Go Back
Creamy polenta is served topped with meaty mushroom pancetta ragu

Mushroom Pancetta Ragu with Polenta

Print Recipe
Meaty mushrooms and pancetta are cooked with garlic, herbs wine and beef broth served over creamy polenta.
Course Dinner Ideas
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 352
Author Janette

Ingredients

For the ragu:

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil plus more if needed
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup (6 ounces/114 grams) pancetta chopped. You can substitute with any unsmoked pork belly. If you used smoked bacon, it will change the flavor.
  • 1 ½ pounds (680 grams) mushrooms
  • ½ cup (81 grams) shallot finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves finely chopped or grated
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil roughly torn
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste puree in the UK
  • ⅓ cup (78 ml) good red wine
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) beef stock Low sodium if possible. If you are not using low sodium, you may have to adjust the salt amount.

For the polenta:

  • 3 ½ cups (448 grams) low sodium or unsalted chicken stock/broth
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (220 grams) yellow cornmeal, medium or fine grind
  • 1 cup (89 grams) Parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions

Make the ragu:

  • To a large, 12-inch (30 cm) sauce pan add the oil and butter over medium heat. When the butter is melted and bubbly add the pancetta and mushrooms. Cook stirring often until they have reduced and in size and cooked down a little, about 5 minutes.
    Add the shallot and more oil if needed and stir well cooking for a further 2 minutes. Add the garlic, basil, rosemary, half of the salt and pepper and tomato paste, mix well. Cook until any liquid is gone.
    Add the wine and simmer until the mushrooms have absorbed most of the wine. Stir in the vegetable stock and simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed. Test for salt and add the rest or season accordingly, this will depend on how salty your stock is.
    While the mushrooms cook, make the polenta.

Make the polenta:

  • In a medium saucepan, heat the chicken stock and salt (taste your stock, if it is salty, adjust the salt amount, remember you are also adding salty cheese) bring to a simmer. Add the yellow cornmeal while whisking until combined and there are no lumps.
    Cook at a very low simmer whisking until smooth and thickened. If the polenta thickens too soon, add a little more stock or water. Stir in the Parmesan cheese.
  • Place some polenta in the center of a plate and top with the mushroom ragu.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 352kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 1243mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g