Polenta Casserole with Mushrooms, Tomatoes, and Ricotta

By Scout0421

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 3 cups coarsely chopped cremini mushrooms (12 ounces)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/3 cup dry red wine
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 4 cups water
• 1 cup instant polenta (such as Contadina)
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
• 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1 1/2 teaspoons butter, cut into small pieces

Details

Servings 6

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400°. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 8 minutes. Add mushrooms, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and garlic, and cook 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in wine, rosemary, and tomato paste; reduce heat to medium, and cook 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, and cook until thick (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat. Bring water to a boil in saucepan; stir in polenta and 1 teaspoon salt. Reduce heat to low; cook until thick (about 5 minutes), stirring frequently. Spread one-third of polenta mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with 1 teaspoon oil. Spread half of tomato sauce over polenta, and top with 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Drop half of the ricotta cheese by spoonfuls onto the Parmesan cheese. Repeat the layers, ending with polenta. Top with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese and butter. Bake at 400° for 25 minutes or until bubbly.