Creamy Polenta With Mushrooms And Gorgonzola Recipes

Steps:

• For polenta, in 4-quart saucepan, heat broth, cream and 1/2 teaspoon salt just to boiling over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium; very slowly beat in cornmeal with whisk. Continue to beat constantly 2 to 3 minutes or until mixture thickens. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook 20 minutes, stirring once after 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until onions brown on edges and soften. Add bell pepper; cook and stir 2 to 3 minutes or until pepper softens and begins to brown on edges. Add mushrooms; cook and stir 4 to 5 minutes or until mushrooms release juices, juices absorb and mushrooms brown. Stir in kale; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until wilted. Add wine; stir constantly, scraping up browned bits, 1 to 2 minutes or until liquid is almost completely absorbed.
• Divide polenta among 4 plates. Top each plate with about 1 cup vegetable mixture; sprinkle with 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.

Steps:

• Cook 1 pound sliced assorted mushrooms in 2 tablespoons olive oil in a pot over medium-high heat, stirring, until browned and tender, about 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook, stirring, until softened, 30 seconds. Add 1 cup heavy cream; bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Toss with 12 ounces cooked fettucine, adding up to 1/4 cup pasta-cooking water to loosen the sauce. Off the heat, stir in 2 ounces crumbled gorgonzola until creamy; season with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• For the polenta, bring 4 1/2 cups water and the milk to a high simmer in a medium-size heavy saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add salt. Pour the cornmeal slowly into the liquid, stirring with a wire whisk to prevent clumping. Continue stirring as the mixture thickens, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Turn heat to low. Cook for approximately 40 to 45 minutes, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes. If the polenta becomes quite thick, thin it with 1/2 cup water, stir well and continue cooking. Add up to 1 cup more water as necessary, to keep the polenta soft enough to stir.
• Add the butter to pot, and stir well. Add the Parmesan, if using. Taste for seasoning. Set the covered saucepan in a pot of barely simmering water, and keep warm for up to an hour or so.
• Meanwhile, put the dried mushrooms in a small bowl, and cover with about 1/2 cup boiling water. Allow to steep for 20 minutes. Remove the mushrooms, and pat dry, then chop roughly. Reserve the mushroom stock.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a sauté pan set over high heat until it has melted. Add the garlic and cook until it starts to sizzle, about 30 seconds. Do not let the garlic brown.
• Add the fresh and reconstituted mushrooms and thyme to the pan, and sauté 3 to 4 minutes, turning until browned. Add about 1/4 cup of the mushroom stock to deglaze the surface, using a wooden spoon to scrape at the browned bits. Allow the stock to reduce by half, then turn the heat to medium-low and add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter, whisking to combine, followed by the soy sauce, cream and olive oil. Allow mixture to cook until it thickens a little, then remove from heat. Taste for seasoning, adding black pepper, if desired.
• Put the polenta in a warmed bowl, then top with mushrooms and the sauce. Serve immediately.

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.

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.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Arrange the polenta on the prepared baking sheet and bake until crispy on the bottom and heated through, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms are softened and most of the liquid has evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Pour in the wine; bring to a boil and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Reduce the liquid until the pan is almost dry, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir in the sour cream and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat, stir in cheese and tarragon.
• Serve the sauce over the polenta.

Steps:

• In a skillet heat butter over moderate heat until foam subsides and brown mushrooms with salt to taste, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add water and simmer, covered, 5 minutes, or until mushrooms are tender. Remove lid and simmer mixture 3 minutes, or until liquid reduces slightly. Stir in parsley and lemon juice and keep warm.
• Stir 1/2 cup Gorgonzola into warm polenta until smooth. Divide polenta among 4 plates and spoon mushroom mixture on top. Tear remaining Gorgonzola into small pieces and sprinkle over each serving.
• Garnish polenta with parsley.
• In a heavy saucepan bring water and salt to a boil and gradually whisk in cornmeal in a thin stream. Cook polenta over moderately low heat (it should be barely boiling), stirring constantly, until very thick and pulls away from side of pan, about 40 minutes for cornmeal and about 15 minutes for instant polenta. Remove pan from heat and cover to keep warm. Stir polenta just before using. Polenta will keep warm, covered, about 20 minutes. Makes about 3 cups.
• Note: In the traditional method of cooking polenta, forty minutes of constant stirring is required to achieve a lumpless texture and fragrant flavor. However, Italian-food expert Marcella Hazan has developed a method that involves very little stirring during this time. We believe it produces a very good polenta, one nearly as flavorful and smooth as the traditional procedure. To make satisfactory polenta in a real hurry, an imported instant polenta (precooked cornmeal) is available. This cooks in a mere fifteen minutes.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Bring 4 1/2 cups water to a boil.
• Whisking constantly, slowly add the polenta.
• Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt and the butter.
• Reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently, for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Stir in the cream cheese and 1/2 cup of the Gorgonzola.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, over medium-high heat, warm 2 tablespoons of the oil.
• Add half the mushrooms and cook for 6 minutes.
• Add half the shallots and cook for 2 minutes more.
• Transfer to a plate.
• Repeat with the remaining oil, mushrooms, and shallots.
• Season the mushrooms with the pepper, thyme, and the remaining salt.
• Butter an 8 or 9-inch baking dish or eight 6-ounce ramekins.
• Stir 2/3 of the mushrooms into the polenta and transfer to the prepared dish or ramekins.
• Top with the remaining mushrooms and Gorgonzola.
• Bake, uncovered, until the Gorgonzola has melted, about 15 minutes.

Steps:

• Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots and saute until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and saute until liquid evaporates and mushrooms are brown and tender, about 6 minutes.
• Add Port and simmer until Port is reduced by one-third, about 1 minute. Add chicken stock and simmer until liquid is reduced by one-third, about 1 minute longer. Remove skillet from heat.
• Whisk in 2 tablespoons butter. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Rewarm over medium heat before serving.)
• Combine 4 cups water, cornmeal and salt in large pot; whisk to blend. Bring mixture to boil, whisking constantly.
• Add 3 tablespoons butter. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook until polenta is soft and thick, whisking frequently, about 15 minutes. Add cheese; whisk until melted.
• Spoon polenta into serving bowl. Spoon mushrooms over polenta and serve.