Simple Mushroom and Broccoli Ragoût with Polenta

Mushrooms. As a little girl, I used to love them and I’d eat them all the time. And then *something* happened and I seriously have no recollection of what that something was and I stopped eating them. Hated them. It was like the time that I stopped eating baked beans. I can recall exactly why that was. For some unknown reason, I decided to suck my baked beans instead of just chewing them like a normal person and at the point that I realised that the bean was white underneath the sauce, I swore off eating them for months. Years? Anyway. Baaack to the mushrooms.

For years and years I wouldn’t eat them and to be frank, they are not exactly my favourite food to this day. Which is sad for my husband because he loves the things. But! When they’re cooked down like this, bathing in their rich, mushroomy juices, they really are pretty fantastic. Super savoury. And the broccoli acts as the ideal counterpoint: when the mushroomy intensity starts to get too much, it provides sweet, brassic greenery. I used the beautiful in-season purple sprouting broccoli here. I love that it’s leafy, providing yet more of a textural contrast. If PSB isn’t available where you are, then use tenderstem or failing that, just regular broccoli. It’s all good.

I have a habit, if you haven’t noticed by now, of giving dishes tenuous names. It’s not that I mean to deliberately mislead you, it’s just that sometimes, I get a name in my head and have to run with it. I know exactly what it is (or isn’t) that I’m making, but the dish still ends up with some flouncy name. Like this simple mushroom and broccoli ragoût. Now, you’re either saying ‘what on earth is ragoût?’ or ‘that is not a ragoût’ by now. I’m with you. This is not a ragoût. But it looks like one and it tastes amazing, so tell me, what else could you possibly need to know? This is just a super simple, comforting dish of mushrooms and broccoli, served over creamy polenta, ready in 35 minutes, or quicker if you’re organised.

This dish doesn’t require lots of fancy ingredients and you can tailor it to your preferences. Don’t have any red wine open? Use more veg stock, or beef stock for depth. Don’t like chilli? Leave it out, although the gentle kick it provides adds yet another layer of flavour. But, bottom line – you have no excuse not to make this!

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Simple Mushroom and Broccoli Ragoût with Polenta

Course Main Course

Cuisine British

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 2

Calories 646kcal

Author Eat Love Eat

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon rapeseed or olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter (15 g)
• 1 onion roughly chopped
• 4 portabella mushrooms (about 300 g) sliced
• 150 g purple sprouting broccoli a small bunch
• 2 cloves garlic crushed or grated
• 1/2 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
• pinch of chilli flakes
• 1 teaspoon tomato purée
• 60 ml red wine (1/4 cup)
• 60 ml vegetable stock or water (1/4 cup)
• salt and pepper

Polenta

• 250 ml vegetable stock or water (1 cup)
• 250 ml milk (1 cup)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 125 g quick-cooking polenta (3/4 cup)
• 25 g grated cheese (cheddar, parmesan, gruyère, etc) (1/2 cup)
• salt and pepper

Instructions

• Heat the oil and butter over medium heat in a large frying pan. Sauté the onions until softened and starting to colour, about 5 minutes.
• Trim any woody ends from the broccoli and steam or boil for 2-3 minutes until tender. Set aside.
• Add the mushrooms to the pan along with a pinch of salt. Cook over low heat for 5-10 minutes until the mushrooms have let out their juices and softened.
• Add the mixed herbs, chilli flakes, garlic and tomato purée to the mushrooms and continue to cook for 2 minutes.
• Pour in the red wine and allow to bubble down and reduce. Add the vegetable stock (or water). Roughly chop the broccoli and add to the stew. Season to taste and add more stock or water as desired. Serve immediately on top of the polenta.

Polenta

• In a medium-sized saucepan heat the vegetable stock (or water), milk and butter.
• Once almost boiling, reduce the heat and gradually pour in the polenta, whisking constantly. Cook until thickened, whisking all the time. This should take 2-3 minutes. Stop when you reach your desired consistency - I don't like to let it get too thick and sometimes let it down with a little more milk or water. Stir in the grated cheese (I find it easiest to switch to a spatula or wooden spoon at this point) and season to taste with salt and pepper.