This is one of those recipes that I didn’t consider putting here until Mr NQN’s repeated requests for it and insistence that it was worthwhile convinced me otherwise. To me, it was a stew and I didn’t think people wanted stews that were simple to make but they were indeed something that people were after. The fact that my recipe for Beef and Beer Stew was so popular and stumbled upon repeatedly was a testament to that. This recipe is one that I call the Happy Husband Maker. If the Beef and Beer stew was a Marriage Maker, this is the Part II. How to have a Happy Husband.
This is great as it’s a real storecupboard freezer meal. I always have sausages in the freezer on standby and they’re more often than not Italian ones. The rest can really be from the pantry as you can see so it makes for a great emergency meal.
The quantity that this makes is enough for 4 or for as we like to have it, for the two of us over two nights for dinner. It’s very versatile, sometimes I prefer to use cannellini beans or whatever vegetables I may have or are in season (zucchini added in at the end works well too). You could also do this in a pressure cooker or slow cooker. The black olives are essential though so please don’t forget these, they provide a saltiness and a texture to this that is wonderful. I confess that I do sometimes make this without them if I don’t happen to have them.
So tell me Dear Reader, what’s your Significant Other’s most requested meal?
Italian Sausage Stew
An Original Recipe by Not Quite Nigella
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 3-4 Italian sausages
- 1×425g tinned chopped tomatoes
- 3 large carrots, chopped diagonally
- 3 cups chicken or beef stock
- 1/4 cup chopped black olives
- 1 cup Pearl Couscous (or orzo/risoni)
- Parsley to serve
1. In a large saucepan fry sausages on medium heat until browned on the outside. Remove from pan and drain on a paper towel. Then add oil and fry onion and garlic until onion is translucent. Add carrots, tomatoes, stock and black olives. Chop sausages into bite sized pieces and add these too. Simmer for low heat with the lid on for 30 minutes stirring occasionally (I’ve even left this without stirring and it has been fine).
2. Add pearl couscous and simmer on low heat for another 10 minutes. Test for seasoning, if it needs some salt and pepper add it (usually it does benefit from some). Serve with pasta, rice or with some lovely bread to soak up the juices.
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46 Comments | Add your own
I love stews because it’s usually a throw whatever the heck you need to get rid of type of deal. Stuff like this will make any man happy.
I don’t have a significant other but I always get requested to make choux pastry. Gets kinda annoying at times because there’s too much measuring, washing up and attention involved
PS. I just looked through your beef & beer stew. It sounds fantastic. You’d be surprised by the number of people who can’t make stews!
This delights me–forget Ben!
This is a really beautiful stew, Lorraine! I know I would definitely have a Happy Hubby on my hands with this one!
Aaah. Yum.
Now the most requested meal. You see… I don’t really cook that often. My husband does. I can cook. Love to cook. But Hubby has taken over the cooking duties, and I’m okay with that. So it’s me requesting meals, and not him… He requests cupcakes with lots, and lots of icing.
I love the easy meals we have. Like Sheperd’s Pie and Spaghetti Bolognese.
Mr NQN has great taste – this looks amazing!
ahh mean are so easy to please arent they?
i offered to make my boyfriend anything he pleased for his birthday dinner and also to take him out for dinner the following weekend as his birthday was midweek and this always calls for multiple celebrations.
his request for the meal i cooked? steak and mashed potatoes.
his request for our dinner out?
yes.. steak and potatoes.
Oooh looks yum!! The meal that my boyfriend requests the most is creamy chicken and bacon with herb potatos that I do – but I do it with light carnation milk instead of cream so it’s a bit easier on the old hips!!
I think simple recipes are needed sometimes – or quite often, mainly throughout the week, when you’re too busy to cook something outlandish.
My husband goes through various phases- either home made pizza or pasta carbonara. Have never cooked pearl couscous- looks nice and easy. Thanks
Mmmm that looks so good!
My better-half loves my chicken parmigiana. A nice crumbed chicken breast with tomato paste, crispy bacon and grated vintage cheese. Grilled and melted.
Get’s him every time!
That’s just the kind of thing my husband would love! I will definitely make it so. His other favourite meals are Beef Burgundy, Tacos (from the box) and meat pies.
Typical bloke fodder really….
