Tosi Gorgonzola With Asparagus On Polenta Food

GORGONZOLA POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups salted water to a boil. Slowly add 1 cup instant polenta, whisking. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring, until thick and creamy, 10 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon butter, 1/4 cup crumbled gorgonzola, 1 tablespoon chopped oregano and a dash of nutmeg. Top with more cheese and some pepper.

TOSI GORGONZOLA WITH ASPARAGUS ON POLENTA

Steps:

• This is a beautifully unctuous recipe - but the cheese may need a little acidity to balance the richness. Serving wine with the dish will do the trick - otherwise, add a squeeze of lemon to the finished sauce. For the polenta, using a large pan, bring the water to a boil and add the salt, then slowly sprinkle in the polenta stirring with a wire whisk. Bring back to a boil. Switch to a flat wooden spatula and stir, reduce the heat and cook at a very gentle simmer for about 30 minutes stirring regularly. Turn the polenta out into a plate or an oiled baking tray/brownie tray. Use a thin metal spatula to flatten the top evenly. Allow cooling for an hour. For the asparagus, snap off the woody base of the stems by bending the spears with your hands. Peel the stalks only if thick and tough. Put the spears into a large and shallow saucepan, cover with boiling water, add a little salt and bring back to the boil. Cook the spears for 2 minutes, drain and set aside, keeping warm. Remove the polenta from its container or plate and cut into portions. Brush the polenta lightly with vegetable oil and fry on a very hot griddle pan for about 4 minutes on each side - or until the polenta is marked with browned grill lines and it is heated through. In a saucepan add the cream and heat gently, add the dolce Gorgonzola and allow to melt. Heat well without boiling. Season with pepper, adding lemon if no wine will be drunk with the meal (see note above). To serve, place a portion of polenta on each plate and pour over the sauce, arrange asparagus spears on top and scatter with chives. If desired add a few small cubes of the picante Gorgonzola with the polenta. Other recipes: Tosi Gorgonzola Pumpkin and Mushroom Canapés, Tosi Gorgonzola Canapés , Ice Cream, Burgers and Wardorf Salads, Tosi Gorgonzola Tuna and Bresaola Canapés and Gnocchi with Tosi Gorgonzola Cheese Sauce.

SAUTEED ASPARAGUS FENNEL WITH GORGONZOLA

Steps:

• 1. Slice the asparagus spears diagonally into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Cut the fennel in half and remove the tough inner core. Separate the layers and then cut each layer into long thin strips.
• 2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fennel and onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the asparagus and garlic and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender yet firm, about 8 minutes. Stir in the thyme and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving dish and crumble the gorgonzola over top. Serve warm or at room temperature.

POLENTA WITH GORGONZOLA CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a heavy large saucepan. Add 1 3/4 teaspoons of salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat and simmer until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, stirring often, about 20 minutes. After 10 minutes, you can switch to a wooden spoon for easier stirring.
• Turn off the heat. Add the butter, cream and Gorgonzola and stir until the cheese melts. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer the polenta to a bowl and serve.
• Note: If you're making the polenta ahead of time, put it on a double boiler and cover it with plastic wrap to keep it warm.

GORGONZOLA SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring the heavy cream to a full boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, then continue to boil rapidly for 45 to 50 minutes, until thickened like a white sauce, stirring occasionally.
• Off the heat, add the Gorgonzola, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and parsley. Whisk rapidly until the cheeses melt and serve warm. If you must reheat, warm the sauce over low heat until melted, then whisk vigorously until the sauce comes together.

