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A square of polenta with layers of meat sauce on a plate with a fork, two glasses of wine
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4.88 / 8 votes

Polenta Cake with Meat Sauce

Polenta cake with meat sauce is essentially like lasagna but with polenta in place of pasta. Trust us, you'll feel no regret over forsaking the familiar.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 40 minutes
Total Time2 hours
Course: Mains
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 457

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 onion, minced
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 1 small celery stalk, preferably with leaves, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground fennel
  • 1 pound ground pork, or a mix of ground pork and beef or Italian sausage
  • 1/2 cup good-quality dry red wine
  • 3 tablespoons store-bought or homemade tomato paste
  • 36 ounces canned plum tomatoes, drained, seeded, and chopped, juices reserved
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
  • 3 tablespoons minced basil leaves
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 Basic Polenta
  • 1/2 pound semi-soft pecorino cheese, such as fior di sardegna or tuscan caciotta, or young Spanish manchego, shredded
  • Olive or vegetable oil, for the baking dish and the work surface
US - Metric

Instructions

  • Warm the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion, carrot, and celery and continue to sauté until softened, about 10 minutes.
  • Add the fennel and pork, reduce the heat to medium-low, and sauté until the meat colors lightly, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Stir in the wine and wait for it to evaporate. Add the tomato paste diluted in a little of the reserved tomato juices, then add the tomatoes along with another 1/2 cup of the reserved tomato juices and the salt. Cover partially and simmer over the lowest heat for 1 hour, stirring frequently, until the meat sauce is thick and fragrant. If the sauce seems to be drying out, add more tomato juices during cooking. Spoon off any fat that accumulates on the surface of the sauce. Then stir in the basil and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Meanwhile, lightly oil a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Turn the warm polenta out onto a lightly oiled baking sheet or work surface. Working very quickly, use a rubber spatula or knife dipped into hot water to spread it out into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Let stand until cooled completely and firm, at least 15 minutes. Cut the polenta into 3-inch squares or strips of any length.
  • Heat an oven to 450°F (232°C). Arrange half of the cake squares in the bottom of the baking dish. Pour half the meat sauce over the squares and spread to cover. Sprinkle half the cheese over the meat sauce. Repeat with another layer of each. Bake until the polenta cake is heated through and the cheese is golden brown, between 15 and 20 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes. Cut into portions and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 457kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 886mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g