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    Where Is My Spoon > Recipes > Romanian > Romanian Mains

    Mushroom Polenta Casserole (with Cheese)

    Published by: Adina September 28, 2017 · Last modified: October 9, 2021 6 Comments

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    polenta cheese and mushroom bake overview shot of the baking dish

    Our favorite mushroom polenta casserole topped with lots of cheese. Served with a garlic yogurt sauce.

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    polenta with mushroom and cheese topping

    This is one of my favorite polenta recipes, I've lost count of how many times I've made this mushroom polenta casserole during the last 10 years.

    It is one of those comforting recipes for me, something that reminds me of my childhood when I used to eat lots and lots of polenta with cheese. Still, the mushrooms give it a new touch. Check this Mushroom Stew with Herbs if you want to see mushrooms and polenta combined in a totally different way as well.

    polenta with mushroom and cheese topping

    Ingredients

    Polenta:

    • A staple in Romanian cooking. Also very popular in Italy, of course.
    • I usually a kind of polenta that needs about 20 minutes of cooking time.
    • However, there are brands that need about 40-50 minutes of cooking time and there is the quick-cook polenta, which requires about 10 more minutes and there is the instant polenta, which is even faster.
    • I would not use ready-made polenta for this or any other dish, I tried it, I don't like it, it has a weird lingering taste.

    Cheese:

    • Ideally, the Romanian sheep cheese called burduf. However, that is not an option most of the time.
    • Sheep feta cheese is a good alternative. Cow's feta is very fine as well.
    • Over the years, I've also cooked this mushroom polenta casserole with grated Gouda or Cheddar or with Gorgonzola. All versions are delicious!

    Herbs:

    • Sage is great in this dish, preferably fresh. If you can get it, do use it.
    • If not, dried sage is a good alternative.
    • Or replace it with any other herbs you like.
    polenta with mushroom and cheese topping

    How to make the casserole?

    • The only thing you have to consider is to cook the polenta a couple of hours in advance and let it get cold and stiff in the casserole form. Otherwise it all goes quickly.
    • Clean, slice and fry the mushrooms with the herbs, tip them on top of the polenta and top everything with cheese.
    • Bake until golden brown.

    How to serve?

    The yogurt sauce is a must! You do not have to put as much garlic as I do into it (I put 5-6 garlic cloves into it!!!), but do make a garlic sauce, it definitely adds a lot to the eating experience. 🙂

    A simple green salad on the side is the perfect side dish.

    polenta with mushroom and cheese topping

    More polenta recipes:

    Polenta Loaf

    Polenta Pizza

    Polenta Balls

    Polenta Chicken

    Chips

    Orange Polenta Cake

    polenta cheese and mushroom bake overview shot of the baking dish

    Mushroom Polenta Casserole

    Our favorite mushroom polenta casserole topped with lots of cheese. Served with a garlic yogurt sauce.
    4.29 from 7 votes
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    Course: Romanian Main Course
    Cuisine: Romanian
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 326kcal
    Author: Adina

    Equipment

    • Casserole dish of about 21x32 cm/ 8x13 inch
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    Ingredients 

    • Polenta mushroom casserole:
    • 1 ⅓ cup polenta
    • 3 ⅓ cup water
    • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
    • 1 tablespoon butter + 1 teaspoon extra
    • 14 oz mushrooms
    • 4 large fresh sage leaves or ½ teaspoon dry sage
    • 5.5 oz sheep cheese or feta, gouda, Cheddar, Gorgonzola
    • Garlic yogurt sauce:
    • 3 garlic cloves or more to taste
    • ½ teaspoon mustard
    • 1 tablespoon oil
    • 1 ¼ cup Greek yogurt
    • fine sea salt and pepper

    Instructions

    Polenta:

    • Line a shallow rectangular casserole dish of approximately 21x32 cm/ 8x13 inches with baking paper.
    • Make polenta: Bring the water to a soft simmer, add the salt, stir well to dissolve it, and then slowly add the polenta while stirring or whisking continuously. Cover and let cook on very low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon from time to time, according to the packet's instructions.
    • Cooking time: My polenta usually needs about 20 to 30 minutes, but there are quick-cooking sorts that only need 10 minutes and other kinds that require between 40 and 50 minutes. So make sure you follow the packet's instructions.
    • Let cool: When the polenta is ready, pour it into the prepared dish. Level nicely and leave it to cool.
    • When the polenta is cool, preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius/ 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Mushrooms:

    • Clean and slice the mushrooms. Halve the sage leaves and cut them into thin strips.
    • Cook mushrooms: Melt the butter in a large pan and fry the mushrooms and the sage for about 3-4 minutes, until golden. Season well with salt and pepper.
    • Bake: Pour the contents of the pan, juices included, over the cold polenta. Spread evenly and top with the grated cheese. Dot with the extra teaspoon butter and bake for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden.

    Yogurt sauce:

    • Mix: Grate the garlic cloves into a small bowl, add the mustard and some salt and stir well.
    • Slowly add the vegetable oil while stirring until the mixture emulsifies slightly.
    • Add the Greek yogurt and stir well. Adjust the taste with salt and pepper.
    • Serve the polenta casserole immediately with the yogurt sauce and a green salad.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/4 of the dish | Calories: 326kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 1063mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @adinabeck or tag #WhereIsMySpoon!

    More TRADITIONAL ROMANIAN MAIN DISHES

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      Warming Eggplant Chicken Recipe
    • savory rhubarb soup in a vintage bowl.
      Tangy Rhubarb Soup
    • romanian stew with cabbage in a pot.
      Stewed Cabbage
    • romanian sarmale cut in a traditional bowl.
      Sarmale – Traditional Romanian Cabbage Rolls

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anca says

      September 29, 2017 at 12:32 pm

      Sounds interesting, I never had something similar. You mentioned branza de burduf. I used to love it, it has a different texture. I saw it recently in International shops, but it's not vegetarian, so I can't eat it (well... I don't want to eat it).

      Reply
    2. mjskitchen says

      October 07, 2017 at 3:09 am

      Fabulous dish! I love how you let the polenta set and firm up, then pile it with some really great ingredients. I'm with you on the sheep's feta. Love it and I can see how it would complement the the mushrooms rather than overpower it like goat's feta. This could easily become a favorite in this house.

      Reply
    3. mjskitchen says

      April 01, 2018 at 2:29 am

      Made this for supper tonight and I was right. This has now become a favorite in this house!!! Bobby is a very vocal eater and on the first bite he let out a long UUUUUUUMMMMMMM. 🙂 These is plenty left over for us to have it a couple more times this week. YAY! Oh and I didn't change a thing. Perfect recipe and oh so good! Thank you Adina!!

      Reply
      • Adina says

        April 01, 2018 at 7:26 am

        Hi MJ. I am so glad you and your husband liked it. It is one of my favorite polenta dishes as well. Happy Easter!

        Reply
    4. Teresa says

      August 31, 2022 at 2:40 am

      Powdered mustard or prepared mustard?

      Reply
      • Adina says

        August 31, 2022 at 8:01 am

        Hi Teresa. Prepared mustard.

        Reply

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