Creamy Soft Polenta with Meat Ragù

Ingredients for Creamy Soft Polenta with Meat Ragù

• 350g dried porcini mushrooms, roughly chopped

• 240ml dry white wine

• 475ml olive oil

• 450g bulk hot Italian sausage

• 450g pork butt, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 450g beef chuck, cut into 1-inch pieces

• Kosher salt and cracked black pepper

• 230g Spanish onions, cut into 1-inch dice

• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic

• 475ml chicken stock

• Two 400g cans Italian plum tomatoes, roughly chopped, juice reserved

• 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh basil

• 1 tablespoon dried oregano

• 1 teaspoon freshly ground fennel seed

• 1 bay leaf

• 475ml chicken stock or water

• 475ml double cream

• 240ml yellow polenta or cornmeal

• 60g freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus more for serving

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

• Torn fresh basil

• Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

How to make Creamy Soft Polenta with Meat Ragù

1. To make the ragu: Put the mushrooms in a small bowl and pour the wine over them. Set aside to soak and hydrate for 20 to 30 minutes. Drain, reserving both the mushrooms and the wine. Strain the wine through a fine-mesh sieve or chinois.

2. In a large, heavy saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it into pieces with a wooden spoon, for about 5 minutes, until lightly browned and much of the fat is rendered. Using a slotted spoon, lift the sausage from the pan and set aside. Add the pork and beef to the fat in the pan and cook for about 10 minutes, until browned. Season with salt and pepper. Using a slotted spoon, lift the meat from the pan and add it to the sausage. Leave the fat in the pan.

3. Add the onions and garlic to the pan and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the reserved wine, bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer briskly for about 3 minutes or until reduced by half.

4. Return the meat to the pan, season again with salt and pepper, and add the stock, tomatoes, basil, oregano, fennel, bay leaf, and reserved mushrooms. Simmer gently for approximately 1 hour, or until the meat is tender. Skim any fat that rises to the top of the pan during cooking. Cover to keep warm and set aside.

5. To make the polenta: Put the stock and the cream in a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Slowly pour the polenta into the hot liquid, whisking briskly to prevent clumping. Reduce the heat to low and cook, whisking constantly, for about 10 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed.

6. Add the cheese and butter, stirring gently until incorporated.

7. Spoon a mound of soft polenta on each of 4 or 6 plates or shallow bowls. Ladle the ragu over the polenta and garnish with basil, parsley, and grated Parmesan.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.