Polenta Hors Doeuvres With Sausage Basil And Goat Cheese Recipes

CREAMY POLENTA WITH PARMESAN AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Put oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add sausages and cook, turning occasionally, until well browned on all sides and cooked through, about 20 minutes. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, put cornmeal in a medium saucepan along with 1 cup water and whisk well to make a slurry; continue whisking mixture to eliminate any lumps. Put pan over medium-high heat, sprinkle with salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook, whisking frequently and adding water as needed to keep mixture loose and free of lumps, between 3 and 4 more cups. If mixture becomes too thick, simply add a bit more water; consistency should be similar to sour cream's.
• Polenta will be done in 15 to 30 minutes, depending on grind. Add cheese and butter. Taste and add salt, if necessary, and lots of pepper; serve topped with sausages.

POLENTA WITH GOAT CHEESE AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Bring the stock to a boil in a large, heavy saucepan over high heat. Whisk in the polenta in a steady stream, then decrease the heat to medium. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, more constantly than you would think possible, until the polenta begins to thicken, approximately 10 minutes. (Keep stirring; otherwise the polenta will boil up and may splatter on your hand.)
• Add the cheese and rosemary and stir for approximately 2 minutes. Stir in the butter, season with salt and pepper to taste and serve. It keeps well on the stove, though it thickens as it rests. If cooking before the chops are done, which is a smart idea, either remove from the heat at a thinner consistency or add a little more stock later.

BAKED POLENTA WITH SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Combine water and milk in a large saucepan with polenta. Bring to a boil over high heat; add Parmesan cheese and butter. Stir constantly until thickened, about 3 minutes. Pour polenta into a large, round casserole dish, filling about 1 inch deep.
• Heat olive oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir sausage, mushrooms, onion, and garlic in the skillet until sausage is browned and crumbly, about 10 minutes. Add wine, tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, Italian seasoning, and oregano; cook over medium heat for 30 minutes.
• Pour tomato sauce mixture over polenta. Top with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 20 minutes.

POLENTA HALF-MOONS WITH WHIPPED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook's Note: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange the pine nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until lightly toasted, 6-8 minutes. Cool completely before using.
• For the polenta: Preheat the broiler. Bring 3 cups water and the salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the polenta and continue to stir until the polenta is thick, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer the polenta to a sheet of parchment paper. Roll the polenta into a 2 1/2-diameter log. Refrigerate until cool, 30 minutes.
• Spray a heavy baking sheet with vegetable oil cooking spray. Slice the polenta into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Cut each slice of polenta in half to make half-moon shapes and arrange in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Brush with the olive oil and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Broil until the cheese is golden, 6 to 7 minutes. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
• For the goat cheese: Beat the goat cheese, cream, basil, salt and pepper in a medium bowl using an electric hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 1 minute. Stir in the pine nuts.
• Using two spoons to measure, place 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon-size dollops of the goat cheese mixture on top of the polenta slices and serve.

POLENTA HORS D'OEUVRES WITH SAUSAGE AND BASIL

Steps:

• For polenta, bring water, olive oil and salt to a boil over high heat in 4-quart saucepot. Remove from heat and stir in polenta with a wooden spoon. Cook over medium heat , stirring constantly, 5 minutes. Immediately spread into two lightly greased half sheet pans (18 x 12-inches). Let cool completely. Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut into 48 rounds per sheet pan (6 across and 8 down). Place on clean sheet pan. Store covered with plastic wrap until ready to assemble.
• For sausage mixture, meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat and cook onion and sausage, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes or until sausage is brown. Stir in sauce and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until sausage is done.
• To assemble, preheat broiler. Uncover polenta rounds; brush with additional olive oil and season lightly with additional salt. Broil about 7 minutes or until heated through and a light crust forms. Immediately top each round with 1 heaping teaspoon sausage mixture. Sprinkle generously with cheese and garnish with basil. Serve immediately.

CREAMY POLENTA WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring 1 quart of water to a boil in a medium-size saucepan. Add salt and slowly add polenta, in a thin stream, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Continue whisking until thick and creamy, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cheeses and butter. Serve immediately.

POLENTA HORS D'OEUVRES WITH SAUSAGE, BASIL AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• 1. For polenta, bring water, olive oil and salt to a boil over high heat in 4-quart saucepot. Remove from heat and stir in polenta with a wooden spoon. Cook over medium heat , stirring constantly, 5 minutes. Immediately spread into two lightly greased half sheet pans (18 x 12-inches). Let cool completely. Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut into 48 rounds per sheet pan (6 across and 8 down). Place on clean sheet pan. Store covered with plastic wrap until ready to assemble. NOTE: as a shortcut, Polenta is also available pre-made and ready to slice in most grocery stores 2. For Italian sausage mixture, meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat and cook onion and sausage, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes or until sausage is brown. Stir in sauce and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until sausage is done. If using ground sausage, you may want to form into small patties before cooking to make eating easier on polenta. 3. To assemble, preheat broiler. Uncover polenta rounds; brush with additional olive oil and season lightly with additional salt. Broil about 7 minutes or until heated through and a light crust forms. You can also fry the polenta in olive oil until brown. Immediately top each round with 1 heaping teaspoon sausage mixture. Sprinkle generously with goat or parma cheese and garnish with basil. Serve immediately.

CHEESY POLENTA WITH SAUSAGE RAGOUT

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large casserole dish over a medium-high heat and cook the onion and garlic for a few mins. Stir in the sausages, breaking them up into small pieces as you go, and cook for another 8-9 mins. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, stock, purée and most of the rosemary. Bring to a simmer and cook for another 8-10 mins or until the mixture is thickened. Season to taste.
• Meanwhile, make up the polenta following pack instructions. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese, with some seasoning. Spoon the polenta onto 4 plates, then top with the ragout and a sprinkling of the remaining rosemary.