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I’m taking a break from my sugar high {due to too many of these bad boys} to bring you a very fancy dinner with some not so fancy ingredients. {Love these kinds of meals!} This is the kind of dinner that you can dress up if you have company, or just throw on your plate if you’re in a hurry. And, it tastes good too. That’s always a plus, right?
Parmesan + Polenta = yummy.
Sausage + mushroom = amazingness.
Put the two together?
It’s like heaven in your mouth. Creamy polenta with salty italian sausage with some extra veggies….ya know, to make it healthy! Ha! Did I mention I made a little cream sauce amongst the hash too? Yeah. That was the right decision. {And that’s when I lost the whole ‘healthy dinner’ concept.}
It’s ok to splurge every once in a while, right?
Anyways, we loved this meal and think you all will too.
A few recipe notes: I used precooked Italian CHICKEN sausage. It was a new organic brand of sausages I found at my grocery store. Feel free to use any kind you like. I also used a small package baby bella mushrooms {you know, those blue styrofoam trays with the prewashed mushrooms inside}. That package was 8 ounces. Don’t be thrown off by that increment. I think that’s just about it! Happy cooking! 🙂
Parmesan Polenta Cake with Mushroom & Sausage Hash
Ingredients
for the polenta:
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup polenta
- 3 tablespoon butter divided
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese use the real stuff!
for the hash:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 large clove garlic minced
- 1 cup diced carrot
- 8 oz baby bella mushrooms quartered
- 4 precooked Italian chicken sausages sliced
- salt & pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon ground thyme
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- parmesan cheese for garnish
- fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- For the polenta {*see recipe notes below}- Bring water, milk and salt to boil. {Watch it carefully!} Whisk in polenta and cook 25-30 minutes until very thick, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon butter and parmesan cheese. Grease a 9x9 square baking dish and spread polenta evenly into dish. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until dinner.
- For the hash- Place large skillet over medium heat and melt butter. Stir in onions and carrots and saute 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, mushrooms and sausage and cook another 10 minutes until veggies and sausage have browned. Stir in seasonings and de-glaze the pan with chicken broth. Reduce heat to low and stir in cream. Keep warm over low heat until ready to serve.
- For serving- Preheat large {preferrably non-stick} skillet to medium high heat. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in pan. Remove polenta from fridge and cut into 4 large circles {or cut into squares to have no ugly edges to fry up!} Place in hot pan and fry 2-3 minutes per side or until browned and crispy. Remove from pan and place polenta circles onto servings platter. Top with hash, more parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Serve hot.
I am obsessed with this recipe I have been coming back to it for YEARS and every time it is a hit. It has been an absolute staple in my arsenal of good cookin!
yes, I’m definitely making this tonight or tomorrow for family dinner!
[…] This polenta and hash recipe from Lauren at Lauren’s Latest is as tasty as any dish you’ll find at a fancy brunch spot. It’s actually better, because it hasn’t been marred with the addition of a runny fried egg. […]
[…] RECIPE […]
Absolutely love me some polenta! Beautiful dish Lauren.
I have a healthy obsession with polenta!! I like the additions I cant wait to make it! I think I may cheat and buy the store bought polenta you can cut at whole foods lol
[…] Original Recipe for the Polenta Cakes are adapted from Lauren’s Latest […]
I’m trying these tonight! The polenta mix is currently in the fridge 🙂 It looks like such a nice and relatively simple recipe and I love parmesan and polenta so I feel I’m going to have a very happy dinner!
You really have some lovely recipes and beautiful photography! 🙂 I’m so glad I’ve found your site. Guess what, I just became your newest follower! Take care and see you around!
Amy
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Anytime polenta and cheese are combined, I’m sold!!! Looks great!
I’m a cheese die-hard too. It makes anything taste good!
Polenta cakes are my go-to weeknight dinner! Sometimes I let leftover polenta cool, cut it into squares and fry it the next day before topping it with a mushroom-marsala sauce. Your version with sausage looks more man-friendly!–Mr. Dessert For Two thanks you 🙂
I never thought of this as being man-friendly, but I guess all the sausages ups the male likability factor! Ha!
This looks fabulous, Lauren. I’ve never tried polenta, but it’s something I keep thinking I should attempt. This combination looks delicious.
Printing this out. You’ve literally concocted my husband’s dream meal. For realz.
I love polenta! Can’t wait to try this one! I will leave out the sausage for a veggie version:)
I keep forgetting you’re a vegetarian! I’ll have to post some Maria-friendly recipes soon!
ooh, that looks so good. i’ve never made polenta in my life… you will be my inspiration. 🙂
Glad I can inspire you, Honey! 🙂
These look seriously amazing! Just started following you 😉
Thanks for the follow, Kathleen!
It was totally yummy, Lauren! Thank you for introducing us to all your new meal ideas! Yummy…
Anytime! It’s what I do!
Oh my LORD woman, I just fell out of my chair and hit my head face first on the ground.
Polenta and I are in love, so this is right up my alley.
Once I heal from the fall, I’ll make this. Wow.
Sounds like quite the injury! Haha!
I need to try this! I love polenta cakes!
I actually have not worked with polenta before, but I do love it! I will try these 🙂
It’s SO easy! You should buy some pronto!
Great recipe, Lauren! I need to experiment with polenta more, and I think this is a great place to start. 🙂
I haven’t worked much with polenta either, but I love it!