by EatingWell

Cheesy Polenta and Egg Casserole Recipe
Cheesy Polenta and Egg Casserole

This memorable brunch recipe is rich with cheesy polenta, crumbled sausage and baked eggs.

Cheesy Polenta, Sausage and Egg Casserole

    Prep Time: 30 minutes

    Cook time: 45 minutes

    Yield: Serves 6

Cheesy Polenta, Sausage and Egg Casserole Recipe Ingredients

    1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

    1/3 cup finely chopped onion

    4 cups water, plus more as needed

    1 cup yellow cornmeal (see Shopping Tip)

    1/2 teaspoon salt

    6 ounces Italian turkey sausage, casing removed

    1/2 cup shredded fontina or mozzarella

    1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, divided

    6 large eggs

Cheesy Polenta, Sausage and Egg Casserole Recipe Directions

    Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, but not browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Gradually whisk cornmeal into the boiling water. Add salt and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly until the polenta bubbles, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low and cook, whisking frequently, until very thick, 10 to 15 minutes. (Alternatively, once the polenta comes to a boil, transfer it to the top of a double boiler, cover, and place over barely simmering water for 25 minutes. This is convenient, because you don't need to stir it as it cooks.)

    Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add sausage. Cook, stirring and breaking the sausage into small pieces with a spoon, until lightly browned and no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Drain if necessary and transfer to a cutting board; let cool. Finely chop when cool enough to handle.

    Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 350°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

    When the polenta is done, stir in fontina (or mozzarella) and 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano. If the polenta seems too stiff, add small amounts of water to thin it to a thick but not stiff consistency. Spread the polenta in the prepared pan.

    Make six 2-inch-wide indentations in the polenta with the back of a tablespoon. Break eggs, one at a time, into a custard cup and slip one into each indentation. Scatter the sausage on the polenta and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano evenly on top of the eggs.

    Bake the casserole for 15 minutes. Then broil until the egg whites are set, 2 to 4 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

To Make Ahead: Prepare through Step 4 up to 2 hours ahead; hold the polenta at room temperature and refrigerate the sausage until ready to bake.

Shopping Tip: Polenta, a creamy Italian porridge, can be made from any type of cornmeal. Coarsely ground cornmeal, available in many natural-foods stores, is a great option because is has big corn flavor and light texture. It's usually labeled "cornmeal," but some brands are labeled "polenta."

Recipe Nutrition:

Per serving: 295 calories; 17 g fat (5 g sat, 6 g mono); 241 mg cholesterol; 17 g carbohydrate; 19 g protein; 2 g fiber; 683 mg sodium; 148 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Calcium (24 percent daily value).

1 Carbohydrate Serving(s)

Exchanges: 1 starch, 2 medium-fat meat, 1 fat

Cheesy Polenta and Egg Casserole Recipe, Brunch Casserole Recipe, Brunch Cuisine

 

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Cheesy Polenta, Sausage and Egg Casserole Brunch Recipe

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