Broiled Polenta With Mushroom Ragout Food

BROILED POLENTA WITH MUSHROOM RAGOUT

Steps:

• Brush an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan lightly with oil. Pour soft polenta into pan; smooth top. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until chilled and firm to the touch, about 3 hours and up to 3 days.
• Meanwhile, make mushroom ragout: In a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add onion; cook, stirring often, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms; season generously with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until mushrooms release their juices, about 10 minutes.
• Uncover pan; raise heat to high. Cook, stirring often, until liquid has evaporated and mushrooms are brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add rosemary, tomato paste, and 2 cups water. Simmer until sauce has thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in vinegar.
• Meanwhile, heat broiler. Invert polenta onto a cutting board: cut into 12 to 14 slices, each 1/2 inch thick. Brush a rimmed baking sheet with oil. Arrange slices in a single layer; brush with oil. Broil 4 inches from heat, without turning, until golden and browning in spots, 10 to 20 minutes. Divide among plates; top with mushroom ragout, and sprinkle with goat cheese. Serve with Wilted Spinach and Cherry Tomatoes, if desired.

POLENTA SQUARES WITH MUSHROOM RAGU

Steps:

• Bring the water, 1 tablespoon butter, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil in a heavy medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in the polenta. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir constantly until the polenta thickens, about 5 minutes. Pour the polenta into a greased 9 by 9-inch baking pan, spreading so that it is 1/3-inch thick. Cover and let stand at room temperature until set, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and onion. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper and saute until the juices evaporate, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until the mushrooms are golden brown, about 2 minutes longer. Decrease the heat to medium-low. Add the Marsala. Cover and simmer until the Marsala has reduced by about half, about 5 minutes. Stir the flour and remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a small bowl to form a paste, then stir the paste into the mushroom mixture. Cover and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir the parsley into the ragu. Season the ragu, to taste, with more salt and pepper.
• Cut the polenta into 36 bite-size squares. Arrange the polenta squares on a platter. Spoon the warm ragu atop the polenta and serve immediately.

WILD MUSHROOM RAGOûT ON CRISPY POLENTA WITH COMTE CHEESE

Steps:

• For polenta:
• Generously butter 13x9x1- inch baking sheet. Bring milk, broth, and bay leaf to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove saucepan from heat; cover and let steep 20 minutes to allow flavors to develop. Discard bay leaf. Bring liquid to boil. Gradually add polenta, whisking constantly until smooth. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until polenta is very thick, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Stir in Comté cheese and butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer polenta to prepared 13x9x1-inch baking sheet. Using wet hands, press polenta evenly over sheet to edges. Chill until firm, at least 3 hours. Cut polenta into 20 squares. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• For mushroom ragout:
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter with 2 tablespoons oil in large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add all mushrooms and sauté until tender and browned, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Add shallots and balsamic vinegar; sauté until tender, about 2 minutes. Season lightly to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• Rewarm mushrooms in large skillet over medium-high heat until heated through. Add broth and simmer 1 minute. Stir in crème fraîche and half of parsley. Season mushroom ragout to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat; cover to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 300°F. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add polenta squares to skillet and cook until browned, about 2 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer to rimmed baking sheet and keep warm in oven while cooking remaining polenta squares.
• Arrange 2 polenta squares on each plate. Top each with warm mushroom ragout; sprinkle with grated Comté cheese and remaining parsley and serve.
• MORE INFO:
• Comté is a semi-firm, Gruyère-style cow's-milk cheese made primarily in France's Franche-Comté region. It adds great flavor to this recipe and would also be delicious on a cheese platter. Comté is available at some supermarkets, cheese shops, and specialty foods stores.
• *Polenta can be found at some supermarkets, as well as at natural foods stores and Italian markets. If polenta is unavailable, substitute an equal amount of regular yellow cornmeal and cook it about half as long.

POLENTA WITH WILD MUSHROOMS AND VEGETABLE RAGOUT

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in skillet large enough to hold all the ingredients. Add onions and cook until they are soft and golden, about 10 minutes.
• Add the wild and domestic mushrooms with the garlic, marjoram and thyme and cook until mushrooms soften and release their juices.
• Meanwhile in another skillet, heat remaining oil and saute peppers until soft.
• Crush tomatoes in your fingers before adding to peppers, with tomato liquid, and cook over low heat until mushroom mixture is ready.
• When mushrooms are softened, add the wine and cook over medium heat to slightly reduce liquid.
• Combine contents of both pans and use to top polenta. This can be made a day ahead.
• To serve, heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
• Divide both polenta and sauce in half. Use two 10-by-15-inch glass baking dishes. Using half of polenta and half of sauce, spoon a third of sauce in bottom of one baking dish . Arrange half of polenta slices over the sauce. Spoon another third of sauce over polenta. Top with remaining polenta and then with remaining sauce. Repeat with second dish and remaining ingredients.

