Polenta, or boiled cornmeal pudding, combined with a rich-tasting mushroom ragout, makes a comforting Northern Italian-inspired vegetarian meal. Delicious, especially in cold weather, and easy to prepare.

Recipe Nutritional Information:

Servings: 4

Estimated Total Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Calories per Serving: 487

Recipe Ingredients:

1 cup dry polenta (if not available, can use coarse yellow cornmeal, degerminated)

2 pounds cremini mushrooms, cleaned and quartered

4 large shallots, peeled and sliced

2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced

1 cup red wine

½ teaspoon dried thyme

5 tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper

Preparation:

1. Prepare polenta per the manufacturer’s directions.

2. Clean and quarter the mushrooms and reserve.

3. Peel and slice shallots and garlic; set aside.

4. While polenta is cooking, heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat.

5. Add olive oil. Add mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until golden brown, about 5 minutes.

6. Add shallots and garlic and cook until the shallots are sweated, about 5 more minutes.

7. Add wine and thyme and cook another 5 minutes, until the wine reduces by 3/4.

8. To serve, place mushroom ragout over polenta in a bowl or plate.