Polenta Crackers With Roasted Wild Mushrooms Recipes

OVEN ROASTED WILD MUSHROOMS WITH GARLIC AND THYME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Combine the mushrooms and garlic in a large roasting pan, add the olive oil, and pepper and stir to combine. Add the sprigs of thyme and roast in the oven until golden brown and all of the liquid has evaporated, 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the oven and stir in the Worcestershire, salt, and chopped thyme.

POLENTA CRACKERS WITH ROASTED WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• For the crackers: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine the flour, cornmeal, Parmesan, tarragon, cayenne and 1 teaspoon salt in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse until incorporated. Add the heavy cream and process until the dough comes together. If the dough is too dry, add a little more cream, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the dough comes together.
• Lightly flour a sheet of parchment paper and place the dough on top. Shape the dough into a rectangle with your hands, then lightly flour the dough and roll it out with a rolling pin until it is a little less than 1/4 inch thick (about a 15-by-12-inch rectangle). Poke all over with a fork. Cut the dough into squares or rectangles and carefully transfer them to the prepared baking sheet. Bake until light golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool completely on a rack.
• For the mushrooms: Increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
• Toss the mushrooms with the oil, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper on the prepared baking sheet. Roast, stirring once or twice, until tender and well browned, 20 to 25 minutes.
• In a small bowl, combine the lemon juice, tarragon and a pinch of salt and pepper. Transfer the mushrooms to a bowl and top with the tarragon-lemon juice mixture.
• Serve the crackers with the mushrooms on the side for topping.

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.

POLENTA BITES WITH WILD MUSHROOMS AND FONTINA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Brush both sides of polenta slices very lightly with oil and arrange on 2 rimmed baking sheets. Roast polenta until lightly golden brown and warmed through, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt butter with remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until tender and browned, about 12 minutes. Add shallots, vinegar, salt, black pepper, and red pepper and cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in parsley.
• Divide mushroom mixture between baking sheets with polenta. Top with cheese. Continue to roast until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.
• Arrange polenta bites on a platter and serve.
• Do Ahead
• Mushroom mixture can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer to an airtight container and chill.

POLENTA WITH WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Stir the polenta thoroughly into one cup of stock. Bring the rest of the stock to a boil, reduce heat to simmer and slowly add the polenta, stirring. Cook until mixture thickens, a couple of minutes. Stir in the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Keep warm.
• Heat the oil in a nonstick pan until it is very hot. Reduce the heat to medium high, and saute the mushrooms with the thyme until the mushrooms release their juices and the juices begin to evaporate. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon the mushrooms over the top of the polenta, and serve.