BROILED POLENTA WITH MUSHROOMS AND CHEESE

Steps:

• If you use the porcini mushrooms, pleace them in a bowl, cover with the boiling water, and set aside for about 10 minutes.
• In a saucepan, bring the 3 cups water and salt to a rapid boil.
• Add the cornmeal in a thin, steady stream, whisking to prevent lumps.
• Lower the heat to simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking until the polenta thickens.
• While the polenta cooks, strain the porcini mushrooms and rinse them.
• Heat the oil in a skillet and saute the 1 1/2 cups mushrooms, garlic, and porcini on medium heat until the oil is absorbed, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in the wine and add salt.
• Simmer gently for another minute or two.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Spread the polenta in and oiled pie plate or casserole dish.
• Sprinkle the mozzarella on the polenta.
• Spoon the sauteed mushrooms over the mozzarella and finish with a layer of the smoked cheddar and/or provolone.
• Add pepper to taste.
• Broil for 3-5 minutes until cheese is golden brown, and serve bubbling hot.

HERB INFUSED POLENTA WITH MUSHROOM RAGOUT

Steps:

• Place the milk, onion, herbs and garlic in a saucepan and slowly bring almost to the boil. Place the polenta in a large, heavy based saucepan, strain the infused milk onto the polenta, and whisk until blended.
• Stir constantly over moderate heat until the mixture returns to the boil. Reduce heat to very low (use a simmer mat if you have one) and cook, stirring frequently, for 20-30 minutes or until polenta is cooked and thickened.
• Fold in parmesan and butter and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately with the ragout.
• Ragout:.
• Heat the oil or butter in a large frypan or wok, and add the mushrooms (and rosemary, if using).
• Stir until begining to brown, then add the remaining herbs. Continue to fry until mushrooms are wilting and browned, then season with salt and pepper and serve with the polenta. If you have verjuice, you can use it to deglaze the pan and then drizzle the juices over before serving.

FRIED POLENTA SQUARES WITH CREAMY MUSHROOM RAGU

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Whisk in the polenta. Once it begins to thicken, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes until creamy and thick, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Stir in the Parmesan and a 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Stir until melted and cheese is no longer visible. Remove from heat.
• Line an 8x11 inch baking dish with Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil and carefully pour the polenta into the baking dish, using a spatula to smooth it to an even thickness, about 3/4 inch. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours and up to two days until firm.
• While the polenta chills, make your ragu. In a large heavy skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and garlic and saute until fragrant and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir often to prevent browning. Add mushrooms and thyme and cook over medium-high heat until the mushrooms start to release their liquid. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and continue to cook another 5 minutes until they begin to soften more.
• Add flour, stirring, until it is no longer visible, about 1 minute. Add in the wine, cream and sugar, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Taste and adjust salt if desired. Simmer until thick and creamy and the mushrooms are nicely coated, about 15 minutes. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and 1/2 cup minced parsley. Set aside and cover to keep warm.
• Slice your polenta into squares -- whatever size you desire. Wipe down your skillet, coat it with nonstick cooking spray, and heat it over medium-high. Fry the squares in the pan until golden brown and warmed through. To serve, top the squares with warm mushroom ragu.

BROILED POLENTA SLICES

Steps:

• Brush an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan lightly with olive oil. Pour hot soft polenta into pan; smooth top.
• Refrigerate until chilled and firm to the touch, about 3 hours (or up to 3 days, covered with plastic).
• Heat broiler. Invert polenta onto a cutting board; slice 1/2 inch thick. Brush a rimmed baking sheet with oil. Arrange slices in a single layer; brush 1 teaspoon oil over tops.
• Broil 4 inches from heat, without turning, until golden and browning in spots, 20 to 25 minutes.

PARMESAN-CRUSTED POLENTA WITH SAUSAGE-MUSHROOM RAGOûT

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Broil polenta rounds on a lightly oiled large heavy baking sheet 3 to 4 inches from heat until lightly browned in spots, about 7 minutes. Turn rounds over and sprinkle with cheese, then broil until polenta is golden in spots and cheese is melted, about 7 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over high heat until it shimmers, then cook sausage, breaking up lumps, until just cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
• Heat remaining tablespoon oil in skillet over medium heat until it shimmers, then cook mushrooms, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add wine and boil, scraping up any brown bits, until reduced by about half, about 2 minutes. Stir in sausage and tomato sauce and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Season with salt.
• Serve ragout spooned over polenta.

CREAMY POLENTA & MUSHROOM RAGOUT

Steps:

• Soak the dried mushrooms in 150ml warm water. Set aside for 20 mins, then drain and squeeze, reserving the soaking liquid. Heat the butter in a large frying pan. When sizzling, add the shallot and cook for a few mins until soft. Add the garlic and thyme leaves, cook for 1 min more, then turn up the heat and add the soaked mushrooms. After 1 min, add all the other mushrooms and fry over a very high heat for 5 mins until soft. Splash in the red wine and boil rapidly for 1 min. Pour in the stock and reserved mushroom liquid, and simmer for 15 mins until you have a thickened stew. Turn off the heat.
• For the polenta, bring the milk to the boil with 500ml water, the bay and thyme. Turn off the heat and leave to infuse for 20 mins, then fish out the herbs and bring back to the boil. Add the polenta in a steady stream, whisking steadily. Cook for 1 min until thickened, then stir in the butter and Parmesan. Spoon a 'crater' of polenta onto a baking tray and fill with the ragout. Top with slices of Taleggio, place under a hot grill until melting and oozy, then let everyone help themselves.