Call it cheatingwe call this no-stir polenta 30 minutes you dont need to spend standing at the stove. And if youre feeling indulgent, top with a little heavy cream mixed with a finely grated small garlic clove.
from Bon Apptit.
ingredients
- 1 pounds mixed mushrooms (such as crimini, shiitake, oyster, and/or maitake), torn into 1 pieces
- 4 sprigs thyme, plus leaves for serving
- 6 garlic cloves, smashed
- Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
- cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup polenta
- 4 ounces Parmesan, finely grated, plus more for serving
- 1 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
- Flaky sea salt
method
- Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 325. Combine mushrooms, thyme sprigs, and garlic on a large rimmed baking sheet. Season generously with kosher salt and pepper; drizzle with oil. Toss to coat mushrooms, then spread out in an even layer. (Make sure not to crowd the mushrooms on the baking sheet; otherwise, theyll steam instead of getting crispy.) Transfer to upper rack in oven and let mushrooms roast while you prepare polenta.
- Bring 4 cups water to a simmer in a large ovenproof saucepan over medium-high heat. Add butter and a generous pinch of kosher salt and whisk to melt butter. Gradually add polenta, whisking constantly. (Gradually incorporating the polenta into the water is key to preventing clumps.) Return mixture to a boil, immediately cover pot, and transfer to lower rack in oven. Bake polenta, shaking baking sheet with mushrooms occasionally, until polenta is tender, 2530 minutes.
- Remove polenta from oven. Crank up oven temperature as high as it will go (but dont broil). Continue to cook mushrooms until crisp around the edges, 510 minutes longer.
- Meanwhile, carefully uncover polenta and whisk vigorously, scraping bottom of pan, until polenta is smooth and thick. Gradually add 4 oz. Parmesan, whisking constantly until melted and incorporated; taste and season with more kosher salt and pepper. Cover and keep warm over low heat while mushrooms finish roasting.
- Remove mushrooms from oven; drizzle with vinegar. Toss to coat; let cool slightly.
- Divide polenta among bowls and top with mushrooms, thyme leaves, sea salt, and more Parmesan.
serves 4.