Mushroom and Herb Polenta
We’ve been eating vegetarian a few times a week and I’ve been experimenting with satisfying, simple, meatless meals. I’m not a vegetarian by any means, but I enjoy eating meatless meals quite often, especially when those vegetarian meals are cheesy, herb-filled comfort meals like this mushroom and herb polenta.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Keyword: butter, cheese, corn, egg-free, gluten-free, mushrooms, nut-free, pasta, rice & grains, soy-free, vegetables
Author: ness
- 4 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cups mixed mushrooms (cut into 1 inch pieces)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon chopped tarragon
- 1 tablespoon chopped thyme
- 1 tablespoon truffle oil
- 2 ¼ cups vegetable stock
- ½ cup instant polenta
- 3 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon rosemary (finely chopped)
- 1 tablespoon chives (finely chopped)
- 3 oz Taleggio cheese (rind removed, cut into 3/8” slices)
- Salt and pepper
Pre-heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add half olive oil and half the mushrooms to pan, and fry for a few minutes until just cooked, about 5 to 6 minutes. Don't stir too much to get more golden brown bits. Remove mushrooms from pan and place in a bowl and set aside. Repeat with remaining olive oil and mushrooms. Remove pan from heat and add first batch of mushrooms back to pan. Add two-thirds of the garlic, and all the tarragon, thyme, and truffle oil. Stir to combine and set aside.
Bring vegetable stock to boil in a medium saucepan and reduce to simmer. Once simmering, slowly pour in polenta, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Cooking time will vary depending on brand; polenta is done when it leaves the sides but is still runny. Remove from heat.
Preheat the broiler. Add Parmesan, butter, rosemary, and chives. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spread polenta in oven-ready dish and top with mushrooms. Top mushrooms with Taleggio and place under broiler for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbling. Serve hot.
Recipe adapted from Plenty by Yotam Ottolenghi