Broiled Polenta With Mushrooms And Cheese Food

BAKED POLENTA WITH MUSHROOMS & BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Brush the mushroom caps gently with a clean cloth to wipe away any dirt. Arrange them, underside up, on a sheet pan, drizzle with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar, then sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Bake for 20 minutes, until tender. Set aside. Lower the oven to 375 degrees.
• Meanwhile, make the polenta. Pour the stock and half-and-half into a large saucepan and bring it to a boil. Lower the heat and, while whisking constantly, slowly sprinkle the cornmeal into the boiling liquid. Simmer for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring almost constantly with a wooden spoon, until the polenta is thick and smooth. Off the heat, stir in the mascarpone, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Pour into an 8 x 11 x 2-inch baking dish.
• Arrange the mushrooms, underside up, in one layer over the polenta. Sprinkle on the Gorgonzola and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the polenta is bubbly and the cheese is melted. Sprinkle with salt and serve hot.

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.

MUSHROOM POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 8 ounces sliced cremini mushrooms, season with salt and brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon each butter and fresh thyme and 1 minced shallot; cook 30 seconds. Meanwhile, simmer 3 cups mushroom broth and a pinch of salt in a saucepan. Whisk in 3/4 cup quick-cooking polenta; stir until thickened, 5 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan; season with salt and pepper. Top with the mushrooms, chopped parsley, more Parmesan and pepper.

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.

BROILED POLENTA STICKS

Steps:

• Brush a 13- by 9-inch baking pan with water.
• Combine 6 1/2 cups cold water with salt and cornmeal in a 5-quart heavy pot and bring to a boil over moderate heat, whisking. Reduce heat to moderately low and cook, stirring constantly with a long-handled wooden spoon, until polenta begins to pull away from side of pot, 20 to 25 minutes. Pour polenta into baking pan, spreading evenly with a dampened heatproof rubber spatula. Cool in pan on a rack until polenta is lukewarm and set, about 20 minutes.
• Brush a baking sheet with olive oil and invert baking pan with polenta onto sheet to unmold.
• Preheat broiler.
• Brush polenta with 2 teaspoons oil and sprinkle with cheese. Broil about 4 inches from heat until pale golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Cool 5 minutes, then cut into 3- by 1 1/2-inch sticks.

GOAT'S CHEESE POLENTA WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Place water and wine in a pan and bring to the boil.
• Add the salt and butter and once the butter is melted add the polenta in a steady stream. Whisk until cooked (for most brands, 2 minutes).
• Remove from the heat and stir in the goats cheese.
• In a fry pan heat 1 tbsp of the oil and fry the mushrooms for 2 minutes, remove and set aside.
• Split the spinach into 2 batches and fry in 1 tbsp oil for each batch. Fry until just wilted.
• Serve the polenta topped with the spinach and mushrooms and sprinkled with the cheddar.

CHEESE POLENTA WITH MUSHROOMS AND ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Bring water and salt to a boil in a large saucepan. Sprinkle polenta into boiling liquid while stirring with a wooden spoon. Reduce heat to a simmer and continue stirring 1 to 2 minutes or until water is completely absorbed and polenta is cooked. Stir in the butter and cheese.
• Spoon the mixture into an oiled 9x13-inch baking dish. Let polenta rest for 10 to 15 minutes to firm up while preparing the mushrooms and artichoke hearts.
• Heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, artichoke hearts, salt and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms have released their liquid, about 10 minutes. Stir in the pasta sauce if using.
• To serve, cut polenta into squares and top with mushroom mixture. Garnish with additional cheese or a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, if desired.

WILD MUSHROOM AND PARSNIP RAGOUT WITH CHEESY POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium. Add onion, garlic, and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion starts to release moisture and turns translucent, 2-3 minutes. Add parsnip and cook until parsnip begins to soften, 3-5 minutes more. Add mushrooms and remaining 1 Tbsp. oil and cook until mushrooms are well-browned and cooked through, 5-7 minutes more.
• Add miso, tomato paste, and 3/4 tsp. salt to pan and cook, stirring, until tomato paste begins to caramelize, about 1 minute. Add cornstarch and stir to coat, about 30 seconds. Add wine and cook, scraping bottom of pan with a wooden spoon to release brown bits, then add 1 1/2 cups room-temperature water. Bring mixture to a simmer, continuing to scrape bottom of pan and adding water by the tablespoon if pan starts to dry out, and cook until sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 10-12 minutes. Taste and season with salt if needed.
• Meanwhile, cook polenta, 5 cups milk, and 1 tsp. salt according to package directions. When polenta thickens, stir in 1/4 cup cheese. Taste and add salt and milk, if needed.
• Transfer polenta to a large serving bowl. Top with mushroom ragout, remaining 1/4 cup cheese, and hazelnuts.

