Creamy Polenta With Mushrooms Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Lee

A Serious Eats way to cook polenta is to soak it overnight (NOT instant). Then it cooks quickly, no clumping. Easy and less stressful. They use water as milk only makes it rich as many have commented.

Z

This is amazing. I followed the recipe as is, but tripled the mushrooms (and all mushroom ingredients). It served 5.

Ryan

This was AMAZINGLY delicious. I used shiitakes and morrels, and fresh porcinis. Was a bit tipsy by the time it got down to deglazing the pan and making the sauce, so my mushrooms stayed in the pan for that process, but it turned out great nonetheless. The next morning I heated up leftovers and put fried eggs on top, was a very nice addition to the dish.

bacongougere

This was beyond delicious. I never cook polenta in milk and didn't this time, either. That was good, because the mushrooms are very rich. More than enough polenta (which is fine for leftovers) but next time--and there will be a next time--I will at least triple the mushrooms. This sounds ordinary; it is anything but.

Elise

Add a bit of balsamic vinegar to the soy and butter sauce. It kicks up the umami. Dried Tarragon adds a nice flavor and aroma as well. I do something similar when I cook lentils. The combination of soy, balsamic, tarragon, mushrooms and shallots is divine!

Sue Ryan

The dried porcini that I buy all seem to be impossibly stringy and chewy even after soaking for 24 hours. I have stopped using them and I up the amount of other mushrooms to 3x and add porcini powder to taste. I must say that porcini powder is a godsend to liven up stews, soups and any dish where mushrooms are ingredients and you think you need extra flavor.

courtney

Definitely not 4-6 servings of tasty tasty mushrooms.
Had to use whole milk instead of heavy cream and it seemed to work out fine.

Scott Barnes

I once substituted dry sherry for the soy sauce and was shocked by how good it was.

Debby

Perfect for a celebration, for feeding my child in recovery from an illness, for nourishment after a day of hard work, etc. I don’t understand why people feel the need to make these negative comments that only reflect their own food rigidity.

harryh

Overall quite good especially on a winter day.Ratio of polenta to mushrooms was a bit off. Need either more mushrooms or less polenta by about 25%.Maybe a bit heavy. Consider just cooking the polenta in water and not milk or leaving out the parmesan. I also felt it lacked acid. Consider adding some lemon zest at the end or maybe vinegar.

Christopher

I like the tipsy part.

Jill

In response to Victor Sasson who took health issues with butter and soy because of saturated fat and sodium: No need to yuck my yum. :-) Everything in moderation. Perhaps after this meal I'll have brown rice and steamed broccoli. Also a pleasing combination.

Cie

Maitake, shiitake and crimini combo. Less butter, no cream, more olive oil. I had no dried mushroom, hence no mushroom broth. Ran with a hunch and deglazed pan with rice vinegar. The sourness evaporated and left a deep umami that went so well with soy. So, I really did not follow the recipe at all... Next time, definitely! I just want to eat this again and again.

AmyC

The recipe should be updated to mention that you need to remove mushrooms before creating the sauce. I know it should be obvious, but I didn’t realize it until too late, and when the oil hit the pan, it killed the sauce. Still tasty, because the mushrooms absorbed a lot of the flavor, but I know it will be better when I make it properly. (I may cut a tablespoon or 2 if butter though... I love butter but this was a little much for my stomach).

Mary

When I make this, I skip the milk in the polenta -- the mushrooms are rich enough themselves. That aside, this is delicious! I made it a couple of days ago and had both polenta and mushrooms left over. I shaped the polenta into a loaf. Tonight, I sliced it and fried it in butter. I reheated the mushrooms plus some sliced red onion, stirring in eggs for a scramble, with some grated gruyere (left over from quiche a couple of weeks ago). A wonderful, comforting meal for a cold Midwestern night!

tab

2 pounds of Cremini mushrooms. Used vegetable stock to deglaze pan. Used more heavy cream to get more sauce. Used very little olive oil at end.only 3 tbsp soy was good.

tab

Wow wow wow. That’s good. Played with sauce measures to to get a bit more sauce. Used 2 lbs mushrooms.

Katie

Polenta turned out great. I also added a dash of miso to the sauce, omitted the cream since I didn't have any. Really bumped up the umami flavor and couldn't taste the miso specifically. Will make again!

Linda

Added zest of l/2 lemon and 1 sprig finely chopped rosemary and pepper to the polenta.Could do 1/4 recipe for 2.Truffle oil would be cool.Tripled the mushrooms.Added wine instead of mushroom broth.

Halve The Polenta Or Double The Sauce

Halve polenta or double sauce

Halve The Polenta Or Double The Sauce

Also spare ribs or roast Turkey

Halve The Polenta Or Double The Sauce

Or duck

Joanne

Great recipe, I made it as written. I'd definitely make more of the mushroom mix as I ended up with a lot of polenta left over.

meg

I baked the polenta with 6 cups water (added 1/2 cup soy milk at the end) and olive oil instead of butter, added yellow onion, tripled the garlic and used 1 tsp mushroom powder instead of dried mushrooms. Agree with those who call for more mushrooms, but might keep the butter the same.

