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Kasia's Parmesan Polenta with Eggs & Roasted Mushrooms
Quick Weeknight Meals Recipe Contest 2009

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Recipe: Parmesan Polenta with Eggs and Roasted Mushrooms
How long does it take? 20 mins (including prep)
Category: Vegetarian
Name: Kasia
Why is it a favorite meal? This is my default lazy dish. Roasting the mushrooms bring out big woodsy flavors that play off the creaminess of the cheesy polenta and soft cooked egg, making this dish versatile enough for impromptu dinner guests or a 'fancy' meal for just one.

 
 

Parmesan Polenta with Eggs and Roasted Mushrooms
Serves 3 (main course portions)

1 lb mushrooms
1/8 c olive oil
1/4 tsp pepper flakes
1/4 tsp coarse salt
1/2 c polenta
1 c milk
1 c water
pinch salt
1/2 c shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese
3 eggs
chives for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 475.
2. Chop mushrooms into 1/2 inch pieces.
3. Toss mushrooms with oil, pepper flakes, and salt on a baking sheet.
4. Spread in single layer and roast until browned, about 10 mins.
5. Meanwhile, whisk polenta, milk, water, and salt together in saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, covered.
6. After reaching a boil, turn heat to low and let sit with lid cracked for 15 minutes.
7. While polenta is cooking, heat nonstick skillet over medium heat and crack the eggs so that they are sunny side up.
8. Cook about a minute and then add a few tablespoons of water to the skillet. Water will sizzle - cover so the yolks steam and set to your liking. I like mine somewhat viscous so I wait for the steamed yolks to 'skin' over with egg white. This will happen naturally with the method above.
9. Mix Parmesean into polenta, plate on a dish, spoon mushrooms over and top with egg. Garnish with snipped chives. Eat and enjoy!

Thanks Kasia, and good luck! Readers, give Kasia a thumbs up if you like this recipe!

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Comments (22)

This looks awesome. Would love it with some slightly bitter wilted greens, too.

posted by Laurs87 on September 22nd 2009 at 3:47pm
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This looks fantastic, but is it just me, or are 1/2 these weeknight posts filled with egg dishes?

posted by edava72 on September 22nd 2009 at 3:54pm
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What kind of mushrooms are those? Or does it not matter?

posted by hyperRevue on September 22nd 2009 at 4:00pm
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@edava72, I noticed the same thing! Not that I'm complaining - eggs are delicious, nutritious and easy to make.

posted by ohtheglory on September 22nd 2009 at 4:08pm
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Lots of egg dishes because they're endlessly versatile and easy to incorporate into fast dinners, I'd guess? Plus I for one always have a dozen or so in the fridge...

I make this a lot, but usually with sauteed Swiss chard instead of mushrooms, I'll definitely give it a try with them. Or both.

posted by tariqata on September 22nd 2009 at 5:50pm
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hyperRevue - all I had on hand at the time was white button and they still tasted amazing (due to the roasting/salt/spicy pepper flakes) but this would work with any mushroom you like.

The egg thing is a funny coincidence... I know I'm always adding some kind of egg on top if I do a veg main course just to have the protein to make it feel like a meal, but that is just me.

posted by kasiav on September 22nd 2009 at 6:03pm
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Mmm this looks delish.

posted by steven366 on September 22nd 2009 at 8:38pm
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This looks fantastic! Gorgeous presentation :)

posted by BigFlavors on September 22nd 2009 at 9:14pm
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I was out of dinner ideas tonight so I made this, and it was awesome! I used crimini mushrooms, which had a nice rich taste when they were roasted. The green onions are the perfect finishing touch with a bit of sharp flavor to contrast the creaminess of the rest of the dish. Great recipe!

posted by papergraffiti on September 22nd 2009 at 9:26pm
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Looks delicious. I can't wait to try it!

posted by carolynsayre032485 on September 23rd 2009 at 8:29am
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I love when someone can make a vegetarian dish look so hearty. I bet those textures go together perfectly. Yummy.

posted by 24carrot on September 23rd 2009 at 8:57am
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Oh, I love polenta SO much. Don't make it nearly often enough because my husband isn't crazy about it...but that photo looks amazing. I will definitely be trying this dish next time he's out of town on business. :)

posted by Brooklynnina on September 23rd 2009 at 9:48am
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Brooklynnina - if it's just the polenta he's adverse to, try subbing pasta for the polenta. Earlier in the week I popped the mushrooms in my toaster oven because I didn't want to heat the whole kitchen with an oven and tossed the mushrooms with some rigatoni (and egg) and just shaved the parm over the top.

posted by kasiav on September 23rd 2009 at 10:12am
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i'm excited to try this! :)

posted by inneedoftravel on September 23rd 2009 at 11:46am
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Looks delicious with a nice balance of color for appeal

posted by doreev on September 23rd 2009 at 7:32pm
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I just love all of your recipes. Thanks so much!

posted by pben26 on September 24th 2009 at 3:18pm
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We tried this last night - very nice. Really liked the roasting technique on the mushrooms.

posted by heatherjflynn on September 30th 2009 at 10:15am
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Had this for dinner last night... first really cold night of the year, perfect for comfort food. Loved it!!

posted by watt on October 1st 2009 at 8:15am
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I made this for myself and the boyfriend last night, but added tomatoes and sliced bacon to the mushrooms in the oven. It turned out wonderful! The mushrooms are nice and earthy, and the bacon was a great crunch. Thank you - this is a new favorite for us!

posted by Kristenina on October 1st 2009 at 1:13pm
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Loved it!! Had it spot-on as the recipe reads, and it was great. The add in possibilities are endless. My hubby is not crazy about the polenta, but I don't really care, I loved it. Thanks!

posted by peaceloving1 on October 1st 2009 at 3:58pm
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Just made this last night - it is wonderful. Roasted some chopped green onions with the mushrooms. And that is a great way to make a fried egg!

posted by Sousani on October 6th 2009 at 8:36am
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I made this tonight for myself and my three year old. It got a "yummy", from him and a sigh of pure contentment from me. Thanks for the wonderful dish.

posted by earthmama on October 21st 2009 at 4:51pm
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