While trying to reach the glory of eating down my refrigerator and pantry, I came across this recipe that makes for an easy weeknight meal. This would not have likely made my radar, but I have odd and end ingredients scattered throughout my pantry, and it caught my eye. It’s a good thing because it is quite good.
I did not exactly follow the recipe ingredients. I made the polenta fresh…Why? Because I have a bag of corn meal that I have never used. I used goat cheese instead of mozzarella for the same reason. I had a log in my cheese drawer that was screaming not to be wasted.
The recipe below is the original without my modifications.
Two steps up, and one step back in my effort to eat down the Refrigerator and pantry.
One-Skillet Sausage and Polenta Parmesan
Serves 4
Recipe from Food Network
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1-17 ounce tube prepared polenta, sliced into 8 rounds
8-ounces sweet or hot Italian sausage, casings removed
6-ounces cremini mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1-28 ounce can whole plum tomatoes, crushed by hand
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, plus more for topping
8-ounces sliced mozzarella cheese
2-tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
Directions:
1. Preheat the broiler. Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the polenta and fry until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
2. Add the sausage to the skillet and cook, stirring and breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until just browned, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they soften, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes, 1 teaspoon salt and 12 teaspoon pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in parsley.
3. Arrange the polenta rounds in the skillet on top of the sauce. Place the mozzarella slices over the polenta and sprinkle with the parmesan. Broil until the cheese is browned and bubbling, about 3 minutes. Top with more parsley and pepper to taste.
Enjoy!
Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes
It looks delicious, and I'll bet it tasted amazing!
Cuisine de Provence
Eating down my fridge – now that is a project that I should copy! Thank you for the inspiration!
chow and chatter
fun recipe
Lea Ann (Cooking o the Ranch)
I'm currently eating down the pantry, fridge and freezer, not to mention fresh vegetables that are accumulating on my counter. Hope I can be as creative as you Velva. 🙂
Astra Libris
That's a great project! We do so about 3-4 times a year as well… Such a lovely dish, too!!
Anonymous
That's a great idea! This dish looks delicious.
Big Dude
Looks like you found a very nice way to use up some ingredients.
SavoringTime in the Kitchen
I applaud your effort to go through your pantry and frig and find great ways to use those items. You did very well coming up with a tasty meal!
Foodiewife
Wow, does that look fantastic. Sorry, but goat cheese is a bust with my taste buds. It's weird, but I no can like HOWEVER, mozzarella totally works for me. I'm such a lover of polenta, and it's so easy to make. Pinning for one of those cold nights, when I'm wanting something savor and easy. I have all the ingredients on hand.
Nutmeg Nanny
This looks great! I love polenta 🙂
Rambling Tart
Oh my lands, Velva, that looks incredible!!! I love your alterations and am now dreaming of that amazing sauce smothering the melty goat's cheese. Wow. 🙂
We Are Not Martha
There's nothing quite like homemade polenta. And I LOVE that you topped it with both mozzarella AND parmesan :)Sues
Lorraine
Yum! That is one delicious way to clean out the fridge:)
That Girl
We're having polenta for dinner tonight in an effort to eat down the pantry – but it's not the prepared kind.
Chris
Now THAT is using your leftovers and staples! Nice job.
Michelle
This does look so wonderful!
Chaya
This looks incredible. What a wonderful way to use polenta.
T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types
Ha – I was just saying today I really need to eat down my refrigerator – but I'm not sure I have anything that, put together, would deliver such a tasty result.
Julie
I try so hard to use everything in the fridge and pantry. I happen to have polenta that needs to be used. This looks delish!
Fresh Local and Best
Nice job with getting cleaning the fridge on this recipe. It looks delicious!
Tina
Those look festive. Yeah, we have to clean out our fridge and always, well almost always,make use of the bits.
The JR
I'm trying to do the same with the freezers.
Hungry Dog
I love dinners like this–not only that come together in one pan but that use up ingredients you already have on hand. So satisfying!
Cucina49
I have a big old log of goat cheese in my fridge, too–this is just my kind of recipe. It looks amazing!
Kitchen Belleicious
oh my goodness! I am so glad you came across this recipe. It looks so comforting and perfect for a weeknight meal.I have everything I need to make this too so you bet this is going to be cooked this week!
teresa
what a gorgeous way to use up things in your fridge. i find myself doing that often. this looks delicious!
Kitchen Butterfly
Gorgeous Velva, I hope you're having a good summer. And I too am about to eat down my refrigerator and deep freezer! Hope I'll be able to get great recipes like this from my haul!
ritacooksitalian.com
Polenta is not a South Italian food, but I still appreciate it. I love this version with mozzarella and sausage, very flavoursome.
Salsa Verde
Absolutely divine!! I love this combination of flavours and your recipe looks very tempting!Cheers,Lia.
Paula
\”Eating down the refrigerator and pantry\”….I can so relate to those words. Seems I make a new resolution to do that every Monday morning. Then I proceed to cook and the problem only seems to get worse. This dish looks like a great solution.
Magic of Spice
I love the title 🙂 This is such a great idea and recipe! I need to dig into my pantry and soon 🙂
AllThingsYummy
Such an interesting recipe. I'll have to try it. I haven't had polenta in too long.