Mushroom And Marsala Casserole With Polenta Crust Recipes

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 450°; place oven rack 4-6 inches from the heating element; lightly grease a small baking sheet with butter.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large saute pan over medium heat.
• Add in garlic and thyme; saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add all the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper; saute, stirring often, until tender, 6-8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, slice the polenta into eight ½-inch thick rounds (you will have 1/3 of the roll left, save it for another use).
• Arrange the polenta rounds on the prepared baking sheet and place on the oven rack; bake 5 minutes, then sprinkle about ½ tablespoon parmesan cheese on top of each slice and return to the oven until brown and crisp, 2-3 minutes.
• When the mushrooms are tender, increase heat to high and stir in the marsala.
• When is mixture is almost dry, add the broth; bring to a simmer, then decrease heat to med-low and stir in the cream.
• Heat through, taste, and adjust w/ salt and pepper.
• To serve, transfer the polenta slices to shallow bowls; ladle the ragout over the polenta and top with the remaining Parmesan and the chives.

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Lay the polenta slices on a baking sheet and brush the tops with 1 tablespoon olive oil; season generously with salt and pepper. Broil until browned around the edges and crisp, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Meanwhile, season the pork with salt and pepper. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the pork and cook until browned, about 2 minutes per side; remove to a plate. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the mushrooms, sliced garlic, shallot and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms brown in spots, 6 to 8 minutes. Sprinkle with the flour and cook, stirring, about 30 seconds. Add the chicken broth and wine; bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
• Return the pork and any juices to the skillet. Cook over low heat until the pork is cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the orange juice and season with salt and pepper.
• Combine the orange zest, parsley and minced garlic in a small bowl. Divide the polenta among plates. Top with the pork, mushroom sauce and parsley mixture.

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:

• Heat 5 cups of the chicken stock in a saucepot to a low boil; add the polenta and season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook, stirring and adding more stock as needed to keep the mixture loose, until thickened and soft, 40 to 45 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the butter, pour the polenta onto nonstick baking sheets (1 large or 2 small), spread into a 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick even layer and cool totally. Cut into rectangular shapes to easily remove for layering.
• Cover the dried porcinis with the remaining 1 cup chicken stock and 1/2 cup water in a small pot; bring to a simmer and cook to reconstitute. Remove the tender mushrooms and chop. Reserve the mushrooms and their liquid.
• Heat the EVOO in a large, deep skillet. Add the fresh mushrooms and cook until dark and tender, about 15 minutes. Add the thyme and shallots, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes. Deglaze the skillet with the wine. Add the stock and porcinis with some of their liquid (be careful to avoid any grit) and reduce the heat to low.
• To make the bechamel, melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a saucepot, add the garlic and swirl a minute or two. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in the milk, season with salt, pepper and nutmeg and cook until thickened. Add half of the cheese.
• Place a layer of the polenta in a medium casserole dish and top with half of the mushrooms and bechamel. Repeat the layers, and then end with a layer of polenta. Dot with butter and top with the remaining cheese.
• Cool and store for a make-ahead meal, or bake to serve. Bake at 375 degrees F from room temperature until brown, bubbling and hot through, about 50 minutes.

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.