Sausage Patty Surprise Find featured products and host Michael Chiarello's hand-selected kitchen essentials and home decor. Shop NapaStyle Request a catalog

Ingredients:

Serves 4

1-1/2 lb. ground pork sausage meat
3 Tbs. olive oil
1 head garlic, peeled and chopped fine
Gray salt
freshly-ground pepper
1/3-cup white wine
4 slices Monterrey Jack cheese
1 large onion, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
1 green bell pepper, sliced
4 soft rolls or buns

Directions:

1. Divide sausage meat into 8 equal pieces and form into patties. Set aside.
   
2. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a small saucepan over low heat.
   
3. Add garlic, salt and pepper and sauté very slowly to avoid browning. Stir often.
   
4. After 3 minutes, add white wine and let simmer slowly until wine has evaporated and garlic is very soft.
   
5. If necessary, add a little more wine to keep garlic from browning.
   
6. Remove from heat and mash slightly with a fork.
   
7. Place half the sausage patties on a work surface and spread with the garlic mixture.
8. Place the remaining sausage patties on top and pinch ends to seal garlic mixture inside.
   
9. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.
   
10. Sear sausage patties on a grill pan or skillet on both sides.
    
11. Cook for about 10 minutes and top with a slice of jack cheese. Keep warm.
    
12. Heat remaining olive oil in a large sauté pan.
    
13. Add onions and sauté for 7 minutes, or until onions are soft and beginning to brown.
    
14. Add peppers and continue cooking until peppers are cooked (about 4 minutes).
    
15. To serve, place a sausage patty on each bun and top with onions and peppers.

Chef's note: Use a plastic lid from a deli container (about 4-1/2 inches across) lined with plastic as a template to make sausage patties.