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Creamy Polenta with Herbed Mushrooms

April 15, 2020 by Gina +

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Are you familiar with polenta? For years I only knew the pre-made log you could pick up from the market. A few years ago I started cooking with it from scratch, if you will, using the uncooked ground corn.

Now we go on kicks where we eat polenta frequently, either creamy or baked, we love it. But then we forget about it, until I find it in the pantry again. It’s such a great staple to keep stocked. Polenta is full of fiber, cooks easily, and it extremely versatile.

My favorite way as of late is served with a load of herby mushrooms. It’s simple, filling, and delicious. You could add more vegetables or a protein too. I think the mushrooms are great on their own, but peas, vegan sausage, and spinach would be great too.

Polenta cooks easily. It requires a lot of liquid to get creamy, so adjust to your liquid to the consistency you want, meaning you may want to add more liquid as it cooks. I stir in some butter, but again, you can add more if you like that, or even stir in cheese for more of a cheesy grit type dish. Versatile people, polenta is incredibly versatile.

Creamy Polenta with Herb Mushrooms

Print Recipe
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Servings: 2 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup dry polenta
  • 4 cups broth or water or a combination
  • 2 tbsp butter or vegan alternative
  • 1 8oz sliced mushrooms
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/4 cup fresh herbs, I use parsley and a little dill
  • salt & pepper

Method
 

  1. Start by boiling the water or broth in a larger saucepan. I use a half of each to give it a little more flavor. Add a good pinch of salt to the liquid. Once boiling, slowly whisk in the polenta. Stir for about a minute until it thickens up. Then reduce heat to low and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more liquid if it gets too thick. I usually add up to another cup.
  2. While the polenta is cooking, start the mushrooms. In a skillet, heat 1 tbsp of butter. Add the mushrooms, coat, then allow to cook. Try not to stir the mushrooms too much. Cook for about 7 minutes, until soft. Stir through a good pinch of salt and the freshly chopped herbs. Cook for another minute then turn off the heat.
  3. Once the polenta is creamy and cooked, stir through 1 tbsp of butter or a vegan butter. You can also stir in some cheese, parmesan in delicious in it, or leave it as is.
  4. Spoon a large couple spoonfuls of polenta out and split the mushrooms evenly over 2 dishes. I like to sprinkle a little more fresh parm on top to serve.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

This recipe makes extra polenta.  I like to have it the next morning with a fluffy egg and feta on top.  Just another option!

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Filed Under: Breakfast, Dinners, Recipes Tagged With: easy meal, healthy, parsley, polenta, vegan, vegetarian

Trackbacks

  1. Breakfast Strata - Gina Gibson says:
    May 1, 2024 at 9:20 pm

    […] Creamy Polenta with Herbed Mushrooms […]

FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS 🤎🍦 No ice cream mak FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS 🤎🍦

No ice cream maker needed! These are layers of Biscoff cookies filled with the creamiest homemade no-churn Biscoff ice cream and an extra swirl of cookie butter through the center.

Easy to make and perfect for summer

Comment ICE CREAM and I’ll send you the full recipe!

Save this for an easy summer dessert and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more simple, family-friendly recipes.
Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it a day.
Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce T Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce 

The chicken is smoky, garlicky and grilled until juicy, but the creamy cilantro green sauce is what really makes this recipe. I could put it on just about everything.

I kept the heat family-friendly by using just one seeded jalapeño, but you can always leave some of the seeds in or add another jalapeño if you like things spicy. Serve it with rice, grilled corn, potatoes or veggies for an easy summer dinner the whole family will love.

For the chicken:

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper

For the creamy green sauce:

1 packed cup fresh cilantro
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 small jalapeño, seeds removed
1 garlic clove
Juice of 2 limes
2 tbsp grated parmesan
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp honey
½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper

Whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lime juice, vinegar and seasonings. Add the chicken and toss until well coated. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.

