Creamy Polenta With Wild Mushrooms

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This recipe is my new favorite!  I am hooked on this creamy polenta with wild mushrooms, goat cheese and pistachios.  I am making it on the average of once a week!  A bit crazy, I know, but it is so delicious I can’t get enough of it.  Creamy, locally ground polenta, earthy wild mushrooms sautéed in garlic, crunchy toasted pistachios, peppery arugula, and tangy goat cheese all come together in this vegetarian one bowl meal.  I’m in love!

Easter is around the corner so I treated myself to a new piece of Calphalon Signature™ Nonstick Cookware – for me, it’s better than an Easter basket! I brought home a nonstick 12″ omelet pan with a lid.  I popped into Macy’s to look for something new to wear on Easter Sunday and ended up in the housewares, (read-kitchen) section.  I can’t help myself I love bringing home new “stuff” for my kitchen.  Calphalon Signature™ Nonstick and Stainless Steel cookware is available at Macy’s online too.

Before I share the recipe and my favorite kitchen tip I want to make you aware, this cookware combines nonstick convenience with stainless steel cooking performance and durability.  It’s perfect for pan sauces and gravies, as well as sautéing, searing and browning. This special nonstick surface is so durable I can even stir with metal utensils.  Unheard of with nonstick cookware.  It also comes with a lifetime warranty.  Score!  Okay now that you know how awesome my new pan is here is my top tip for making food preparation painless and fool-proof.

Ingredients for Creamy Polenta

I find cooking or baking so much easier if I have all my ingredients measured out and within reach before I start to cook.  One reason I find this a reliable step, if I happen to be out of a needed ingredient I know before I start the cooking process.  Have you ever found yourself half-way through a recipe and discovered that you are missing a critical component of your recipe?  Nightmare!  Perhaps you only have 1/4 cup when you need a full cup, agony!  I also admit I like using all these cute little bowls!  You can see I’ve measured out all the necessary items for my polenta dish.

Topping Ingredients

The recipe is below but here are a couple more tips for making my most-liked one-dish meal.  While the polenta is cooking, toast the pistachios, put them back in the cute little dish, next sauté the garlic and mushrooms together.  You can do all of this in the same pan.  When the polenta is finished you will be able to serve this elegant and exceptional meal simply by layering it all together in the bowl.

Now to surmise:

1. Measure out all ingredients before beginning to prepare any recipe.
2. When using two or more liquid ingredients add them all to the same measuring cup  – who wants multiple dirty dishes?
3. Add any dry ingredients, chopped veggies, etc., that go into the recipe at the same time into the same prep bowl!  Yep less is more when it comes to those cute prep bowls!
4. This is the time to put your multi-tasking skills to work.  While waiting for something to boil or simmer move on to another step that can be done ahead of time – in this recipe toasting the nuts while waiting for my polenta to cook makes everything come together about the same time.
5. Keep the ingredients together near the area you will be using them.  All items that will be used at stovetop, next to the stove.  All items for garnishing near your plating area, etc…  You get this – you’re smart!

To make the polenta first add the liquid and butter and bring to a boil.  Slowly whisk in the polenta and lower the heat.

While the polenta cooks toast the pistachios. Don’t leave the kitchen during this step or you could have burned nuts!  It takes about 10 minutes to toast the pistachios.  Shake your pan occasionally.

Next, sauté the garlic just until it’s about to brown then add mushrooms.

It’s impossible for me not to snag a couple out of the pan while I wait on the polenta to complete the cooking process.  Any mixture of wild mushrooms will work with this recipe.  Don’t you love those little shimiji’s?

Clean up is a cinch as my new pan goes into the dish washer.  Gourmet meal and quick and easy clean up.  You can thank me later…Happy Easter!