Hungarian Sausage Stew With Ale

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 8 ounces thick slab bacon, sliced 1/4 inch thick and cut into 1/4-inch strips
• 1 large vidalia onion, thinly sliced
• 3 large yellow bell peppers, thinly sliced
• 3 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 12 ounces hungarian sausage (kolbムsz) or 12 ounces chorizo sausage, thickly sliced (spicy)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
• 1 3/4 lbs plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup red ale or 1 cup lager beer
• 1 bay leaf
• kosher salt
• fresh ground pepper
• sourdough bread, grilled for serving

Recipe

• 1 in a large enameled cast-iron casserole or dutch oven, cook the bacon strips over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 8 minutes.
• 2 add the onion and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until very lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
• 3 stir in the bell peppers and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes longer.
• 4 stir in the sausage slices, crushed red pepper and paprika and cook for 2 minutes.
• 5 add the tomatoes and cook until beginning to break down, about 5 minutes.
• 6 add the beer and bay leaf and bring to a boil.
• 7 cover partially and cook over low heat until the vegetables are very tender and the sauce is slightly reduced, about 15 minutes.
• 8 season the stew with salt and pepper and serve with grilled bread.