Emilys Veal Ragu With Soft Polenta Recipes

DUCK RAGù WITH CREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat a large heavy-based pot over medium heat. Add the duck, skin-side down, sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook for 7-8 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove from the pot and set aside. Drain the fat, reserving 1 tablespoon in the pot, and discard.
• Add the leek, garlic, pancetta and thyme to the pot. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until browned. Add the tomato paste and vinegar and stir to combine. Add the tomatoes, port and the duck and bring to a boil. Cover with a tight-fitting lid, reduce the heat to low and cook for 1 hour 30 minutes or until the duck is very tender.
• Remove the duck from the liquid and allow to cool slightly. Shred the meat, using 2 forks, discarding the bones and skin. Return the shredded meat to the pot, stir to combine and keep warm.
• To make the creamy polenta, place the milk in a large pot over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Gradually whisk in the polenta and cook, whisking continuously, for 2-3 minutes or until thickened. Add the butter, cream, Parmesan, salt and pepper and whisk to combine. Divide the polenta among serving plates, then top with the duck ragù, amaranth leaves and extra Parmesan to serve.

VEGAN POLENTA WITH RAGU

Steps:

• Combine boiling water and lentils in a bowl and set aside for 1 hour. Combine texturized vegetable protein and broth in a separate bowl and set aside until liquid is absorbed.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a stew pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, red bell pepper, and hot pepper. Cook and stir until onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add drained lentils and undrained texturized vegetable protein. Stir and add oregano and bay leaf. Add red wine and continue stirring, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes. Stir and simmer ragu until thickened and lentils are soft, 5 to 10 minutes; add a bit more water if needed.
• Bring vegetable broth, water, and salt to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to low and sprinkle polenta into the water, stirring constantly to ensure there are no lumps. Cook, stirring often, for 10 minutes. Add vegan butter, stirring constantly.
• Distribute polenta evenly among 4 pasta bowls. Remove bay leaf from ragu and discard. Top each bowl with equal amounts of ragu. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon vegan white cheese over each bowl and serve warm.

EMILY'S VEAL RAGU WITH SOFT POLENTA

Steps:

• Lightly dust the veal in flour, shaking off any excess.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 2 teaspoon butter in a large deep frying pan over medium high heat and add half the veal and cook for 30 secons each side or until sealed, remove from the pan and set aside and repeat with the remaining oil, butter and veal and set aside.
• Add the onion to the pan and cook, stirring for 2 minutes over medium heat or until softened and then add the garlic and mushrooms and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until mushrooms are slightly softened.
• Add carrot, cinnamon, star anise, stock and tomato paste, and stir until combined.
• Return veal to the pan, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes or until sauce is reduced and veal is tender and stir in the parsley.
• Meanwhile, to make the polenta. place the milk, stock and water in a large saucepan and bring to the boil over high heat and then reduce the heat to medium and then add the polenta in a thin, steady stream, whisking continuously, until smooth.
• Continue to whisk for 2 minutes or until thickened and stir in the cheese and butter, then season to taste.
• Divide the polenta among bowls, then top with the ragu and serve.

SOFT POLENTA WITH MUSHROOM RAGU

Steps:

• Place dried mushrooms in a medium bowl; add 4 cups warm water. Let soak until soft, about 30 minutes. Drain in a sieve lined with a paper towel or coffee filter, reserving liquid. Squeeze mushrooms to remove excess liquid; roughly chop.
• In a 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Cook onion, stirring often, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add fresh mushrooms; season with salt and pepper. Cover; cook until mushrooms release their juices, about 10 minutes. (If mushrooms begin to brown, add up to 1/4 cup water.)
• Uncover; raise heat to high. Cook, stirring often, until liquid evaporates and mushrooms brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add dried mushrooms, thyme, sherry, and tomato paste; cook until pan is dry, about 2 minutes. Stir in reserved liquid. Simmer, partially covered, until sauce has thickened, about 25 minutes. Stir in vinegar. Serve over soft polenta (see below).
• To make soft polenta: In a small bowl, whisk together the yellow cornmeal with 1 cup cold water. In a medium saucepan, bring the remaining 3 1/4 cups water, coarse salt, and ground pepper to a fill rapid boil. Gradually stir in cornmeal mixture. Simmer, stirring frequently, until mixture is thick, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in grated Fontina cheese and butter until melted.