Baked Polenta

Name: Spicy Mushroom Stew
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: Makes 1 serving
Cuisine: international
Ingredients: 500 g of sharp mushrooms (sharp) cleaned of tails; the pink gills under the cap; and the skin on the outside (the skin is removed with a knife by scraping). I used blanched mushroom; already prepared for winter. 7 green onion stalks (I only used the leaves because it was a bit large

Ingredients: Polenta for 4 people: 400ml of tomato juice, 300g of Paris mushrooms, 300g of flavorful cheese (gruyere), 30g of butter, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 500ml of vegetable or chicken broth, salt and pepper to taste.

Mămăliga, a traditional Romanian dish, is a type of food that always brings a touch of nostalgia. We start by preparing the mămăliga. We boil water in a large pot, adding a teaspoon of salt. When the water starts to boil, we gradually pour in the cornmeal, continuously stirring with a whisk or a wooden spoon to avoid lumps. We cook the mămăliga on low heat, stirring often, for about 15-20 minutes, until it becomes creamy and easily pulls away from the sides of the pot. Once cooked, we let it cool a bit.

In the meantime, we prepare the tomato sauce. In a pan, we heat a tablespoon of olive oil. We add the tomato sauce and mix well. To enhance the flavor, we add a teaspoon of sugar, which will balance the acidity of the tomatoes, and vegetable broth. We let the sauce simmer on low heat, stirring occasionally, until it reduces by half and becomes thicker. At the end, we taste and, if necessary, season with salt and pepper to taste.

Once the mămăliga has cooled slightly, we grease a baking dish with butter, making sure it is evenly coated. We start placing the mămăliga in the dish, forming small indentations with a small spoon, like little eyes. These will allow the sauce to penetrate better. We pour the tomato sauce over the mămăliga, ensuring that we cover the entire surface evenly.

Now it’s time to add the cheese. We grate the cheese and sprinkle a thin layer over the sauce. Then, we add the sliced mushrooms, evenly distributed to provide a pleasant flavor. We finish with the remaining grated cheese, which will form a golden and delicious crust during baking.

We preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius and place the dish inside. We bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese on top becomes golden and appetizing. When ready, we take the dish out of the oven and let it cool slightly for easier cutting.

We serve the mămăliga warm, savoring every bite. It is a comforting dish, perfect for a quiet evening with family or friends. Enjoy your meal!

Tags: cheese chicken meat tomatoes soup unt oil mushrooms sugar olives gluten-free recipes vegetarian recipes recipes for children