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Polenta with Sausage and Mushrooms

17/11/2023

Polenta with sausage and mushrooms is a hearty dish perfect for the colder months. Here’s how to prepare it.

Ingredients

For the polenta:

  • 250 g of cornmeal for polenta
  • 1 L of water
  • Salt, to taste

For the topping:

  • 400 g of fresh sausage
  • 300 g of mushrooms (porcini or champignons)
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1 tablespoon of chopped parsley
  • 1 small onion
  • Extra virgin olive oil, to taste
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • White wine, to taste

Preparation

  1. Start with the preparation of the polenta. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot. When the water is boiling, add the salt and gradually pour in the cornmeal, stirring with a whisk to prevent lumps from forming.

  2. Lower the heat and continue to stir with a wooden spoon for about 40-50 minutes, until the polenta can easily be detached from the sides of the pot.

  3. While the polenta is cooking, clean the mushrooms by removing the earthy part of the stem and quickly washing them under running water. Then, cut them into slices or pieces, according to your preference.

  4. In a large skillet, sauté the finely chopped onion in a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil until it becomes translucent. Add the mushrooms and let them cook until they have released all their water and it has evaporated.

  5. In the meantime, remove the casing from the sausage and crumble it. Add the sausage to the mushrooms and let it cook, stirring occasionally.

  6. When the sausage is well browned, deglaze with a bit of white wine and let the alcohol evaporate over high heat. Add the chopped garlic and parsley, then season with salt and pepper and continue cooking for a few minutes.

  7. Serve the hot polenta on a serving dish or individual plates, and top with the sausage and mushroom topping.

Curiosity

In the regions of northern Italy, polenta is a real institution and is used as a base for various dishes. Paired with sausage and mushrooms, it becomes a rich and enveloping one-dish meal, perfect for family dinners. Remember that the consistency of the polenta can be varied by adding more or less water, depending on whether you prefer it softer or firmer.

Polenta with Sausage and Mushrooms