Polka Casserole with Kielbasa Recipe [Sponsored]

How about an entire Polish dinner in one casserole?  This one is named in honor of WNBF’s own Polka Princess, Barb Mack. (Read through the recipe. Stay for the joke at the end of the instructions. Just sayin'.)

Polka Casserole (Prep. time 45 minutes. Serves 6)

1 Russet potato

¾ lb. kielbasa

2 C. shredded cabbage (I used red cabbage for the color)

2 Tb. olive oil

2 Tb. butter

2 Tb. flour

1 ½ C. milk

½ C. sour cream

salt/ cracked black pepper

bread crumbs

Thinly slice the potato (use a mandolin or box slicer to get even slices).  Cut the kielbasa into bite-sized pieces.  In a medium sauce pan, heat the 1 Tb. oil and butter until butter is melted and whisk in the flour.  Allow to cook for a couple minutes until the roux turns a little brown to cook out the raw flour taste.  Slowly whisk in the milk.  Take the pot off the heat and slowly stir in the sour cream (if you add the sour cream over the heat, it will ‘break’ and you’ll have a grainy sauce.)  Heat the other Tb. of oil in a sauté pan and wilt the cabbage over medium heat.  Pre-heat the oven to 370.  Spread a thin coating of the sauce in the bottom of a rectangular baking pan. Place a single layer of potato on top of the sauce.  Salt and pepper the potatoes. Top that half the cabbage and kielbasa.  Spoon an even layer of sauce over the top.  Do another layer of potato, salt & pepper, cabbage and kielbasa and spoon over half the remaining sauce.  Finish with the rest of the sliced potato, salt and pepper and spread the remaining sauce evenly over the top. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and spray with cooking spray so the topping will brown.  Bake for about 30 minutes until bubbling and the potatoes are tender when a knife is inserted in the casserole.

I was going to call this ‘Polska Casserole’ but decided ‘Polka Casserole’ was a better fit, especially since the sauce has to be Jimmy Sturred! (Ha, ha, ha. I slay me!)

Thanks to Down to Earth Whole Foods on Grant Ave., Endicott for sponsoring Foodie Fridays.  Does anyone in your family has food sensitivities/ allergies?  Talk to the folks at Down to Earth on terrific ways to deal with these challenges!