Lamb Stew With Polenta Recipes

PORK STEW WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• Chop whole onion.
• Heat large nonstick pan until it is very hot; reduce heat to medium-high, and add oil. Saute onion in the oil until it begins to soften.
• Meanwhile, mince garlic, and add to onion as it cooks.
• Slice carrots in food processor, and add to onion as it cooks. Wash, dry and slice mushrooms in food processor, and add to vegetables.
• Wash, dry and cut tenderloin into bite-size chunks. When vegetables have softened, push to the side, and brown meat quickly all over.
• Strip rosemary branches of leaves to make 1 tablespoon; bring wine, stock and rosemary to boil in covered pot for polenta.
• Mix the browned meat in with the vegetables, and continue cooking over low heat.
• Slowly stir polenta into boiling stock to prevent lumping; reduce heat to medium-high, and continue stirring polenta until it thickens.
• Grate cheese, if using, and stir into polenta.
• Season pork mixture with salt and pepper, and serve over polenta.

LAMB AND POTATO STEW

Steps:

• In a large kettle or Dutch oven, combine all ingredients. Cover and bake at 325° for 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hours or until tender. Discard bay leaves before serving.

POLENTA FOR LAMB-AND-CHESTNUT STEW

Steps:

• Pour the water into a large saucepan, season generously with salt.
• Bring to a boil over high heat. Pour in the polenta in a slow steady stream while whisking constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the polenta thickens, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.

LAMB-AND-CHESTNUT STEW

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a chestnut knife or a small paring knife, make an incision about 1/8 inch deep through the shell and into the flesh of each chestnut almost all the way around the circumference of the nut.Transfer to a chestnut pan or rimmed baking pan. Roast in the oven until the chestnuts are tender, about 35 minutes.Turn the oven off. Leaving the pan with the chestnuts in the oven, remove several at a time.Working quickly, place 1 chestnut in a towel, and, holding both, peel the chestnut while still hot. Remove and discard the shells and inner skin; set aside.
• Season the lamb with salt and pepper. Dredge the meat in flour, and shake off excess; set aside. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add lamb, in a single layer without crowding, and cook until browned all over, about 5 minutes.Transfer lamb to a dish. Repeat browning with the remaining olive oil and meat.
• To the Dutch oven, add onions, and cook until golden, about 4 minutes. Add mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and cook until well browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Add red wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook until the wine is reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
• Add the reserved lamb, beef stock, chestnuts, tomatoes, sage, and rosemary, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, uncovered, until the meat is very tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Add cranberries, and cook 2 minutes. (Proceed with step 5, and serve immediately, or let cool, refrigerate overnight, and proceed with step 5 just before serving.)
• Serve the hot polenta with the lamb-and-chestnut stew.

POLENTA MEAT STEW

Steps:

• Trim fat from meat and cut into 1-inch pieces.
• In a plastic bag combine flour, thyme, basil, salt and pepper. Add meat pieces a few at a time, shaking to coat. Place meat in a 3 1/2-4 quart slow cooker. Add carrots, onions, garlic and rosemary. Stir in water, broth and wine.
• Cover and cook for 8-10 hours on low, or 4-5 hours on high.
• Stir in fresh rosemary, parsley and tomato paste. Serve with a spoonful of polenta in each bowl.
• Just prior to serving prepare polenta by bringing milk to simmer. In a bowl combine, cornmeal, water and salt. Slowly add to the warm milk, stirring constantly.
• Cook and stir until the mixture comes to a boiling. Reduce heat to low and cook 10-15 minutes until thick, stirring occasionally. (I sometimes add 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese and a tablespoon of butter at this point.).