Mushroom ragu with soft polenta is a classic Italian dish that combines the earthy flavors of mushrooms, cooked in a slow simmering tomato sauce, with creamy and luscious polenta. This dish is a perfect comfort food, especially on chilly evenings, and can be tailored to suit your taste preferences. Whether you prefer a hearty, meaty ragu or a vegetarian version, this versatile dish offers endless possibilities for customization. With its bold flavors and textures, mushroom ragu with soft polenta is sure to become a favorite in your culinary repertoire.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
POLENTA SQUARES WITH MUSHROOM RAGU
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories appetizer
Time 40m
Yield 36 bite-size hors d'oeuvres
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Bring the water, 1 tablespoon butter, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil in a heavy medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in the polenta. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir constantly until the polenta thickens, about 5 minutes. Pour the polenta into a greased 9 by 9-inch baking pan, spreading so that it is 1/3-inch thick. Cover and let stand at room temperature until set, about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and onion. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper and saute until the juices evaporate, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until the mushrooms are golden brown, about 2 minutes longer. Decrease the heat to medium-low. Add the Marsala. Cover and simmer until the Marsala has reduced by about half, about 5 minutes. Stir the flour and remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a small bowl to form a paste, then stir the paste into the mushroom mixture. Cover and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir the parsley into the ragu. Season the ragu, to taste, with more salt and pepper.
- Cut the polenta into 36 bite-size squares. Arrange the polenta squares on a platter. Spoon the warm ragu atop the polenta and serve immediately.
CREAMY POLENTA WITH MUSHROOMS
Who knows who first mixed soy sauce and butter and discovered the pleasures the combination provides. Try the mixture on warm white rice, a steaming pile of greens or an old sneaker - regardless, the taste is a sublime velvet of sweet and salty, along with a kind of pop we call umami, a fifth taste beyond sweet, sour, bitter and salty. Soy butter provides warmth and luxury, elegance without pomp. For this recipe, we've adapted a dish that was on the menu at the chef Chris Jaeckle's All'onda, in Manhattan: a mixture of soy and butter with mushroom stock to pour over polenta and sautéed mushrooms. The result is a dinner of comfort and joy.
Provided by Sam Sifton
Categories weekday, appetizer, main course, side dish
Time 1h
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- For the polenta, bring 4 1/2 cups water and the milk to a high simmer in a medium-size heavy saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add salt. Pour the cornmeal slowly into the liquid, stirring with a wire whisk to prevent clumping. Continue stirring as the mixture thickens, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Turn heat to low. Cook for approximately 40 to 45 minutes, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes. If the polenta becomes quite thick, thin it with 1/2 cup water, stir well and continue cooking. Add up to 1 cup more water as necessary, to keep the polenta soft enough to stir.
- Add the butter to pot, and stir well. Add the Parmesan, if using. Taste for seasoning. Set the covered saucepan in a pot of barely simmering water, and keep warm for up to an hour or so.
- Meanwhile, put the dried mushrooms in a small bowl, and cover with about 1/2 cup boiling water. Allow to steep for 20 minutes. Remove the mushrooms, and pat dry, then chop roughly. Reserve the mushroom stock.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a sauté pan set over high heat until it has melted. Add the garlic and cook until it starts to sizzle, about 30 seconds. Do not let the garlic brown.
- Add the fresh and reconstituted mushrooms and thyme to the pan, and sauté 3 to 4 minutes, turning until browned. Add about 1/4 cup of the mushroom stock to deglaze the surface, using a wooden spoon to scrape at the browned bits. Allow the stock to reduce by half, then turn the heat to medium-low and add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter, whisking to combine, followed by the soy sauce, cream and olive oil. Allow mixture to cook until it thickens a little, then remove from heat. Taste for seasoning, adding black pepper, if desired.
- Put the polenta in a warmed bowl, then top with mushrooms and the sauce. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 382, UnsaturatedFat 8 grams, Carbohydrate 40 grams, Fat 22 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 6 grams, SaturatedFat 12 grams, Sodium 286 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 1 gram
POLENTA WITH MUSHROOM RAGOUT
Steps:
- FOR THE POLENTA
- Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Sprinkle the cornmeal on top while mixing it in with a whisk, and stir in the salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid to prevent splattering, and cook gently for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the polenta is cooked and has the consistency of a creamy puree. Set aside, covered.
- FOR THE RAGOUT
- Heat the butter and oil in a large saucepan. When they are hot, add the onion and sauté for 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms and sauté over high heat for about 2 minutes, until the liquid emerges from them and evaporates. Add the garlic, tomatoes, corn, chicken stock, salt, and pepper and bring to a strong boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
- To serve, ladle the polenta into the center of four soup plates and pour the mushroom ragout on top of and around it. Sprinkle with the chives and serve.
SOFT POLENTA WITH MUSHROOM RAGU
Adding cheese to polenta makes the texture even creamier. We used Fontina, which is a mild, nutty cheese that melts easily; Monterey Jack would also be good.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Lunch Recipes
Time 1h20m
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Place dried mushrooms in a medium bowl; add 4 cups warm water. Let soak until soft, about 30 minutes. Drain in a sieve lined with a paper towel or coffee filter, reserving liquid. Squeeze mushrooms to remove excess liquid; roughly chop.
- In a 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Cook onion, stirring often, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add fresh mushrooms; season with salt and pepper. Cover; cook until mushrooms release their juices, about 10 minutes. (If mushrooms begin to brown, add up to 1/4 cup water.)
- Uncover; raise heat to high. Cook, stirring often, until liquid evaporates and mushrooms brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add dried mushrooms, thyme, sherry, and tomato paste; cook until pan is dry, about 2 minutes. Stir in reserved liquid. Simmer, partially covered, until sauce has thickened, about 25 minutes. Stir in vinegar. Serve over soft polenta (see below).
- To make soft polenta: In a small bowl, whisk together the yellow cornmeal with 1 cup cold water. In a medium saucepan, bring the remaining 3 1/4 cups water, coarse salt, and ground pepper to a fill rapid boil. Gradually stir in cornmeal mixture. Simmer, stirring frequently, until mixture is thick, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in grated Fontina cheese and butter until melted.
MUSHROOM RAGOUT OVER SOFT POLENTA (ITALIAN)
We really enjoy this and I've also made it when my vegetarian neice or friend came over. This is a great meal but can also be a side. I got this recipe from the a newspaper clipping.
Provided by Marlitt
Categories Vegetable
Time 40m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Mushroom Ragout:.
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
- Add garlic, shallot, parsley, basil and dried pepper flakes and saute until garlic and shallots are a light yellow color (about 3 min).
- Add mushrooms and toss.
- Pour wine or water over mushroom mixture and season with salt and pepper.
- Turn down heat to low, cover and stir occasionaally until mushrooms are reduced and water has been completely absorbed (about 20 min).
- While mushrooms are simmering start the polenta.
- Stir in fontina cheese and stir until cheese has melted.
- Polenta:.
- Heat 2 Tbs olive oil in a dutchoven and add the chopped onion and saute until transulsant.
- Pour in the 3 cups of broth add the salt and bring to a boil.
- Pour in the cornmeal stirring constantly.
- Reduce heat to low and cook 20 minutes stirring often.
- Stir in cheese.
- Quickly turn into a large shallow bowl.
- Pour mushroom mixture over top, and sprinkle with additional parsley.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 313.2, Fat 16.9, SaturatedFat 3.2, Cholesterol 5.5, Sodium 698.7, Carbohydrate 32.2, Fiber 4.1, Sugar 4, Protein 9.1
CREAMY POLENTA & MUSHROOM RAGOUT
Parmesan polenta topped with a rich mushroom mix and melting Taleggio cheese makes for a vegetarian main with a difference
Provided by Barney Desmazery
Categories Main course
Time 1h5m
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Soak the dried mushrooms in 150ml warm water. Set aside for 20 mins, then drain and squeeze, reserving the soaking liquid. Heat the butter in a large frying pan. When sizzling, add the shallot and cook for a few mins until soft. Add the garlic and thyme leaves, cook for 1 min more, then turn up the heat and add the soaked mushrooms. After 1 min, add all the other mushrooms and fry over a very high heat for 5 mins until soft. Splash in the red wine and boil rapidly for 1 min. Pour in the stock and reserved mushroom liquid, and simmer for 15 mins until you have a thickened stew. Turn off the heat.
- For the polenta, bring the milk to the boil with 500ml water, the bay and thyme. Turn off the heat and leave to infuse for 20 mins, then fish out the herbs and bring back to the boil. Add the polenta in a steady stream, whisking steadily. Cook for 1 min until thickened, then stir in the butter and Parmesan. Spoon a 'crater' of polenta onto a baking tray and fill with the ragout. Top with slices of Taleggio, place under a hot grill until melting and oozy, then let everyone help themselves.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 643 calories, Fat 31 grams fat, SaturatedFat 19 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 61 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 10 grams sugar, Fiber 4 grams fiber, Protein 25 grams protein, Sodium 1.8 milligram of sodium
FRIED POLENTA SQUARES WITH CREAMY MUSHROOM RAGU
You won't be able to resist this hearty, heart-warming side dish from Beth Kirby of Local Milk.
Provided by Reynolds Kitchens(R)
Categories Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips Reynolds®
Time 3h45m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Whisk in the polenta. Once it begins to thicken, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes until creamy and thick, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Stir in the Parmesan and a 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Stir until melted and cheese is no longer visible. Remove from heat.
- Line an 8x11 inch baking dish with Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil and carefully pour the polenta into the baking dish, using a spatula to smooth it to an even thickness, about 3/4 inch. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours and up to two days until firm.
- While the polenta chills, make your ragu. In a large heavy skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and garlic and saute until fragrant and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir often to prevent browning. Add mushrooms and thyme and cook over medium-high heat until the mushrooms start to release their liquid. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and continue to cook another 5 minutes until they begin to soften more.
- Add flour, stirring, until it is no longer visible, about 1 minute. Add in the wine, cream and sugar, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Taste and adjust salt if desired. Simmer until thick and creamy and the mushrooms are nicely coated, about 15 minutes. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and 1/2 cup minced parsley. Set aside and cover to keep warm.
- Slice your polenta into squares -- whatever size you desire. Wipe down your skillet, coat it with nonstick cooking spray, and heat it over medium-high. Fry the squares in the pan until golden brown and warmed through. To serve, top the squares with warm mushroom ragu.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 447.8 calories, Carbohydrate 46.9 g, Cholesterol 32.5 mg, Fat 19 g, Fiber 7.1 g, Protein 19 g, SaturatedFat 7.2 g, Sodium 948.9 mg, Sugar 6.2 g
Tips:
- Use a variety of mushrooms. This will give your ragu a more complex flavor. Some good options include cremini, shiitake, and oyster mushrooms.
- Don't overcrowd the pan. When you're cooking the mushrooms, make sure to give them enough space so that they can brown properly. Otherwise, they'll just steam and become soggy.
- Cook the mushrooms until they're browned. This will help to develop their flavor and give them a nice texture.
- Use a good quality wine. The wine you use will have a big impact on the flavor of your ragu. Choose a wine that you enjoy drinking.
- Simmer the ragu for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld and develop.
- Serve the ragu with soft polenta. Polenta is a great way to soak up all of the delicious sauce.
Conclusion:
Mushroom ragu is a delicious and hearty dish that's perfect for a cold night. It's easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste. So next time you're looking for a comforting and flavorful meal, give mushroom ragu a try. You won't be disappointed!
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