Beef And Eggplant Bake With Polenta Crust Recipes

TOMATO AND BEEF CASSEROLE WITH POLENTA CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Bring 3 cups of water and 1 tsp salt to a boil in a 2qt saucepan over medium heat.
• Whisk in cornmeal; reduce heat to low and simmer, whisking constantly, 3 minutes or until thickened.
• Remove from heat, and stir in steak seasoning and 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese.
• Spread cornmeal mixture into a lightly greased 11 x 7-inch baking dish.
• Brown ground chuck in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, 10 minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink; drain and transfer to a bowl.
• Saute onion and zucchini in hot oil in skillet 5 minutes or until crisp tender.
• Stir in beef, tomatoes, and tomato paste; simmer, stirring often, 10 minutes.
• Pour beef mixture over cornmeal crust.
• Sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup of cheese.
• Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly.
• Sprinkle casserole with parsley just before serving.

BEEF AND POLENTA BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• In 3-quart saucepan, heat milk, broth and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt to boiling over medium heat. Gradually stir in polenta with whisk. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Stir in 1/2 cup of the cheese and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Spread polenta in baking dish.
• In 12-inch skillet, cook beef over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Remove beef; set aside. Add onion and mushrooms to skillet; cook 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add spinach; cook 1 minute or until wilted. Stir in beef, pasta sauce and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Spoon mixture over polenta.
• Bake uncovered 20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake 5 to 10 minutes longer or until cheese is golden brown. Sprinkle with basil.

BEEF AND POLENTA BAKE

Steps:

• POLENTA: In a large saucepan, bring water and salt to boil over high heat; reduce heat to low.
• Gradually whisk in cornmeal; cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until thick enough to mound on spoon, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in parmesan cheese.
• Spoon into greased 13 x 9 inch glass baking dish.
• Set aside.
• In a large pot, saute beef over medium heat, breaking up with spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
• Drain off any fat.
• Add onion, garlic, carrots, celery, mushrooms, herb seasoning, salt and pepper; cook over medium heat until onion is softened, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in wine, tomato paste and tomatoes, breaking up tomatoes with potato masher.
• Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer until thickend enough to mound on spoon about 20 minutes.
• Stir in parsley.
• Spoon over polenta.
• Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
• (Make ahead: Let cool for 30 minutes; refrigerate until cold. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours; uncover.).
• Bake in 375 F oven until cheese is melted and golden, about 15 minutes.

OLE POLENTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• For polenta, in a small bowl, whisk cornmeal, salt and 1 cup water until smooth. In a large saucepan, bring remaining water to a boil. Add cornmeal mixture, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 3 minutes. , Reduce heat to low; cover and cook for 15 minutes. Divide mixture between 2 greased 8-in. square baking dishes. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 1-1/2 hours., In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion, green pepper and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, mushrooms, herbs and hot pepper sauce; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until thickened., Loosen 1 polenta from sides and bottom of dish; invert onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet and set aside. Spoon half of the meat mixture over the remaining polenta. Sprinkle with half the mozzarella and half the Parmesan cheese. Top with reserved polenta and remaining meat mixture., Cover and bake at 350° until heated through, 40 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake until cheese is melted, 5 minutes longer. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

BEEF AND EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray an 8-inch square glass pan with cooking spray.
• Place eggplant slices on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Top slices with additional paper towels; allow salt to draw off some of the moisture, 30 to 45 minutes. Press down on paper towels to get as much moisture out as you can.
• Combine cornmeal, flour, paprika, cinnamon, and ginger in a bowl. Dredge eggplant slices in mixture.
• Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Place floured eggplant slices in pan and cook until edges start to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Flip; cook until crisp on edges but still soft in centers, 3 to 4 minutes more. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic, onion, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir until onions are softened and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Layer eggplant slices to cover bottom of the prepared pan; follow with ground beef, 1/2 can diced tomatoes, 1/2 the Cheddar cheese and 1/2 the Monterey Jack cheese. Repeat layers, starting with eggplant slices. Dredge any remaining eggplant slices in Parmesan cheese and place on top of casserole.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbling and top is golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.