Mushroom Polenta Lasagna Recipes

CHEESY POLENTA LASAGNE WITH MUSHROOMS AND SEITAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F with rack in upper third. Lightly butter a 2-to 2 1/2-quart shallow baking dish.
• Make cheese sauce:
• Melt butter in a 2-to 3-quart heavy saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth, then cook roux, whisking frequently, until pale golden, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat milk in a separate small saucepan until just about to boil. Add milk to roux in 2 batches, whisking constantly until very smooth. Bring to a boil, whisking, then cook, whisking, 30 seconds. Remove from heat and whisk in Fontina, half of Gruyère, nutmeg, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Cover and set aside, whisking occasionally.
• Make mushroom-seitan filling:
• Cook garlic in oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat, stirring, until beginning to turn pale golden. Stir in mushrooms, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are softened, about 3 minutes. Add seitan and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms and seitan are slightly golden, about 4 minutes. Add water and cook briefly, scraping up any brown bits.
• Assemble and bake lasagne:
• Spread 1/2 cup cheese sauce in bottom of baking dish.
• Slice 1 log of polenta into 1/4-inch-thick rounds and arrange enough rounds to cover bottom of dish, overlapping slightly. Spoon half of filling evenly over polenta, then spread with half of remaining cheese sauce (about 1 cup). Slice enough rounds from second log to form a second layer. Cover with remaining filling, then cheese sauce. Sprinkle with remaining Gruyère and bake until top is just bubbling and slightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

SAUSAGE AND MUSHROOM POLENTA LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Preheat a large skillet over med-high heat with 2 tablespoons olive oil and butter.
• When the butter has melted, add the sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
• While the sausage is starting to brown, cut the portobello mushroom in half and then thinly slice and add to the sausage.
• Chop and add to the pan as you go-the onion, garlic, and rosemary.
• Season with red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
• Once everything is in the pan, the sausage is browned, and the mushrooms and onions have wilted, add in the chicken stock and lemon juice.
• Continue to cook over high heat until the liquids have evaporated-2 to 3 minutes.
• While the sausage and mushrooms are cooking down in the liquid-combine the ricotta cheese, egg, lemon zest, Parmigiano, and bread crumbs in a bowl.
• Brush an 8-inch springform pan or an 8x8 inch baking dish with a little olive oil; place 7 disks of the polenta on the bottom of the dish.
• If they overlap a little, that is fine (it will vary depending on what kind of dish you are using).
• Divide the sausage and mushroom mixture into 3 even portions; do the same with the ricotta mixture.
• Using the back of a spoon, spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture on top of the polenta (don't make yourself crazy doing this; just mush it out over the polenta).
• Top the ricotta with 1/3 of the sausage mixture.
• Repeat layers 2 more times, starting with polenta and finishing with sausage mixture.
• Sprinkle the top with mozzarella.
• Cover the baking dish with foil; place in oven; bake for 15-18 minutes.
• To make sure it is cooked through, insert a knife into the center of the dish, wait a few seconds, then remove it.
• Touch the knife to your fingertips and if it is hot, the lasagna is done.
• Remove from the springform and serve.
• *Sweet and Savory Polenta "Lasagna"-add ½ cup golden raisins and ½ cup pine nuts at the same time you add the chicken broth and lemon juice to the sausage.
• *Sausage, Mushroom, and Olive Polenta-add 4 rounded tablespoons black olive or green olive tapenade to the ricotta cheese along with the egg, lemon zest, parmigiano, and bread crumbs.
• *Sausage, Mushroom, and Pesto Polenta-add 4 tablespoons quality pesto to the ricotta along with the egg, lemon zest, parmigiano, and bread crumbs.
• *Super Mushroom Polenta-omit sweet Italian sausage, swap dry white wine for the chicken broth, add 2 additional portobello mushrooms and 1 jarred roasted red pepper, drained and chopped; add the 2 extra mushrooms along with the original mushroom quantity; add the roasted red pepper to the ricotta mixture.

MUSHROOM POLENTA

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.

POLENTA LASAGNA LOAF

Steps:

• Prepare polenta: Bring water and salt to a boil over high heat. Whisk polenta into the boiling water and continue whisking until it starts to thicken, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring often, until polenta is soft and has lost its grainy texture, 25 to 40 minutes.
• Remove polenta from the stove and quickly whisk in butter and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
• Transfer polenta to a silicone baking liner (or oiled foil or parchment paper). Spread it out evenly almost to the edges into an 8x13-inch rectangle. Cover with plastic wrap and smooth out the top with your hands. Place a baking sheet on top and press slightly to further flatten.
• Slide the silicone liner and polenta onto the baking sheet and place in the refrigerator until firm, about 1 hour.
• Remove polenta from the refrigerator and cut, from one long edge to the other, into 8-inch long strips.
• Prepare filling: Stir ricotta, Parmigiano-Reggiano, mozzarella, salt, pepper, cayenne, egg, and parsley in a bowl until well combined.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a loaf pan with 1 tablespoon oil.
• Place one strip of polenta into the bottom of the prepared loaf pan. Spread 1/3 of the filling on top as evenly as you can. Top with about 1 cup hot meat sauce. Repeat polenta-filling-sauce layers twice more. Place the last piece of polenta on top, then gently shake and tap the pan to settle the contents. Place the loaf pan on top of a sheet pan to catch any spills while baking. Loosely wrap the top of the loaf pan with foil, making sure it's not touching the polenta.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly, about 1 hour.
• Remove from the oven, discard foil, and let rest for at least 15 minutes.
• Divide onto 6 plates. Garnish with parsley and serve with additional sauce.

