium baking dish.  Layer the potatoes and carrots on the bottom of the dish.  Sprinkle with salt, pepper, oregano, and crushed red pepper.  Layer sausages on top of the potatoes.  Layer onions, peppers, and celery on top of the sausage.  Sprinkle on the minced garlic.  Pour tomatoes and sauce over the veggies.  Sprinkle again with salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper.  Top with fresh basil. 

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbling.  Top with cheese if desired and return to the oven just until melted.  Serve in shallow bowls with bread.

I hope you enjoy this idea.  Happy eating!