What’s not to like in a simple stew? Looks delish! Thanks!
Yay I like when you do these posts
I still remember Marriage Maker post! I have a ton of pearl couscous leftover so I might try this
This looks great! If you ever wanted to make it gluten free, you could swap the couscous for quinoa =D.
Yum – this looks delicious!
My husbands all time favorite meal is crumbed sausages, mashed potato and steamed vegetables with onion gravy, which he then covers with tomato sauce. If there are any leftover sausages he will eat them cold in a sandwich with those store bought bright yellow pickles. As I am not a big fan off sausages it doesn’t get made often.
I’ve seen the Pearl Cous Cous in the supermarket – can’t wait to try it, and the Italian Sausage Stew will be very popular at my house!
Stews are a fantastic way to clean out the pantry of half-opened packets of dried legumes – they can all go in!
Love the addition of salty olives.
ahhhhh finally a recipe that I can do for my couscous! I’ve been trawling the www for couscous recipes for my pearl couscous but can’t seem to find the right recipe!
Looks good! I should have done this with my box of pearl cous cous. Although my meatballs were pretty good with it too
x
It sounds wonderful and perfect for the cold weather here. I love that you are serving the stew with pearl cous cous!
chocolate, chocolate chocolate! then he’s a very happy hubby.
looks really delicious! n i luv the name u gave to the dish!
bf loves steamed fish, steamed egg etc. N he loves soup – chinese style soups where u dump all ingredients in & leave it to boil n boil annnnnnnnd boil ;D
This stew looks fantastic and so hearty. Nice choice of using pearl couscous.
steamed eggs and grilled fish
I love stew and, if I ate red meat, this would be such a hit in my house. My sweetie, who does eat red meat once in a while, would love this. Since he hasn’t tasted your stew yet, right now his most requested dish is shrimp with garlic.
The boy often requests salami risotto (not my favourite meal, but anything with salami… he goes nuts for) or anything with chorizo! he is a man of meats… I am book marking this one for him!
Yum, this looks like the perfect warming winter meal. My boyfriend loves my lasagna, but he’s a thoughtful boy and only requests it occasionally because the particular one I make takes forever. It’s so tasty though – definitely worth it.
Beautiful photos…and a great cupboard love special! This is what I call ‘aided by the pantry’ cooking!
This looks great. I love your alternative title!
My hubby’s favourite meal is crepes with lemon juice and brown sugar!! He and my daughter beg me to make them for days and eventually I give in. It is a great meal for when I’m too tired to think or haven’t had a chance to go shopping.
I haven’t ever used Pearl Couscous before so I’ll give this a go soon. It looks yum!
Oohhh this reminds me that I have to try the beef and beer stew!! And now this one too haha
boy, the pearl couscous really makes for a great presentation! the sausage makes it delicious and the pasta makes it pretty.
Oh I love your stew recipes! They always look so comforting and hearty and they seem relatively simple to make as well
That does look good. I will have to give it a try soon. Pascal does love sausage items.
Pascal’s most beloved item and pleaded for it a recipe i created for DVD sized white chocolate chip cookies.
Though to be honest, i think he likes them the best because of the size. haha
Mmmm, that looks good and comforting! My boyfriend regularly requests a particular soup that I semi-invented for him a while ago. It appears in one of the very first posts on my blog. It’s a cheddar, potato, broccoli and bacon soup. I made it once every week or two all last winter and I have a feeling I’ll be making it a lot this winter as well!
This is a very popular Italian dish and at first I thought that you had added lentils but then read it was pearl couscous. I have some pearls in the pantry, so I’ll give this a try.
You can take the husband out of India but you can’t take India out of the husband. LOL He’s always requesting curries, curries and more curries!
this looks absolutely yummy….mmmmm…hmmmm.
My hubs enjoy stews like this too! Looks so good!
This looks like a great dish! I have to try your beef and beer stew… braising with alcohol (beer/red wine) is a recipe for success!
I’m glad you gave in to Mr NQN requests because this sounds yum and easy. A definate must try.
Lorraine this stew looks sooooo good. Can’t wait to make it.
Italian sausages are bound to keep a husband happy, especially in a hearty stew! Looks lovely.
