Polenta Wedges With Asparagus And Mushrooms Recipes

POLENTA WEDGES WITH ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat broiler, with rack 5 inches from heat. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add broth and cook until reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Stir in cream and cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Place a rimmed baking sheet in oven to heat, 5 minutes. Pat polenta wedges dry with a paper towel and lightly brush both sides with 1 1/2 teaspoons oil. Toss asparagus with 1/2 teaspoon oil.
• Carefully place asparagus on one half of hot sheet and season with salt and pepper; place polenta on other half of sheet.
• Broil until polenta is golden brown and asparagus is crisp-tender, about 6 minutes, rotating sheet and tossing asparagus halfway through. Serve polenta wedges with asparagus and creamy mushrooms.

ASIAN ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Cut 1 bunch asparagus into thirds. Heat 2 teaspoons sesame oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cut a 1-inch piece ginger into matchsticks, add to the skillet and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add 3 cups quartered shiitake mushroom caps and 1 sliced garlic clove and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add the asparagus and 1/3 cup water; bring to a boil, cover and cook until crisp-tender, 3 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon each soy sauce and butter; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.

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.

PORCINI MATZO POLENTA WEDGES

Steps:

• Cook onion in 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Add porcini and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Cool, then stir in basil and season with salt and pepper.
• Bring broth and water to a boil in a 3-quart heavy saucepan. Gradually add matzo meal, whisking, and simmer, whisking constantly, until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until very thick, about 2 minutes more. Stir in porcini and salt and pepper to taste. Spread polenta in an oiled 9-inch glass pie plate and let stand until firm, about 1 hour.
• Cut polenta into 12 wedges. Heat remaining tablespoon oil in skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook wedges until crisp and golden brown on both sides, about 15 minutes total.

POLENTA WITH ASPARAGUS, PEAS AND MINT

Steps:

• If cooking polenta on stovetop: In a medium pot over high heat, combine 4 1/2 cups water, polenta and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently, until thickened, 30 to 40 minutes, depending on how finely the polenta is ground (coarse-ground polenta takes longer).
• Alternatively, cook polenta in oven: Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium Dutch oven or other oven-safe pot over high heat, bring 4 1/2 cups water, polenta and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, stirring constantly until the mixture starts to thicken slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Cover pot and transfer to the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, then give the mixture a stir. If it looks dry, add another 1/2 cup water. Cover the pot once more, and continue to bake for another 20 to 30 minutes.
• When polenta is thick and creamy, stir in 2 to 4 of the tablespoons butter (depending on how buttery you like it) and the Parmesan. Taste and add more Parmesan and salt, if needed.
• As the polenta cooks, prepare the vegetables: In a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add shallots and sauté until tender and golden, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Stir in garlic and cook for another minute or two, until fragrant and very lightly golden in spots. Add vermouth and cook until alcohol evaporates, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir in asparagus and peas, and cook until vegetables are glossy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add stock, remaining 2 tablespoons butter and a large pinch of salt, and bring to a simmer. Cook until vegetables are tender and sauce thickens slightly, 2 to 8 minutes. (Thicker asparagus will take longer to soften.) Stir in the mint. Taste and add more salt, if needed.
• To serve, spoon polenta into bowls, top with vegetables and their sauce, and grind on lots of fresh pepper. Finish with shaved Parmesan.

POLENTA WEDGES

Steps:

• Combine milk, chives, garlic, salt, and paprika in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil over high heat. While whisking, slowly sprinkle in polenta. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until polenta has thickened, 5 to 8 minutes. Add Parmesan and butter; stir until combined. Pour polenta into an 8 1/2-inch springform pan; let rest until completely set, about 45 minutes at room temperature.
• Preheat the broiler. Remove the outer ring from the springform pan. Cut the polenta into eight wedges. Coat with olive-oil spray, and place on a rack in the oven several inches underneath the broiler. Broil the polenta until golden brown on top and heated through, about 8 minutes. Serve.

BAKED POLENTA WITH BALSAMIC MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Place mushrooms in a large baking dish, gill-side up. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar over mushrooms. Crush thyme between your fingers; sprinkle over mushrooms.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tender, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a plate using tongs. Leave any accumulated juices in the baking dish.
• Bring water and half-and-half to a boil in a large pot. Add polenta in a steady stream, whisking constantly. Reduce heat and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Add Swiss cheese, sea salt, and pepper; stir until cheese is melted.
• Pour hot polenta into the same baking dish used to bake the mushrooms. Smooth the top with a spatula. Arrange mushrooms, gill-side up, in the polenta. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until mushrooms are soft, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and garnish with truffle salt.