Add all of the green sauce ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and add another squeeze of lime or pinch of salt if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Grill the chicken over medium-high heat for about 5–7 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until cooked through to 165°F. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and drizzle generously with the creamy green sauce.

Serve with rice, grilled corn, avocado, roasted potatoes or your favorite veggies—and definitely keep extra green sauce on the side.

Save this easy chicken dinner for later, share it with someone who needs new weeknight dinner ideas, and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy, family-friendly recipes! 🌿
CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN Rich and cheesy, perfect com CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN

Rich and cheesy, perfect  comfort food mashup I. 

I used our favorite @momofukugoods noodles, Trader Joe’s birria, and plenty of cheese. The birria consommé gets mixed right into the creamy cheese sauce, so you get that birria flavor in every bite. Finish it with onion, cilantro and plenty of lime. 

3 packages Momofuku noodles
1 package Trader Joe’s Beef Birria, cooked and shredded (reserve ½ cup consommé)
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounces cream cheese
¾ cup milk
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella
1 ramen seasoning packet
¼ teaspoon cumin
Diced white onion, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges for serving

Cook the ramen noodles, then drain and set aside.

Melt the butter in the pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Add the cream cheese, milk, ½ cup birria consommé, ramen seasoning, and cumin. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Reduce the heat to low and add the Monterey Jack mozarella cheese. Stir until melted.

Add the cooked ramen noodles and shredded birria beef and toss until everything is coated in the cheesy birria sauce. Add another splash of consommé if needed to loosen it up.

Top with diced onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and extra consommé if you like.

Make sure to SAVE this one and FOLLOW along for more recipes 🙃
Summer hosting doesn’t have to be complicated. I Summer hosting doesn’t have to be complicated. 
I kept this backyard dinner simple with crispy chicken sandwiches that were a HUGE hit! I lightly coated chicken tenders in @lafishyfry Louisiana Fish Fry Brand Seasoned Chicken Fry, fried them until perfectly golden, then piled them onto toasted buns with sliced cheddar and peppery arugula tossed in @Tessemaes Spicy Dill dressing. So simple, so good.
To round out the spread, I set out @powerupsnacks Power Up Premium Trail Mix for an easy snack, @sourpunchcandy Sour Punch Bites for a sweet treat, and served everything on @SOLOcup cups and plates, which made cleanup so easy.
#Tessemaes #LAFishFry #SOLOBoldHold #SourPunchXBabbleBox #PowerUp
No-bake peanut butter pie. Creamy peanut butter No-bake peanut butter pie. 

Creamy peanut butter filling, a chocolate cookie crust, and absolutely no oven required. 

For the crust:
16 Oreo-style cookies
4 tablespoons melted butter

For the filling:
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
⅓ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
6 ounces Cool Whip, thawed

Optional toppings:
Melted chocolate, crushed Oreo cookies, chopped peanut butter cups, or chopped peanuts.

Pulse the cookies into fine crumbs and mix with the melted butter. Press into a small pie dish and refrigerate while you make the filling.

Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat until light and creamy. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until everything is combined.

Spread the filling into the crust, smooth the top, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight for the best texture.

Before serving, drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with crushed Oreo cookies if you’d like.

Save this one for your next summer get-together!
FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS 🤎🍦 No ice cream mak FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS 🤎🍦

No ice cream maker needed! These are layers of Biscoff cookies filled with the creamiest homemade no-churn Biscoff ice cream and an extra swirl of cookie butter through the center.

Easy to make and perfect for summer

Comment ICE CREAM and I’ll send you the full recipe!

Save this for an easy summer dessert and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more simple, family-friendly recipes.
Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it a day.
Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce T Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce 

The chicken is smoky, garlicky and grilled until juicy, but the creamy cilantro green sauce is what really makes this recipe. I could put it on just about everything.

I kept the heat family-friendly by using just one seeded jalapeño, but you can always leave some of the seeds in or add another jalapeño if you like things spicy. Serve it with rice, grilled corn, potatoes or veggies for an easy summer dinner the whole family will love.