When it’s hot, my husband always asks me to make my beetroot salad served with tahini sauce.
For cold weather, it’s my “chilli soup” as we call it at our house. It’s a soup of lemongrass, galangal, chilli, etc made as spicy as possible and eaten with my home-made sweet potato and mince wontons.
Finally, I make a pasta with grilled red capsicum, roasted eggplant and goat’s cheese that gets a thumbs up each time
Just made this and it was brilliant
Easy and amazing 
Hi Sean -I agree! Yes and doing that makes me happy
Wow you must be quite the talented pastry cook! 
Thankyou! Oh really, I had no idea!
Hi Blond Duck-Hehe well you’re the one I’m trying to impress right!
Hi Faith-thankyou so much! hehe I hope so!
Hi fat mum slim-Oh you are very lucky. Could he have a work to Mr NQN?
Hi Mardi-hehe thankyou on behalf of mr NQN!
Hi buggy-they are!
haha that’s so funny. it sounds very sweet though, he must love his steak and potatoes! 
Hi Katrina-Thankyou! Oh that does sound lovely! Good idea though, I would do that too I think!
Hi Anita-Absolutely, you are right!
Hi sandra-Hehe isn’t that funny!
It’s so good, I love the stuff! 
Hi April-Thankyou!
Aww that’s so sweet! And that sound really, really good I have to say! 
Hi Amanda-Fantastic! I hope he likes it
Haha yes bloke food exactly! 
Hi joey-I concur wholeheartedly!
Hi Steph-Thankyou so much! Mr NQN was right hehe
I’ve almost run out of mine 
Hi Lauren-Thanks so much! Oh yes this is true isn’t it!
Hi Cakelaw-Thankyou!
Hi Jenny-Ooh crumbed sausages sound great!
He sounds just like one of my friend’s husbands. I must admit I’m a bit of a sausage nut 
Hi Athena-fantastic! I hope you like it
Hi Christie-I totally agree, I love to clean out the pantry every now and then
Thanks, they are so good in it! 
Hi Trisha-YAY!
This is my favourite use for it!
Hi Iron Chef Shellie-Yes I can imagine they were great!
x
Hi 5 Star Foodie-Thankyou so much! Yes I love the little balls I have to say
Hi jetlagmama-haha easy to please then!
Hi mica-Thankyou very much!
Hehe isn’t that great! He likes variety which is good! 
Hi penny -Thankyou so much!
Hi AR-Sounds very healthy!
Hi MaryPoppinsinHeels-Thankyou! I think you could also do it with chicken or pork sausages if that helps. Shrimp with garlic sounds fabulous!
Hi Sarah-Hehe what is it with men and salami? They love it!
Wonderful! I hope he likes it 
Hi Alex-Thankyou! Aww that is considerate and I bet he looks forward to it even more then!
Hi Kitchen Butterfly-Thankyou! Yes definitely aided by the pantry
Hi Meg-thankyou so much!
Hi Megan-Oh so elegant and so simple, I like it!
I agree, crepes are a great standby and a good one as it’s usually a pantry storecupboard one. Thankyou! I hope you like it 
Hi FFichiban-hehe you definitely should!
Hi grace-thankyou!
you are too sweet!
Hi Jacq-Aww shucks thankyou!
Yes I love that part the best 
Hi ArtemisIII-Thankyou so much! Oh well I hope he likes it then! Oooh I like it-DVD sized and all!
Hi anna-Thanks very much! Aww that’s wonderful and it sounds so delicious!
I bet there will be lots of requests for it 
Hi matilda -Oh fantastic! I’d love to know what you think of it!
Hehe curries and more curries huh! 
Hi zurin-Thankyou so much!
Hi pigpigscorner-Fabulous! I hope he likes it
Hi saveur-thanks so much!
I agree, I think it might even soften the meat? Who Knows! 
Hi miz-Hehe thankyou! He always says that he’s right anyway
Hi Lea Ann-Thankyou very much!
I hope you like it!
Hi Arwen-hehe this is true! Thankyou
Hi Scarlet-Ooh that sounds lovely and healthy but great for hot weather at the same time. My hubby would adore that chilli soup!
Oh you sound like a great cook!
Hi Minou-YAY so glad that you like it!
Thanks for letting me know! 
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