Mushroom and Marinara Polenta + Fried Eggs

During our shopping adventure to stock all of our cabinets at the apartment we walked down every aisle of the grocery store trying to make sure that we were making well-rounded food choices.  We had both had polenta before, but the kind that is already formed into a log to be cut up and cooked a variety of ways. In an attempt to expand our cooking knowledge we purchased a box of polenta in order to make polenta bowls for meals.
This recipe incorporates a hodge podge of ingredients and is a nice filling dish. If you're wondering where to buy the New Zealander Cheese, it is one of the new Sargento Tastings*, I think they're a great way to purchase a specialty cheese in a small amount.

Adapted from Half Baked Harvest.

Ingredients:
Mushrooms
-3 cups mixed mushrooms, sliced (I used a blend of crimini, shitake and oyster)
-2 tablespoons butter
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
-1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
-1/2 teaspoon pepper
-1/4 teaspoon salt

Polenta
-2 cups vegetable broth
-2 cups milk
-1 cup polenta
-4 ounces New Zealander Cheese shredded
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-1/4 teaspoon pepper
-2-4 tablespoons butter (your preference)

For Serving
-1-2 cups marinara sauce, warmed
-4 eggs cooked to your liking
-fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Bring the vegetable broth and milk to a boil. Add the polenta and stir continuously for 15 minutes or until polenta is creamy. Remove from heat and stir in cheese, butter and seasoning.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the mushrooms and cook until reduced. Add the garlic, red pepper, balsamic and seasoning. Stir until garlic is fragrant.

Serve topped with mushrooms, marinara and an egg.

This was a nice hearty dinner. The mixed mushrooms gave a nice texture to the dish, both the mushrooms and the polenta were well seasoned. The marinara sauce helped to make the dish rich. And I am always a fan of a fried egg on top of a dish, it added some protein and made everything extra good when the yolk was split.

*This post is not sponsored, I just like using the product, but if Sargento would like to sponsor a blog, I'd be more than happy to work something out.