POLENTA WITH ASPARAGUS, PEAS AND MINT

Steps:

• If cooking polenta on stovetop: In a medium pot over high heat, combine 4 1/2 cups water, polenta and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently, until thickened, 30 to 40 minutes, depending on how finely the polenta is ground (coarse-ground polenta takes longer).
• Alternatively, cook polenta in oven: Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium Dutch oven or other oven-safe pot over high heat, bring 4 1/2 cups water, polenta and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, stirring constantly until the mixture starts to thicken slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Cover pot and transfer to the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, then give the mixture a stir. If it looks dry, add another 1/2 cup water. Cover the pot once more, and continue to bake for another 20 to 30 minutes.
• When polenta is thick and creamy, stir in 2 to 4 of the tablespoons butter (depending on how buttery you like it) and the Parmesan. Taste and add more Parmesan and salt, if needed.
• As the polenta cooks, prepare the vegetables: In a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add shallots and sauté until tender and golden, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Stir in garlic and cook for another minute or two, until fragrant and very lightly golden in spots. Add vermouth and cook until alcohol evaporates, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir in asparagus and peas, and cook until vegetables are glossy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add stock, remaining 2 tablespoons butter and a large pinch of salt, and bring to a simmer. Cook until vegetables are tender and sauce thickens slightly, 2 to 8 minutes. (Thicker asparagus will take longer to soften.) Stir in the mint. Taste and add more salt, if needed.
• To serve, spoon polenta into bowls, top with vegetables and their sauce, and grind on lots of fresh pepper. Finish with shaved Parmesan.

GRILLED ASPARAGUS WITH GORGONZOLA BUTTER

Steps:

• Stir Gorgonzola cheese, butter, and lemon juice in a medium bowl to blend.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cover and refrigerate the butter (may be prepared 2 days in advance).
• Prepare barbecue (high heat).
• Whisk oil, basil, and garlic to blend in small bowl.
• Spread out asparagus in single layer baking dish.
• Pour oil mixture over asparagus and turn to coat.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Transfer asparagus to barbecue.
• Grill until charred on all sides, turning occasionally, about 4 minutes.
• Transfer to plates and top asparagus with Gorgonzola butter and serve.

ASPARAGUS WITH GORGONZOLA

Steps:

• Melt the butter very gently in a medium sized sauce pan and then add the gorgonzola. Heat until the cheese is softened, but don't allow it to become liquid, you want it just warm.
• Add the mascarpone, fresh basil, a little salt and some freshly ground pepper and remove from the heat.
• Briefly blanch the asparagus in a generous amount of boiliing salted water (about 2 minutes). Drain the asparagus and dry.
• Put the asparaus onto warmed plates. Pour over the sauce and serve with the fresh parmesan.

PASTA PRIMAVERA WITH A GORGONZOLA TWIST

Steps:

• in a wok or very large pan, saute the onion with garlic, olive oil, 1T balsamic, sugar and lots of pepper on med-low for 15min or until caramelized.
• meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
• add the broccoli to the onions and a few tablespoons of the pasta water.
• cook until the broccoli is a few minutes from done, adding more water as it boils away.
• add peas and tomato and cook for 3 more minutes.
• add the pasta, another 3 TB water and cheese.
• sprinkle with remaining balsamic, toss and serve.

POLENTA WITH GORGONZOLA

Steps:

• Bring milk and whipping cream to boil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Gradually whisk polenta into milk mixture in slow steady stream. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook polenta until creamy and tender, stirring frequently, about 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Preheat broiler. Transfer cooked polenta to 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Sprinkle Gorgonzola cheese over polenta. Broil until cheese melts. Sprinkle with chopped toasted walnuts and serve immediately.
• *Polenta (coarse yellow cornmeal) is available at Italian markets, natural foods stores and some supermarkets. If unavailable, substitute 1 cup regular yellow cornmeal, and cook mixture for about 12 minutes rather than 20 minutes.

POLENTA WEDGES WITH ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat broiler, with rack 5 inches from heat. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add broth and cook until reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Stir in cream and cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Place a rimmed baking sheet in oven to heat, 5 minutes. Pat polenta wedges dry with a paper towel and lightly brush both sides with 1 1/2 teaspoons oil. Toss asparagus with 1/2 teaspoon oil.
• Carefully place asparagus on one half of hot sheet and season with salt and pepper; place polenta on other half of sheet.
• Broil until polenta is golden brown and asparagus is crisp-tender, about 6 minutes, rotating sheet and tossing asparagus halfway through. Serve polenta wedges with asparagus and creamy mushrooms.