POLENTA LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix marinara sauce, garlic powder and herbes de Provence. Arrange half of the polenta slices in a greased 8-in. skillet. Top with half of the sauce; sprinkle with 3/4 cup cheese. Repeat layers., Cook, uncovered, over medium heat 12-14 minutes or until bubbly. Cover; cook 2-3 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

POLENTA WITH MUSHROOMS AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Brush both sides of polenta slices with 1 tablespoon oil; place on a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake 20-25 minutes on each side or until crisp., Meanwhile, in large skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and shallot; cook and stir 12-14 minutes or until liquid has evaporated and mushrooms start to brown. Add sherry; cook, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan., In a small bowl, mix flour, salt and pepper; stir in broth until smooth. Stir into pan. Cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Add spinach; cook and stir over medium-low heat until slightly wilted, about 2 minutes., Arrange polenta on a platter; top with mushroom mixture.

POLENTA LASAGNA

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Place porcini in a small bowl, and cover with 1/2 cup boiling water. Let soak 15 minutes. Lift mushrooms out of water, chop medium fine, and set aside. Strain the liquid through cheesecloth; set liquid aside.
• In a large skillet, heat oil and butter over medium-low heat. Add carrot, celery, onion, and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add all meats, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; raise heat to high, and cook, stirring occasionally, until meat has browned, about 4 minutes. Add wine, and cook until liquid has evaporated, about 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, stock, chopped porcini, reserved porcini liquid, and nutmeg. Lower heat to medium low, and slowly simmer, stirring occasionally, about 35 minutes; much of the liquid will evaporate, but the sauce should be very moist, with several tablespoons of liquid remaining. The sauce can be prepared up to 2 days in advance and stored, covered, in the refrigerator.
• Make the polenta: Lightly brush a 3-by-5-inch mini loaf pan with oil; set aside. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 2/3 cups water to a boil, and add salt. While constantly whisking, add polenta in a slow, steady stream. When all the polenta has been added, immediately reduce heat to low, and let simmer, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove polenta from heat, pour into prepared pan, and smooth the surface (an offset spatula works well). Let stand until cool, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until cold and firm, about 4 hours. Can be prepared up to 2 days in advance and stored, covered, in the refrigerator.
• Make the bechamel sauce: In a saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Add flour, and cook, stirring frequently, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring milk and salt to a boil. Slowly whisk milk into the flour mixture until completely incorporated and smooth. Add nutmeg, and reduce heat to low; simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Rub butter over the surface of the bechamel; this will prevent a skin from forming. The bechamel can be prepared up to this point 2 days in advance and stored, covered, in the refrigerator. When ready to use, warm sauce in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring, 1 or 2 minutes. If the sauce is too thick, whisk in about 2 tablespoons of milk to thin it out.
• Assemble the lasagna: Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat; add spinach and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until wilted and tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and drain in a colander. Squeeze out all water, finely chop, and set aside.
• Unmold polenta onto a clean surface. Using a serrated knife, trim the block of polenta to a length of 4 inches. Turn polenta on its side; slice 6 pieces as thin as possible (they should be less than 1/8 inch thick).
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spread 5 tablespoons of the meat sauce into each of two 12-ounce ovenproof casseroles. Cover with 1 slice of polenta, and spread 3 tablespoons of meat sauce evenly over. Spread 2 tablespoons of bechamel over the meat sauce, and evenly distribute 2 tablespoons of the chopped spinach over the bechamel. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of Parmesan, and cover with 1 slice of polenta. Repeat the layering process (3 tablespoons meat sauce, 2 tablespoons bechamel, 2 tablespoons spinach, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, and 1 piece polenta). Spread 1 heaping tablespoon of bechamel sauce over the final layer of polenta, sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of Parmesan, and dot with 1/4 teaspoon butter. These can be prepared up to this point a day in advance; cover and refrigerate. (If lasagnas are prepared ahead and refrigerated, let them stand at room temperature for 1 hour before baking.)
• Bake until tops of lasagnas are golden brown and juices are bubbling, about 20 to 25 minutes. If tops are not yet brown, increase heat to broil and place lasagnas under broiler until tops are speckled brown. Let stand for about 10 minutes before serving.