Seared Polenta Rounds with Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions is an easy, elegant appetizer or light supper. This post is brought to you in collaboration with Seeds of Change® Organic Simmer Sauces.
I love polenta. And what I love even more than polenta? Prepared polenta. Those convenient organic tubes of high-quality polenta are readily available at most supermarkets, and what a time saver. I particularly love slicing them into rounds and searing them, which gives them a crispy exterior and a creamy center. These tasty little rounds are also ideal for topping with things, like ratatouille or your favorite sauces. They can even serve as a hand-held party appetizer.
I’ve made seared polenta rounds on the blog before, but they’re back again. When I want an elegant appetizer or a light vegetarian dinner, these polenta rounds with mushrooms and caramelized onions are my go-to.
They look beautiful, and they taste amazing.
I mean, you can’t really go wrong with polenta and cheese, right?
These Seared Polenta Rounds with Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions are gluten-free, vegetarian, and fairly light and healthy compared to your typical Italian-inspired fare.
When I’m looking for a quick but impressive meal, I already mentioned that prepared polenta is one of my favorite timesavers. But now I have another one. While I usually make my own sauce for these mushroom-topped polenta rounds, I decided to try the new Seeds of Change® simmer sauces. I noticed they have a mushroom simmer sauce, along with their Sweet and Sour, Taco Roasted Chipotle, Tikka Masala, and Sesame Ginger Teriyaki. I’m a huge fan of their other products, and now a huge fan of these simmer sauces as well. They are certified organic, made with minimal ingredients, and have absolutely no added preservatives, artificial colors, or artificial flavors. I love the easy-to-pour pouch, too! Using these sauces is one of my favorite healthy meal shortcuts. I also love the company’s support of sustainable, local farming and growing programs. To date, they have donated more than 1 million dollars towards these causes.
Pretty amazing, right? It’s also amazing how easily this polenta dish is. Caramelizing the onions is the only thing time consuming here, but it’s worth it. If you don’t have the time, you can skip that step and this meal would be on the table in about 20 minutes or less.
Seared Polenta Rounds with Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 5 servings 1x
Description
Seared Polenta Rounds with Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions is an easy, elegant appetizer or light supper.
Ingredients
- Prepared 18-ounce organic tube of polenta
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup vegetable stock
- 10 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pouch Seeds of Change® Organic Mushroom Simmer Sauce
- Shaved Parmigiano cheese
- Fresh parsley
- Sea salt + pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Caramelize the onions. Heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat until hot. Add the sliced onions and stir gently to coat. Spread the onions in one even layer, and cook until golden brown and caramelized, stirring every 5 minutes or so for about 40 minutes (or until caramelized).
- Once caramelized, add the vegetable stock to deglaze the pan and scrape the browned bits. Add in the mushrooms and garlic, and season to taste with sea salt and pepper. Cook until the mushrooms are browned and tender. Stir in the mushroom sauce, lower heat, and bring to a slow simmer.
- In the meantime, cut the polenta tube into 8 even rounds. Sear the polenta rounds in a bit of olive oil and season each side with freshly cracked pepper. Cook until the polenta is golden brown on each side, about 4-5 minutes per side. Transfer to plates.
- Spoon the mushroom mixture over the polenta rounds and top with 2 teaspoons Parmigiano cheese per serving and fresh parsley. Enjoy!
I hope that you’ve enjoyed these Seared Polenta Rounds with Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions. Which flavor of Seeds of Change simmer sauces would you like to try? Let me know in the comments below!
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- Seared Polenta with Ratatouille
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- Whole Wheat Angel Hair w/ Pancetta + Lemon
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- Cauliflower Sauce Mac + Cheese
-
- Three Cheese Baked Ziti
-
- Farro Breakfast Bowls with Za’atar and Tahini
-
- Harvest Farro Salad with Butternut Squash + Kale
Hi! I made this last night, and it was FABULOUS! I could not find the mushroom sauce you recommended so I simply did without it. The simple, rich flavors of the mushrooms, carmalized onions, and garlic with parsley delicious and without the sauce it was light and yummy (lighter than you intended I’m sure, but…). For those who can’t find the sauce, you can try just the veggies. Delish!
★★★★★
I was disappointed in this recipe. The Seeds of Grains mushroom sauce was expensive and hard to fine. I think you I could make a simmer sauce that was just as good and less salty. I will make this again making my own polenta and mushroom sauce.
★★
i like this recipe and i am try to make more here
This dish looks like it has all the flavors that I love. I need to give this one a try!
Your new recipe is literally making my tummy aches for hunger 🙂
Me likey!
★★★★★
This looks delicious! I love products that help me cut down on the prep time for my favorite dishes without cutting down on the amazing taste and results!
I’ve had homemade plenta a few years ago and it was delicious! On occasion, I’ll saute onions and mushrooms with butter and salt, and usually add in cubed chicken for our meal. I’m going to bookmark this for a dinner idea soon!
I have never tried crispy polenta before. In my country we make it soft and eat it like it would be mashed potatoes. You recipe sounds delicious though and I’d love to try it.
This looks really tasty. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced polenta but I’ll check our market for it or I’ll have to attempt to make it myself.
Great recipe! That looks so delicious and mouth watering!
I looove crispy polenta. And pre-made sauces save sooo much time! I always end up having way too much extra sauce when I make it myself. This looks perfectly portioned, too.
I’d have to substitute the mushrooms (allergy) but I do like the idea behind this recipe.
I have only made polenta once and that was a few years ago. Time to try it again because this looks amazing!
★★★★★
That looks really yummy. I love mushrooms and mushroom sauce. What a great recipe. That sesame ginger sounds good too.
I think this will be perfect for my Thanksgiving menu. I love polenta and the mushrooms make it sound even better.
I like that these are vegetarian because I go meatless a couple of times a week. I can’t give meat up all the way yet but I’m working towards it. I’m going to save your recipe because I can almost smell the wonderful aroma of it cooking with the onions.
★★★★★
Whaaaat? I’m all over this. So much easier than doing everything from scratch.
Wow! I’m not even the biggest fan of mushrooms, but as I was making this the aroma brought me in, and the polenta combo with the flavors kept me there! I didn’t know all those wonderful pluses to Seeds of Change, but that’s really excellent and I wish more companies would go in that direction. Great post, and I love how quick and easy it is to make. Thanks!