Sara G

This is truly wonderful. Earthy, comforting. Make it!

Gayle Wilson

I was hosting a pre-Thanksgiving dinner party for someone w/ dairy and wheat intolerance and someone who is a vegetarian. Used ghee (no cheese or cream), and it was excellent. Definitely adding to my repertoire! Thanks for the other review writers who helped me decide this would work w/o milk, etc.

zcooks

Oooooo definitely double mushrooms!

Sarah

Very good, but needs way more mushrooms like others said. Also lacks acid.

delicious. incorrect poetion rations

3x mushrooms or 1/2 polenta & 2x mushrooms

Chandler

Could I add shrimp at the end and fold in - a 'shrimp and grits' kind of idea?thanks. CH

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Creamy Polenta With Mushrooms Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to making polenta? ›

Lumps are the biggest pitfall in making polenta, but it's easy to avoid them. Pour the cornmeal into the water gradually – NOT all at once – and whisk constantly as you do it. The constant whisking will evenly disperse the cornmeal grounds in the water, so they won't have a chance to clump together.

Why is my polenta not creamy? ›

Cook the Polenta Longer

I always thought my polenta looked done after 15 or 20 minutes of cooking, but just because it's thickened doesn't mean the cornmeal has cooked through. Keep on cooking until it tastes creamy, corny, and a little bit sweet. That extra time makes all the difference.

How do you make polenta taste better? ›

Cooking it in milk will produce a rich and creamy polenta that's delicious and indulgent, but also heavy; stock (vegetable or chicken) will infuse the polenta with more flavor, but that flavor can also cover up the taste of the cornmeal.

Is polenta better with milk or water? ›

The Liquid

In Italian cooking, polenta is made with water. Some more Americanized recipes will prompt you to start with milk or stock, but (in my opinion) they are wrong. Hydrating your polenta with water will allow the flavor of the corn to shine, and it will allow each individual grain to absorb salt more readily.

What makes the best polenta? ›

In Italy, you'll find polenta made from yellow cornmeal or white cornmeal, though yellow is more common. The best polenta is made from stone ground corn, which comes in a coarse, medium, or fine grind. Cornmeal labeled polenta is usually a coarse-grind, but you can make the dish with a medium or fine-grind.

How to keep polenta creamy? ›

The top of the polenta might seem a bit hardened when you uncover it, but never fear. Adding the fat (in this case, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and unsalted butter) and a little vigorous whisking will produce the creamy results you expect.

Do you have to stir polenta constantly? ›

(Which is why some recipes for polenta dictate that the constant stirring is truly necessary only at the beginning and then intermittently.) Placing the pot in an oven surrounds it with a uniform, unvarying temperature. When the temperature is constant, the stirring need not be.

How do you make Martha Stewart polenta? ›

In a large, deep saucepan, bring 5 cups of water to a boil. While whisking constantly, add polenta in a slow, steady stream. Reduce heat to medium, cook until thickened, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, about 15 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in cheese, heavy cream, and butter.

What do Italians do with polenta? ›

In Italy, polenta is often eaten family-style from a large platter or wooden board, allowing guests to serve themselves at the table. Polenta, slow simmered ground corn, is eaten in many ways, as a main or side dish. It can be served simply, with just butter and cheese, or topped with sauce.

What pairs with polenta? ›

Top polenta with your favorite pasta sauce. Add sautéed greens and protein of choice including meats, cheese, lentils and legumes. Make as a breakfast cereal; add nuts, seeds, dried fruits, fresh fruit, and milk of choice.

How to tell if polenta is done? ›

Polenta is done when texture is creamy and the individual grains are tender. Turn off heat and gently stir 2 tablespoons butter into polenta until butter partially melts; mix 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese into polenta until cheese has melted. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes to thicken.

Is polenta good for the bowels? ›

Polenta contains both protein and fiber to help a person feel full. Fiber is also recommended to keep the digestive system functioning properly, to feed healthy gut bacteria, and to prevent constipation.

Is polenta better for you than rice? ›

Polenta is often used to substitute grains like pasta and rice, as it's lower in calories and is a source of complex carbohydrates. Because complex carbohydrates aren't broken down as quickly as simple carbohydrates, it's ideal for individuals watching their blood sugar levels.

Is polenta better for you than mashed potatoes? ›

Polenta is high in protein and fiber, but compared to rice, pasta, or potatoes, it's much lower in calories and fat, yet still provides a source of complex carbs that are much-needed for energy. So, why not to try polenta out for your next meal?

How do you keep polenta from getting grainy? ›

Be vigilant, and keep adding liquid and stirring until polenta is cooked through, tasting along the way. If your polenta is too gritty and forces you to chew on pebbly grains, add water and keep it going.

Why does my polenta fall apart? ›

It's recommended that you oil the grill and brush some fresh oil on both sides of the polenta squares; this will ensure gorgeous grill marks and the polenta remain intact.

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