For the chicken:

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper

For the creamy green sauce:

1 packed cup fresh cilantro
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 small jalapeño, seeds removed
1 garlic clove
Juice of 2 limes
2 tbsp grated parmesan
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp honey
½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper

Whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lime juice, vinegar and seasonings. Add the chicken and toss until well coated. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.

Add all of the green sauce ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and add another squeeze of lime or pinch of salt if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Grill the chicken over medium-high heat for about 5–7 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until cooked through to 165°F. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and drizzle generously with the creamy green sauce.

Serve with rice, grilled corn, avocado, roasted potatoes or your favorite veggies—and definitely keep extra green sauce on the side.

Save this easy chicken dinner for later, share it with someone who needs new weeknight dinner ideas, and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy, family-friendly recipes! 🌿
CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN Rich and cheesy, perfect com CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN

Rich and cheesy, perfect  comfort food mashup I. 

I used our favorite @momofukugoods noodles, Trader Joe’s birria, and plenty of cheese. The birria consommé gets mixed right into the creamy cheese sauce, so you get that birria flavor in every bite. Finish it with onion, cilantro and plenty of lime. 

3 packages Momofuku noodles
1 package Trader Joe’s Beef Birria, cooked and shredded (reserve ½ cup consommé)
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounces cream cheese
¾ cup milk
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella
1 ramen seasoning packet
¼ teaspoon cumin
Diced white onion, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges for serving

Cook the ramen noodles, then drain and set aside.

Melt the butter in the pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Add the cream cheese, milk, ½ cup birria consommé, ramen seasoning, and cumin. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Reduce the heat to low and add the Monterey Jack mozarella cheese. Stir until melted.

Add the cooked ramen noodles and shredded birria beef and toss until everything is coated in the cheesy birria sauce. Add another splash of consommé if needed to loosen it up.

Top with diced onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and extra consommé if you like.

Make sure to SAVE this one and FOLLOW along for more recipes 🙃
Summer hosting doesn’t have to be complicated. I Summer hosting doesn’t have to be complicated. 
I kept this backyard dinner simple with crispy chicken sandwiches that were a HUGE hit! I lightly coated chicken tenders in @lafishyfry Louisiana Fish Fry Brand Seasoned Chicken Fry, fried them until perfectly golden, then piled them onto toasted buns with sliced cheddar and peppery arugula tossed in @Tessemaes Spicy Dill dressing. So simple, so good.
To round out the spread, I set out @powerupsnacks Power Up Premium Trail Mix for an easy snack, @sourpunchcandy Sour Punch Bites for a sweet treat, and served everything on @SOLOcup cups and plates, which made cleanup so easy.
#Tessemaes #LAFishFry #SOLOBoldHold #SourPunchXBabbleBox #PowerUp
No-bake peanut butter pie. Creamy peanut butter No-bake peanut butter pie. 

Creamy peanut butter filling, a chocolate cookie crust, and absolutely no oven required. 

For the crust:
16 Oreo-style cookies
4 tablespoons melted butter

For the filling:
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
⅓ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
6 ounces Cool Whip, thawed

Optional toppings:
Melted chocolate, crushed Oreo cookies, chopped peanut butter cups, or chopped peanuts.

Pulse the cookies into fine crumbs and mix with the melted butter. Press into a small pie dish and refrigerate while you make the filling.

Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat until light and creamy. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until everything is combined.

Spread the filling into the crust, smooth the top, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight for the best texture.

Before serving, drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with crushed Oreo cookies if you’d like.

Save this one for your next summer get-together!
FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS 🤎🍦 No ice cream mak FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS 🤎🍦

No ice cream maker needed! These are layers of Biscoff cookies filled with the creamiest homemade no-churn Biscoff ice cream and an extra swirl of cookie butter through the center.

Easy to make and perfect for summer

Comment ICE CREAM and I’ll send you the full recipe!