BROILED MEDALLIONS OF POLENTA WITH MUSHROOM RAGOUT

Steps:

• Bring vegetable stock to boil in heavy sauce pot.
• Whip in cornmeal and lower heat just below a boil.
• Simmer 1 hour.
• Saute vegetables with garlic in 1 tablespoon butter and then add to the polenta.
• Add herbs, 1/2 cup Asiago cheese, and 1/8 cup butter.
• Whip together.
• Adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.
• Pour this mixture in a well-buttered 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish.
• Smooth out the polenta and lay a buttered waxed paper sheet on top.
• Refrigerate overnight until cooled and firm.
• Cut out 18 shapes of your choice, place on buttered cookie sheet, and top with a pinch of Asiago and 1/2 teaspoon melted butter.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until cheese browns.
• Meanwhile, prepare the Mushroom Ragout (see below).
• Mushroom Ragout-----------------.
• In a hot saute pan, saute mushrooms, leeks, and garlic in a little olive oil.
• Deglaze with Madeira wine.
• Add stock and other ingredients.
• Adjust seasoning.
• Spoon over three polenta medallions on plate.
• In the center, garnish with purple potato puree (see above recipe); place waffle-cut carrots and asparagus spears between polenta shapes.

POLENTA WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Put the dried mushrooms in a medium bowl and pour in the boiling water. Press them down into the water now and then until they are soft, anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes depending on how dry they were. When it's time to cook them, lift them out of the water with your hands or a slotted spoon and chop them roughly. Reserve the soaking water.
• Put the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When it's hot, add the soaked dried and fresh mushrooms and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are tender and have released all their liquid. 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add the wine and let it bubble away for 1 minute, then stir in the garlic, 1/4 cup of the parsley, and 1 cup of the reserved soaking water. Cook until the liquid thickens a bit, another 2 or 3 minutes, then taste, adjust the seasoning, and turn off the heat under the skillet.
• Put the polenta in a medium pot with 1 cup water and whisk to form a smooth slurry. Whisk in the milk and a pinch of salt and set the pot over medium-high heat. Heat until the mixture boils then lower the heat to medium and cook, whisking frequently adding more water a little at a time to prevent lumps and keep the mixture somewhat soupy. Expect to add another 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 cups of water before the polenta is ready. The polenta will be done in 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the grind. It will be thick and creamy, with just a little grittiness, and the mixture will pull away from the sides of the pan when you stir. When the polenta is done, turn the heat under the mushrooms to medium to warm them quickly.
• Stir the butter and cheese into the polenta then taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve the polenta topped with the mushrooms and garnished with the remaining 1/4 cup parsley.
• Cooks' Notes
• Soaking Dried Mushrooms: The time needed to soften mushrooms depends on their size and age. They're ready when you can cut one easily with a paring knife. You want to reserve the soaking liquid but leave the grit behind, so lift out the mushrooms rather than pouring to drain them.
• Making The Sauce: When the mushrooms are tender and the wine has bubbled away, stir in the garlic, parsley, and soaking water.
• Making Polenta by the Slurry Method: When the slurry just starts to boil, turn it down a bit so it bubbles gently. Add more water or stir with a wooden spoon.
• Recognizing Doneness: When the polenta starts to pull away from the pan and is no longer gritty, it's time to stir in the butter and Parmesan.

BAKED POLENTA WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• In medium saucepan, bring the water and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil.
• Add the cornmeal in a slow stream, whisking.
• Whisk in tablespoon of the butter 1/4 teaspoon of the sage.
• Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until vey thick, about 20 minutes.
• Stir in 3 tablespoons of the Parmesan.
• Meanwhile, butter an 8"x12" baking dish.
• In a large frying pan, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter and 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderately high heat.
• Add half the mushrooms, 1/2 of garlic 1/4 tsp each of the salt and sage and 1/4 tsp of the pepper.
• Cook, stirring frequently until the mushrooms are golden, about 5 minutes.
• Remove.
• Repeat with remaining mushrooms, salt, garlic, salt, sage and pepper.
• Pour half the polenta into the baking dish and spread in an even layer.
• Top with half the mushrooms, followed by half of the Fontina and 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan.
• Repeat with remaining polenta, mushrooms, Fontina and Parmesan.
• Bake until cheese is bubbling, about 15 minutes.
• Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley.