Mushroom Sauté On Charred Polenta And Seared Spicy Ham Recipes

CREAMY POLENTA WITH MUSHROOMS

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.

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.

SAUTEED MUSHROOMS WITH SMOKED HAM

Steps:

• Place dried mushrooms in medium bowl; add enough boiling water to cover. Let stand until mushrooms soften, about 45 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer mushrooms to work surface; reserve mushroom soaking liquid. Chop mushrooms.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add button mushrooms. Sauté until mushrooms are brown and juices evaporate, about 12 minutes. Add porcini mushrooms; stir 1 minute. Transfer mushroom mixture to medium bowl.
• Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to same skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and next 3 ingredients. Sauté until shallots are tender, about 2 minutes. Add mushroom mixture and 1/2 cup mushroom soaking liquid, leaving behind any sediment. Cover and simmer until mushrooms are tender, stirring occasionally and adding more soaking liquid if mixture is dry, about 20 minutes. Add lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm over medium heat before serving.)
• Transfer mushroom mixture to serving bowl. Garnish with parsley sprigs.
• Dried porcini mushrooms are available at Italian markets, specialty foods stores, and many supermarkets.

SAUTEED MUSHROOMS WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• Spray a miniature loaf pan (5 3/4 by 3 1/4 by 2 inches) with nonstick vegetable spray. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups salted water to a boil. Whisking constantly, add polenta in a slow steady stream. Reduce heat to medium, and continue to cook, whisking constantly for 3 minutes. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and butter. Pour polenta into prepared pan. Transfer to refrigerator until completely cool, about 2 hours.
• In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over high heat. Add mushrooms, and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in parsley and thyme. Add Madeira, and cook, stirring to scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pan, until liquid is almost evaporated, about 2 minutes. Taste, and adjust for seasoning.
• While mushrooms are cooking, remove polenta from refrigerator. Using a small spatula, loosen polenta and remove from pan. Turn polenta out onto cutting board and cut into 1/2-inch slices. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add polenta slices and cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Add additional oil as needed to avoid sticking. Serve immediately, topped with sauteed mushrooms and garnished with Parmesan curls.

THREE-CHEESE POLENTA WITH SAUTEED MUSHROOMS AND HAM

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Lightly butter shallow 6-cup casserole. Heat 2 cups broth in medium saucepan to boiling. Stir remaining broth and the cornmeal together until smooth, then gradually stir into boiling broth. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat until polenta cleans side of pan, about 10 minutes.
• Spoon half the polenta into prepared casserole and smooth top with spatual. Sprinkle with half the cheeses. Pour cream evenly over cheese. Spoon remaining polenta over top and smooth. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses.
• Bake until bubbly and browned, about 25 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
• Meanwhile, remove stems from shiitakes. Trim stems of oyster and white mushrooms. Wipe all muhsrooms clean with damp paper towel. Cut large ones in half. Cut ham into thin slivers. Peel garlic and finely chop with parsley.
• Heat oil and butter in large heavy skillet over medium heat. When foam subsides, add shiitakes and saute, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 5 minutes. Add oyster and white mushrooms; saute, stirring constantly, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add ham and garlic mixture. Cook, stirring constnatly, about 1 minute. Sprinkle with lemon juice and stir.
• Serve polenta with mushrooms.

PARMESAN POLENTA WITH HAM

Steps:

• Combine milk, 5 tablespoons butter, salt, pepper and nutmeg in heavy large saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat. Gradually whisked in cornmeal. Stir until mixture is very thick and beginning to pull away from sides of pan, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in ham, 3/4 cup cheese and egg. Transfer polenta to 8 x 8 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Dot with 1 tablespoon butter. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons cheese. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover; refrigerate.)
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Bake polenta uncovered until heated through and beginning to brown on top, about 30 minutes. Cut into squares and serve.