Wild Mushroom Ragoût On Crispy Polenta With Comte Cheese

Serves: 3

Clarabelle Lynch

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

56

Spice

45

Sweetness

41

Sourness

34

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.6

Difficulty

Ingredients:

2 cups

Whole Milk

Directions:

1

Season lightly to taste with salt and pepper

2

Add shallots and balsamic vinegar; sauté until tender, about 2 minutes

3

For polenta: Generously butter 13x9x1- inch baking sheet

4

Bring milk, broth, and bay leaf to simmer in heavy medium saucepan

5

Remove saucepan from heat; cover and let steep 20 minutes to allow flavors to develop

6

Discard bay leaf

7

Bring liquid to boil

8

Gradually add polenta, whisking constantly until smooth

9

Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until polenta is very thick, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes

10

Stir in Comté cheese and butter

11

Season to taste with salt and pepper

12

Transfer polenta to prepared 13x9x1-inch baking sheet

13

Using wet hands, press polenta evenly over sheet to edges

14

Chill until firm, at least 3 hours

15

Cut polenta into 20 squares

16

DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead

17

Cover and refrigerate

18

Generously butter 13x9x1- inch baking sheet

19

Bring milk, broth, and bay leaf to simmer in heavy medium saucepan

20

Remove saucepan from heat; cover and let steep 20 minutes to allow flavors to develop

21

Discard bay leaf

22

Bring liquid to boil

23

Gradually add polenta, whisking constantly until smooth

24

Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until polenta is very thick, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes

25

Stir in Comté cheese and butter

26

Season to taste with salt and pepper

27

Transfer polenta to prepared 13x9x1-inch baking sheet

28

Using wet hands, press polenta evenly over sheet to edges

29

Chill until firm, at least 3 hours

30

Cut polenta into 20 squares

31

DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead

32

Cover and refrigerate

33

For mushroom ragout: Melt 2 tablespoons butter with 2 tablespoons oil in large deep skillet over medium-high heat

34

Add all mushrooms and sauté until tender and browned, stirring often, about 10 minutes

35

DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead

36

Cover and refrigerate

37

Rewarm mushrooms in large skillet over medium-high heat until heated through

38

Add broth and simmer 1 minute

39

Stir in crème fraîche and half of parsley

40

Season mushroom ragout to taste with salt and pepper

41

Remove from heat; cover to keep warm

42

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 300°F

43

Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat

44

Working in batches, add polenta squares to skillet and cook until browned, about 2 1/2 minutes per side

45

Transfer to rimmed baking sheet and keep warm in oven while cooking remaining polenta squares

46

Arrange 2 polenta squares on each plate

47

Top each with warm mushroom ragout; sprinkle with grated Comté cheese and remaining parsley and serve

48

Melt 2 tablespoons butter with 2 tablespoons oil in large deep skillet over medium-high heat

49

Add all mushrooms and sauté until tender and browned, stirring often, about 10 minutes

50

Add shallots and balsamic vinegar; sauté until tender, about 2 minutes

51

Season lightly to taste with salt and pepper

52

DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead

53

Cover and refrigerate

54

Rewarm mushrooms in large skillet over medium-high heat until heated through

55

Add broth and simmer 1 minute

56

Stir in crème fraîche and half of parsley

57

Season mushroom ragout to taste with salt and pepper

58

Remove from heat; cover to keep warm

59

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 300°F

60

Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat

61

Working in batches, add polenta squares to skillet and cook until browned, about 2 1/2 minutes per side

62

Transfer to rimmed baking sheet and keep warm in oven while cooking remaining polenta squares

63

Arrange 2 polenta squares on each plate

64

Top each with warm mushroom ragout; sprinkle with grated Comté cheese and remaining parsley and serve

65

MORE INFO: Comté is a semi-firm, Gruyère-style cow's-milk cheese made primarily in France's Franche-Comté region

66

It adds great flavor to this recipe and would also be delicious on a cheese platter

67

Comté is available at some supermarkets, cheese shops, and specialty foods stores

68

Comté is a semi-firm, Gruyère-style cow's-milk cheese made primarily in France's Franche-Comté region

69

It adds great flavor to this recipe and would also be delicious on a cheese platter

70

Comté is available at some supermarkets, cheese shops, and specialty foods stores

71

*Polenta can be found at some supermarkets, as well as at natural foods stores and Italian markets

72

If polenta is unavailable, substitute an equal amount of regular yellow cornmeal and cook it about half as long

73

*Polenta can be found at some supermarkets, as well as at natural foods stores and Italian markets

74

If polenta is unavailable, substitute an equal amount of regular yellow cornmeal and cook it about half as long