BAKED MUSHROOMS AND POLENTA GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter an 8x12-inch baking dish.
• Bring water and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add cornmeal in a slow stream, whisking. Whisk in 1 tablespoon oil and ¼ teaspoon sage. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until very thick, about 20 minutes. Stir in 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese.
• Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter with 1 tablespoon oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 of the mushrooms, ¼ teaspoon of each of the salt and sage, and 1/8 teaspoon of the pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until mushrooms are golden, about 5 minutes. Remove. Repeat with remaining mushrooms, 1 tablespoon each butter and oil, ¼ teaspoon salt and sage and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper.
• Pour 1/2 of the polenta into the prepared baking dish and spread in an even layer. Top with 1/2 of the mushrooms, followed by 1/2 of the Fontina cheese and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese. Repeat with remaining polenta, mushrooms, Fontina and Parmesan cheeses.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is bubbling, about 15 minutes.

CHILLI POLENTA WEDGES

Steps:

• place the stock and saffron in a pan and bring to the boil. Add the polenta and stir until smooth, allow to bubble for 1 minute.
• Add the spring onions, cardamom and sweetcorn and stir well. Cook for a further 2 - 3 min and turn out into a loose bottomed 8 inch cake tin. Leave to stand for 10 minute.
• While the polenta is standing spray a pan with oil and fry the mushroom with the chilli.
• Serve a wedge of polenta topped with the chilli mushrooms and 1 tbsp of yoghurt.

POLENTA WITH MUSHROOMS AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Prepare polenta according to package directions. Cover and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, in a large skilled cook onion in hot oil over medium heat until tender. Stir in mushrooms, asparagus, and garlic. Cook uncovered about 4 minutes or until almost tender. Stir in wine and salt. Cook uncovered over medium-high heat for 1 minute.
• To serve, divide polenta among 4 bowls. Spoon the mushroom mixture over polenta. Sprinkle with nuts and cheese.

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.

SAUTé OF WHITE ASPARAGUS, MORELS, AND RAMPS OVER POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
• Snap off the ends of the asparagus (they will break naturally where their toughness begins), and peel the stalks.
• Clean the ramps and prepare the ramps according to the method described on page 33.
• Blanch the asparagus in heavily salted boiling water about 5 minutes, until tender. To test for doneness, take a spear out of the water, cut a small piece off the end, and taste it. (Remember, the spears will continue to cook a little as they cool.) Carefully remove the asparagus to a baking sheet to cool.
• If the morels are large, cut them in half.
• Heat a large sauté pan over high heat for 2 minutes. (If you don't have a pan that's large enough to hold all of the vegetables, heat two pans and divide ingredients accordingly.) Add 4 tablespoons butter to the pan, and when it foams, scatter the morels into the pan, being careful not to overcrowd them. Sauté the mushrooms 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often. Turn down the heat to medium, and add the thyme, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and a few grindings of pepper. Let the mushrooms cook another 6 to 8 minutes. They should be crispy on the outside, yet still tender. (The amount of cooking time really depends on the mushrooms; sometimes they give off water, which will require a longer cooking time, to allow the water to evaporate and the morels to crisp.)
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the mushrooms, and place the blanched asparagus carefully in the pan. Toss to coat the asparagus in all the mushroomy brown butter, and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add the ramps to the pan, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and cook another 2 minutes, tossing often so all the flavors meld and everything is coated in the butter. Taste for seasoning.
• Spoon the polenta onto a large warm platter. Using tongs, arrange the asparagus and ramps, randomly overlapping them over the polenta. Spoon the morels and all the butter over the top, and scatter the parsley over everything.
• In a heavy-bottomed pot, bring 5 1/2 cups water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil over high heat. Add the polenta slowly, whisking continuously. Turn the heat down to low, and continue cooking for another 20 minutes, whisking often. Add another 1/2 cup water and cook 1 more hour, whisking often and adding 1/2 cup water as needed, about every 20 minutes. The flame should be low, so that the polenta is barely simmering. As you whisk, make sure that you reach the bottom of the pan to prevent the polenta from scorching. I like to use a rubber spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the pot.
• Whisk in the butter, and taste for seasoning. Even when the polenta is finished, you might sense it thickening up a little. If so, add a little more water and whisk to get the right consistency. If you're not serving right away, cover the pan with plastic wrap to keep the polenta from thickening or losing moisture. If necessary, rewarm over low heat before serving.
• You can blanch the asparagus and ramps a few hours ahead.