Beef And Eggplant Bake With Polenta Crust Food

BEEF AND POLENTA BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• In 3-quart saucepan, heat milk, broth and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt to boiling over medium heat. Gradually stir in polenta with whisk. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Stir in 1/2 cup of the cheese and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Spread polenta in baking dish.
• In 12-inch skillet, cook beef over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Remove beef; set aside. Add onion and mushrooms to skillet; cook 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add spinach; cook 1 minute or until wilted. Stir in beef, pasta sauce and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Spoon mixture over polenta.
• Bake uncovered 20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake 5 to 10 minutes longer or until cheese is golden brown. Sprinkle with basil.

OLE POLENTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• For polenta, in a small bowl, whisk cornmeal, salt and 1 cup water until smooth. In a large saucepan, bring remaining water to a boil. Add cornmeal mixture, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 3 minutes. , Reduce heat to low; cover and cook for 15 minutes. Divide mixture between 2 greased 8-in. square baking dishes. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 1-1/2 hours., In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion, green pepper and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, mushrooms, herbs and hot pepper sauce; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until thickened., Loosen 1 polenta from sides and bottom of dish; invert onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet and set aside. Spoon half of the meat mixture over the remaining polenta. Sprinkle with half the mozzarella and half the Parmesan cheese. Top with reserved polenta and remaining meat mixture., Cover and bake at 350° until heated through, 40 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake until cheese is melted, 5 minutes longer. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

BEEF POT PIE WITH POLENTA CRUST

Steps:

• Pat the cubes of beef dry with a paper towel and sprinkle all sides with salt and pepper; Dip them into flour to coat, remove excess flour.
• In a heavy four quart casserole, heat the oil over high heat and brown the beef in the oil, turning them them evenly brown, transfer meat to plate.
• In the same pan, add onions and saute 5 minutes until soft but not brown; pour in water or stock and bring to a boil over high heat while scraping the browned particles clinging to the sides and bottom of the pan; add beef cubes and bay leaf, reduce heat, simmer partially covered for 1 hour: then add potatoes, carrots and peas; partially cover the pan again and simmer 20 to 30 minutes longer, or until vegetables are tender.
• As beef and vegetables simmer, check the pan from time to time; if liquid seems to be cooking away, reduce heat and add a little more water; When all is tender, remove from heat and let cool uncovered to room temperature.
• For crust: In a food processor with fitted metal blade, combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt; process just to mix; Add butter and process in short burst, scraping down sides of bowl if necessary, until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs.
• Add the whole egg, egg yolk and 1 tablespoon ice water and process for a few short burst, scraping down sides until dough comes together but still crumbly; If dough seems to dry, sprinkle with up to one more tablespoon water; DO NOT overprocess or the crust will be tough.
• Turn dough out onto a floured surface and work together into a ball the consistency of play-doh, Press down into a round disk and wrap with plastic, put in refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Roll dough to fit the casserole that has the meat veggie mixture in; Place dough over mixture and bake in 350°F oven until crust is brown and stew is bubbling, Serve.

ITALIAN BEEF AND POLENTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 11x7-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• Cut zucchini in half lengthwise; cut diagonally crosswise into 1/4-inch slices. Set aside. Cut polenta crosswise into 8 slices; coat both sides of each slice with cooking spray.
• Heat 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add polenta slices; cook 6 minutes, turning once, until lightly browned. Arrange polenta slices in baking dish.
• In same skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked. Drain, if necessary. Set beef aside. Add zucchini to skillet; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add beef, pasta sauce and pepper; cook 1 to 2 minutes until thoroughly heated. Spoon beef mixture over polenta; sprinkle with cheese.
• Bake uncovered 18 to 20 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted.

LAYERED EGGPLANT AND POLENTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400ºF degrees with rack in upper third.
• In a medium saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat; add the onion, garlic, and mushrooms cook, stirring, until soft and lightly golden, about 8 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce has thickened, about 30 minutes.
• Stir in vinegar, oregano, basil & Italian seasoning; season with pepper.
• Remove sauce from heat.
• Meanwhile, heat a large cast-iron skillet or grill pan over medium heat; lightly brush eggplant slices with the remaining tablespoon oil.
• Working in batches, lay slices in skillet in a single layer; cook until browned and they begin to soften, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Transfer to a plate.
• Spoon about a cup tomato sauce into a 9-inch square baking dish, spreading to coat evenly; arrange eggplant slices snugly in a single layer.
• Spoon about 1 cup tomato sauce over eggplant, and arrange polenta rounds in slightly overlapping slices on top.
• Repeat with sauce and another layer of eggplant.
• Finish by dotting with remaining tomato sauce.
• Cover with foil; bake until bubbling and juicy, about 30 minutes.
• Remove foil; continue baking until sauce is lightly caramelized and eggplant is tender, about 15 minutes more.
• Remove from oven; let cool slightly, and serve.

LAYERED EGGPLANT HAMBURGER CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large skillet over medium heat, saute the ground beef, onion and garlic for 5 to 10 minutes. Drain excess fat. Stir in the tomato paste, water, tomatoes, parsley, thyme, oregano and basil. Set aside.
• Slice eggplant into 1/4-inch rounds. Place a layer of eggplant into the bottom of a lightly greased 9x12-inch glass baking dish. Then place a layer of the ground beef mixture over the eggplant, followed by a layer of sliced onion. Top this with 1/2 the breadcrumbs and cheese. Then repeat the layers: eggplant, ground beef mixture, sliced onion and remaining breadcrumbs and cheese.
• Cover and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour, remove foil and bake for 20 more minutes.

TOMATO AND BEEF CASSEROLE WITH POLENTA CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Bring 3 cups of water and 1 tsp salt to a boil in a 2qt saucepan over medium heat.
• Whisk in cornmeal; reduce heat to low and simmer, whisking constantly, 3 minutes or until thickened.
• Remove from heat, and stir in steak seasoning and 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese.
• Spread cornmeal mixture into a lightly greased 11 x 7-inch baking dish.
• Brown ground chuck in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, 10 minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink; drain and transfer to a bowl.
• Saute onion and zucchini in hot oil in skillet 5 minutes or until crisp tender.
• Stir in beef, tomatoes, and tomato paste; simmer, stirring often, 10 minutes.
• Pour beef mixture over cornmeal crust.
• Sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup of cheese.
• Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly.
• Sprinkle casserole with parsley just before serving.

BEEF AND EGGPLANT BAKE WITH POLENTA CRUST

Steps:

• Place eggplant in colander, sprinkle salt all over, leave 30 min, rinse then drain.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in medium frypan; cook onion, capsicum and garlic, stirring until onion softens; add beef, cook stirring until beef browns.
• Add paste, cook stirring for 2 minutes; add wine, cook stirring 5 minutes; add undrained tomatoes; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes or until liquid is almost evaporated. Chop 1/4 of the basil coarsely and add along with the oregano.
• Preheat oven to moderate heat (180°C)(350°F).
• Cook eggplant on heated oiled grill plate until just browned.
• Meanwhile, combine stock and milk in medium saucepan; bring to a boil; gradually add polenta, stirring constantly; reduce heat; simmer for 10 minutes or until polenta thickens.
• Using 3 litre dish, layer 1/2 eggplant, then 1/2 beef mixture, repeat then top with remaining basil; spread polenta on top then sprinkle with cheese.
• Cook, uncovered, in moderately hot oven about 20 minutes or until top is browned lightly.
• Stand 10 minutes before serving.