Creamy Polenta with Mushrooms and Gremolata

Serves 4 Starters and mains

Ingredients

  • 1 litre vegetable stock
  • 500ml whole milk
  • 250g instant fine polenta
  • 100g strong cheddar, grated
  • 75g Italian hard cheese, finely grated
  • 50g butter
  • 3 thyme sprigs, leaves picked and chopped
  • 1tbsp chopped tarragon
  • 2tbsp olive oil
  • 250g chestnut mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
  • 100g shiitake mushrooms, torn in half
  • 1 garlic clove

For the gremolata

  • zest 1 lemon
  • 2tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 3tbsp olive oil

Method

Combine all the gremolata ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

Pour the stock and milk into a large pan and bring to a simmer. Gradually whisk in the polenta, stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Cook for around 5 minutes or until smooth and creamy, then stir in the cheeses until melted. Add the butter and herbs and season with
salt and pepper.

In a frying pan, heat the olive oil over a medium setting. Add the mushrooms and garlic and fry for a few minutes until the mushrooms are tender. Season with salt and pepper.

To serve, spoon the polenta on to warm plates, top with the sautéed mushrooms and drizzle the gremolata over.

Recipes and photographs taken from Life's too Short to Stuff a Mushroom by Prue Leith, photography by Ant Duncan, (Carnival, £25)
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Creamy Polenta 2
Recipes and photographs taken from Life's too Short to Stuff a Mushroom by Prue Leith, photography by Ant Duncan, (Carnival, £25)

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