Cheddar and black pepper waffles in agrodolce sauce with apples and sausage

Ingredients:

Maple agrodolce with sausage and apples

• 2 tbsp. l. rapeseed oil (canola)
• 450 g pork breakfast sausages, sliced
• 1 large sweet onion, such as Vidalia, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 large Granny Smith apple, halved and thinly sliced ​​(core removed)
• 1 large Gala apple, halved and thinly sliced ​​(core removed)
• 0.5 cups class B maple syrup
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme
• Finely chopped fresh parsley, as needed

Cheddar and Black Pepper Waffles

• 1.5 cups premium flour
• 3/4 cup grated sharp white cheddar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar
• 0.5 tsp of soda
• 0.5 tsp fine salt
• 1/4 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
• 1 and 1/4 cups of sour milk or kefir
• 1/3 cup (5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon) melted unsalted butter, plus extra for waffle iron
• A few drops of hot sauce
• 2 large eggs

Preparation:

1. Maple agrodolce with sausage and apples:
   
   Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, 8–10 minutes. Set aside.
2. In a medium nonstick skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add the onion and stir to coat, then add the apples, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, and some salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the apples and onions are very soft and caramelized, about 10 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar and remove the skillet from the heat. Combine the sausage, thyme, and parsley with the caramelized apples; transfer to a bowl and keep warm.
3. Return the nonstick skillet to low heat, add the remaining 6 tablespoons maple syrup and 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, and stir a few times to create an agrodolce sauce.
4. Place a rack on a baking sheet, place the baking sheet in the oven and preheat the oven to 95°C.
5. Cheddar and Black Pepper Waffles:
   
   In a large bowl, combine the flour, cheddar, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, salt, and black pepper. In a medium bowl, combine the buttermilk, melted butter, hot sauce, and eggs. Add the liquid mixture to the flour mixture and knead into a dough. Small lumps are normal.
6. Preheat a waffle iron according to the manufacturer's instructions. Grease with a small amount of melted butter. Spoon about 1/3 cup of waffle batter onto each rack, close the lid, and cook until golden brown and crisp, about 4 minutes. The waffles will be irregularly shaped, not perfectly square, with rounded corners. When they're done, transfer them to a baking sheet in the oven and continue cooking the remaining waffles.
7. To serve, arrange 2 waffles on each of 4 plates. Top each with some sausage and apples and drizzle with warm agrodolce sauce. Serve immediately.