Recipe - Baked Polenta Casserole With Creamy Mushroom Sauce And Fontina

FOR THE SAUCE
1 ounce Dried porcini mushrooms
Three fourths cup Hot water
One half pound Fresh cultivated white
mushrooms
2 tablespoon Unsalted butter
1 tablespoon Extravirgin olive oil
1 small Onion; chopped
One half teaspoon Salt
One fourth teaspoon Freshly milled white pepper
One half cup Heavy cream
Olive oil or vegetable oil
for oiling boards and
baking dish
1 Recipe Basic Polenta
1 One half cup Cornmeal; 6 cups water, and
2 teaspoons salt
One half pound Fontina cheese; shredded, 2
cups
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese; freshly
grated

To begin to prepare the sauce, in a small bowl combine the dried porcini
and hot water and let stand for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove the porcini
and squeeze out excess water. Using scissors, cut them into pieces about
the size of your thumbnail. Set aside. Strain the mushroom liquor through a
paper towel or a fine sieve; reserve. Lightly oil an 8by11inch baking
pan and set it aside. Lightly oil two large pastry boards or baking sheets,
or a very large scratchproof counter surface. Make the polenta and when it
is cooked, turn it directly out onto the boards, counter, or baking sheets.
Use a large knife or rubber spatula, first dipped in cold water, to spread
out the polenta to a thickness of about One half inch. Allow it to cool and
harden, about 20 minutes. Cut it into approximate 3inch squares.
Meanwhile, preheat an oven to 400 degrees F. Continue to make the sauce.
Using a soft brush or clean kitchen towel, remove any dirt from the fresh
mushrooms. Don't wash them because water will alter their texture. Separate
the stems from the caps, discarding the stems if they are tough. Slice the
mushroom caps and tender stems thinly. In a skillet over mediumlow heat,
melt the butter with the oil. Add the onion and saute until softened, about
5 minutes. Add the porcini and saute for another 5 or 6 minutes to marry
the flavors. Add the cultivated mushrooms and continue to saute until
tender, about 5 minutes. Add the mushroom soaking liquid, salt, and pepper.
Allow to simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then stir in
the cream, and allow the mixture barely to reach a simmer. Immediately
remove the skillet from the heat. Place half of the polenta squares in a
layer on the bottom of the prepared dish. Spread half of the sauce in a
layer over them, then sprinkle with half of the cheeses. Place another
layer of polenta squares over the cheeses. Spoon the remaining sauce on top
and sprinkle with the remaining cheeses. Place on the middle rack of the
oven and bake until the cheese is melted and golden and the pasticcio is
bubbling, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let settle for 10
minutes before cutting into squares. Serve hot. Aheadoftime note: This
pasticcio can be assembled up to 3 days in advance, covered, and
refrigerated, and then baked just before serving. Leftover pasticcio
reheats well: Cover with aluminum foil and place in a preheated 375 degree
F oven for 20 to 30 minutes, depending on whether it is chilled or at room
temperature. Yield: 6 servings

MCBusted by Karen Sonnessa ksonness@suffolk.lib.ny.us

Recipe by: Julia Della Croce, Show #DJ9209

Posted to MCRecipe Digest by "Karen Sonnessa" ksonness@suffolk.lib.ny.us
on Mar 18, 1998