Polenta For Lamb And Chestnut Stew Recipes

LAMB-AND-CHESTNUT STEW

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a chestnut knife or a small paring knife, make an incision about 1/8 inch deep through the shell and into the flesh of each chestnut almost all the way around the circumference of the nut.Transfer to a chestnut pan or rimmed baking pan. Roast in the oven until the chestnuts are tender, about 35 minutes.Turn the oven off. Leaving the pan with the chestnuts in the oven, remove several at a time.Working quickly, place 1 chestnut in a towel, and, holding both, peel the chestnut while still hot. Remove and discard the shells and inner skin; set aside.
• Season the lamb with salt and pepper. Dredge the meat in flour, and shake off excess; set aside. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add lamb, in a single layer without crowding, and cook until browned all over, about 5 minutes.Transfer lamb to a dish. Repeat browning with the remaining olive oil and meat.
• To the Dutch oven, add onions, and cook until golden, about 4 minutes. Add mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and cook until well browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Add red wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook until the wine is reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
• Add the reserved lamb, beef stock, chestnuts, tomatoes, sage, and rosemary, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, uncovered, until the meat is very tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Add cranberries, and cook 2 minutes. (Proceed with step 5, and serve immediately, or let cool, refrigerate overnight, and proceed with step 5 just before serving.)
• Serve the hot polenta with the lamb-and-chestnut stew.

POLENTA MEAT STEW

Steps:

• Trim fat from meat and cut into 1-inch pieces.
• In a plastic bag combine flour, thyme, basil, salt and pepper. Add meat pieces a few at a time, shaking to coat. Place meat in a 3 1/2-4 quart slow cooker. Add carrots, onions, garlic and rosemary. Stir in water, broth and wine.
• Cover and cook for 8-10 hours on low, or 4-5 hours on high.
• Stir in fresh rosemary, parsley and tomato paste. Serve with a spoonful of polenta in each bowl.
• Just prior to serving prepare polenta by bringing milk to simmer. In a bowl combine, cornmeal, water and salt. Slowly add to the warm milk, stirring constantly.
• Cook and stir until the mixture comes to a boiling. Reduce heat to low and cook 10-15 minutes until thick, stirring occasionally. (I sometimes add 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese and a tablespoon of butter at this point.).

POLENTA FOR LAMB-AND-CHESTNUT STEW

Steps:

• Pour the water into a large saucepan, season generously with salt.
• Bring to a boil over high heat. Pour in the polenta in a slow steady stream while whisking constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the polenta thickens, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.

TUSCAN BEEF STEW WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• For the stew: In heavy, large saucepan over moderately-high heat, heat 3 tablespoons oil until hot, but not smoking. Add the onion, carrot, and celery and saute, stirring occasionally, until light golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add the beef and saute, stirring occasionally, until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add wine and thyme, stir well, and bring to boil.
• Add the tomatoes, salt, and pepper, then lower heat to moderately low, cover, and simmer, stirring every 15 minutes, until the beef is tender, about 2 hours.
• For the polenta: While the beef is simmering, make the polenta. Pour the olive oil into a large serving bowl and swirl to coat. Set aside.
• In heavy, large pot over moderately-high heat, bring stock to a boil. Lower the heat to moderate and gradually whisk in the polenta, stirring constantly. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until polenta thickens and pulls away from sides of pan, about 5 minutes. Transfer the polenta to an oil-coated serving bowl and keep warm. Let the polenta sit for 5 to 10 minutes so it can set up.
• When the beef is tender, use tongs to remove the tomato skins, if desired and the thyme sprigs.
• Turn the polenta out of the bowl, slice, and serve alongside the stew.

CHESTNUT POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Slowly add the flour into the pot in a steady stream until level with the water. With a spoon, create a well in the center. Allow to cook for approximately 10 minutes and then stir for an additional 5 minutes until you have a creamy polenta-like texture.
• The polenta will thicken and bubble resembling a porridge-like consistency. If there are any lumps break them up and continue to stir until creamy.
• Serve the polenta with grilled sausages or creamy ricotta cheese.