Grilled Polenta with Creamy Mushroom and Tarragon Sauce

Golden slices of firm Grilled Polenta form the base of this elegant vegetarian dish, topped with a creamy Mushroom and Tarragon sauce enriched with white wine and cream. Finished with a garnish of Tomato Concassé and a delicate sprig of Tarragon, it’s a modern, beautifully plated dish ideal for an elevated starter or a light main course.

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Keyword: Polenta, Mushrooms, Cream, Tarragon
Category: Appetisers
Course: Appetizers, Hot
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 829kcal
Author: MJF
Cost: £6.00

Equipment

  • 1 Cutting Board and Cooks Knife
  • 1 Grill Pan or Barbecue
  • 1 Sauter Pan and Wooden Spoon

Ingredients

For the Polenta Base

  • 500 g Polenta cooked and cooled, 2½ Cups, firm cooked polenta
  • 2 Tbsp Olive Oil For brushing and grilling
  • ½ Tsp Sea Salt to taste

For the Creamy Mushroom and Tarragon Sauce

  • 2 Tbsp Butter 30g
  • 1 Tbsp Olive Oil 15ml
  • 1 each Shallot finely chopped
  • 2 Cloves Garlic minced
  • 300 g Button Mushrooms sliced, 3 Cups
  • 100 ml Dry White Wine ⅓ Cup
  • 200 ml Double Cream ¾ Cup
  • 1 Tbsp Fresh Tarragon Finely Chopped, or 1 Tsp Dried
  • ½ Tsp Sea Salt to taste
  • ¼ Tsp Black Pepper freshly ground, to taste

For Garnish

  • 1 each Tomato peeled, seeded and diced (Concassé) | medium
  • 4 Sprigs Fresh Tarragon for decoration

Instructions

Prepare the Polenta

  • Cut the cooked polenta into rectangular or square slices approx. 2 cm thick.
  • Lightly brush each slice with olive oil and season with salt.
  • Heat a grill pan or BBQ to medium-high. Grill the polenta until golden and criss-cross marked – about 3–4 minutes per side. Keep warm.

Make the Mushroom and Tarragon Sauce

  • In a sauté pan, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat.
  • Sauté the shallots and garlic for 2 minutes until fragrant.
  • Add the mushrooms and cook for 5–6 minutes until softened and lightly coloured.
  • Deglaze with white wine and simmer until reduced by half.
  • Stir in the double cream, tarragon, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat and simmer gently for 5 minutes until thickened.
  • Prepare the tomato concassé
  • Score the tomato skin with a small cross and blanch in boiling water for 10 seconds.
  • Transfer to iced water, then peel, deseed, and dice finely.

Presentation

  • Place one grilled polenta slice at the centre of each warm plate.
  • Spoon the creamy mushroom and tarragon sauce generously over the polenta.
  • Top with a neat mound of tomato concassé and finish with a fresh tarragon sprig.
  • Serve immediately with a drizzle of good olive oil or a sprinkle of sea salt flakes for contrast.

Nutrition

Calories: 829kcal | Carbohydrates: 106g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 794mg | Potassium: 598mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1342IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 3mg

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