“Cowboy Skillet” with Sausage

This cowboy skillet is a delicious and aromatic simmered tomato dish that is served family style, with eggs poached directly in a fragrant sauce. We’ve made this dish even more mouth-water with the addition of some roasted sausage and flavorful toppings. Excellent for a casual weeknight dinner or special occasion with friends and family. Bread is an ideal side and sops up that extra sauce on your plate perfectly! This might be a new household favorite, and this version is made with easy-to-find ingredients.

Serves: 6
Cooking time: 40-50 minutes
Prepration time: 10 minutes
Level: Easy-Intermediate

Ingredients:

3/4 lb. loose country sausage or loose mild Italian sausage (no casing)
3 tbsp olive oil
1 large yellow onion chopped
2 green peppers chopped
1/2 tsp. sea salt
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp fresh lemon zest
2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
2 28 oz cans (6 cups) diced tomatoes
6 large eggs
garnish:
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves, 1 scallion cut into thin rounds, 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese, 1 avocado, sliced

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Method:

1. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and then add 2 tbs. olive oil. Immediately add your loose sausage and break into 1/2” pieces using a wooden spoon, stirring, occasionally. Let cook for 4-5 minutes, or until sides of all pieces have gotten a little browning to them. Remove from heat and quickly spoon out sausage pieces onto a plate to hold for a few minutes while you do the next steps.
   
2. Turn the heat back on to medium, add another tablespoon olive oil, then immediately add onions, green peppers and 1/2 tsp. sea salt. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until onions are translucent. Add garlic, spices, lemon zest and ground black pepper. Cook until the vegetables have softened, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
   
3. Add the tomatoes. Cover, reduce heat to low, and let simmer for about 15 minutes. Uncover and add your cooked sausage pieces, and cook a bit longer, 5-10 minutes, to allow the mixture to reduce and thicken. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking.
   
4. Using a spoon, make 6 indentations in the tomato mixture (make sure the indentations are spaced out) and gently, one egg at a time, crack the egg and fill each well with the raw egg.
   
5. Cover the skillet again, and cook until the egg whites are set, about 4-5 minutes.
   
6. Uncover and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve family-style, directly in the skillet, with bread of choice as a side!