Save this for an easy summer dessert and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more simple, family-friendly recipes.
Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it a day.
Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce T Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce 

The chicken is smoky, garlicky and grilled until juicy, but the creamy cilantro green sauce is what really makes this recipe. I could put it on just about everything.

I kept the heat family-friendly by using just one seeded jalapeño, but you can always leave some of the seeds in or add another jalapeño if you like things spicy. Serve it with rice, grilled corn, potatoes or veggies for an easy summer dinner the whole family will love.

For the chicken:

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper

For the creamy green sauce:

1 packed cup fresh cilantro
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 small jalapeño, seeds removed
1 garlic clove
Juice of 2 limes
2 tbsp grated parmesan
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp honey
½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper

Whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lime juice, vinegar and seasonings. Add the chicken and toss until well coated. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.

Add all of the green sauce ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and add another squeeze of lime or pinch of salt if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Grill the chicken over medium-high heat for about 5–7 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until cooked through to 165°F. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and drizzle generously with the creamy green sauce.

Serve with rice, grilled corn, avocado, roasted potatoes or your favorite veggies—and definitely keep extra green sauce on the side.

Save this easy chicken dinner for later, share it with someone who needs new weeknight dinner ideas, and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy, family-friendly recipes! 🌿
CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN Rich and cheesy, perfect com CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN

Rich and cheesy, perfect  comfort food mashup I. 

I used our favorite @momofukugoods noodles, Trader Joe’s birria, and plenty of cheese. The birria consommé gets mixed right into the creamy cheese sauce, so you get that birria flavor in every bite. Finish it with onion, cilantro and plenty of lime. 

3 packages Momofuku noodles
1 package Trader Joe’s Beef Birria, cooked and shredded (reserve ½ cup consommé)
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounces cream cheese
¾ cup milk
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella
1 ramen seasoning packet
¼ teaspoon cumin
Diced white onion, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges for serving

Cook the ramen noodles, then drain and set aside.

Melt the butter in the pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Add the cream cheese, milk, ½ cup birria consommé, ramen seasoning, and cumin. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Reduce the heat to low and add the Monterey Jack mozarella cheese. Stir until melted.

Add the cooked ramen noodles and shredded birria beef and toss until everything is coated in the cheesy birria sauce. Add another splash of consommé if needed to loosen it up.

Top with diced onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and extra consommé if you like.

Make sure to SAVE this one and FOLLOW along for more recipes 🙃
Summer hosting doesn’t have to be complicated. I Summer hosting doesn’t have to be complicated. 
I kept this backyard dinner simple with crispy chicken sandwiches that were a HUGE hit! I lightly coated chicken tenders in @lafishyfry Louisiana Fish Fry Brand Seasoned Chicken Fry, fried them until perfectly golden, then piled them onto toasted buns with sliced cheddar and peppery arugula tossed in @Tessemaes Spicy Dill dressing. So simple, so good.
To round out the spread, I set out @powerupsnacks Power Up Premium Trail Mix for an easy snack, @sourpunchcandy Sour Punch Bites for a sweet treat, and served everything on @SOLOcup cups and plates, which made cleanup so easy.
#Tessemaes #LAFishFry #SOLOBoldHold #SourPunchXBabbleBox #PowerUp
No-bake peanut butter pie. Creamy peanut butter No-bake peanut butter pie. 

Creamy peanut butter filling, a chocolate cookie crust, and absolutely no oven required. 

For the crust:
16 Oreo-style cookies
4 tablespoons melted butter

For the filling:
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
⅓ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
6 ounces Cool Whip, thawed

Optional toppings:
Melted chocolate, crushed Oreo cookies, chopped peanut butter cups, or chopped peanuts.

Pulse the cookies into fine crumbs and mix with the melted butter. Press into a small pie dish and refrigerate while you make the filling.

Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat until light and creamy. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until everything is combined.

Spread the filling into the crust, smooth the top, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight for the best texture.

Before serving, drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with crushed Oreo cookies if you’d like.

Save this one for your next summer get-together!

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