1 cup (6 ounces/114 grams) pancettachopped. 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) shallotfinely chopped
2garlic cloves finely chopped or grated
2tablespoonsfresh basilroughly torn
1tablespoonfresh rosemary
1teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoonground black pepper
1tablespoontomato pastepuree in the UK
⅓ cup (78 ml) good red wine
¼ cup (60 ml) beef stockLow 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
1teaspoonsalt
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.