Cheesy Polenta & Egg Casserole

By sunitagt

Calories 295
Fat 17 g
Saturated fat 6 g
Cholesterol 241 mg
Carbohydrates 17 g
Dietary fiber 2 g
Protein 19 g
Sodium 683 mg

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons
• 1/3 cup onions, chopped
• 4 cups water, plus more as needed
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal, (see Shopping Tip)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 ounces Italian turkey sausage, casing removed
• 1/2 cup fontina or mozzarella, shredded
• 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated, divided
• 6 large eggs

Details

Servings 6
Adapted from webmd.com

Preparation

Step 1

1.Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, but not browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Gradually whisk cornmeal into the boiling water. Add salt and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly until the polenta bubbles, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low and cook, whisking frequently, until very thick, 10 to 15 minutes. (Alternatively, once the polenta comes to a boil, transfer it to the top of a double boiler, cover, and place over barely simmering water for 25 minutes. This is convenient, because you don’t need to stir it as it cooks.)

2.Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add sausage. Cook, stirring and breaking the sausage into small pieces with a spoon, until lightly browned and no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Drain if necessary and transfer to a cutting board; let cool. Finely chop when cool enough to handle.

3.Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 350°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

4.When the polenta is done, stir in fontina (or mozzarella) and 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano. If the polenta seems too stiff, add small amounts of water to thin it to a thick but not stiff consistency. Spread the polenta in the prepared pan.

5.Make six 2-inch-wide indentations in the polenta with the back of a tablespoon. Break eggs, one at a time, into a custard cup and slip one into each indentation. Scatter the sausage on the polenta and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano evenly on top of the eggs.

6.Bake the casserole for 15 minutes. Then broil until the egg whites are set, 2 to 4 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.