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5 from 9 votes

Baked Polenta with Beef and Sausage Ragu

A rich and flavourful beef and sausage ragu topped with creamy polenta and baked in the oven. A delicious comfort food dish to keep you warm this winter.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4 - 6 people
Calories: 400kcal
Author: Emily Wyper

Ingredients

For the ragu

  • 1 carrot
  • 1 onion
  • 1 stalk celery
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 15 oz (430g) beef mince
  • 2 Italian sausages ,not spicy
  • 3 ¼ cups (750g) pureed tomatoes/passata
  • ½ cup (125ml) red wine
  • salt and pepper ,to season
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil

For the polenta

  • 1 cup (165g) fast action polenta
  • 4 cups (1 litre) water
  • salt
  • 1.7 oz (50g) butter
  • 1 tablespoon parmesan ,freshly grated

Instructions

  • Finely chop the carrot, onion, celery and garlic. Add everything apart from the garlic to a large pan with the olive oil and saute gently for around 6-7 minutes until the veg is soft but not browned.
  • Add the beef mince, sausage meat removed from their skins and garlic to the pan and brown the meat. If a lot of fat comes out of the sausages, spoon some of the excess out.
  • Once browned add the wine and let it reduce by half. Then add the passata/pureed tomatoes with a couple tablespoon of water and a good pinch of salt and pepper.
  • Stir the ragu so everything is combined and let it simmer gently, covered for 1 and a half to 2 hours. If the sauce reduces too much top it up with a little water.
  • While the ragu is simmering, make the polenta.
  • Bring 4 cups (1 litre) of water to a boil, add a good pinch of salt to the water. Pour the polenta into the water whilst constantly stirring. Turn the heat down to medium/low and keep stirring until the polenta becomes thick and smooth.
  • Turn off the heat and add the butter and parmesan cheese, stir it into the polenta until melted. Check if it needs more seasoning and add accordingly.
  • Pour the polenta onto a large baking tray and smooth it out. Let it cool then place in the fridge until the ragu is ready.
  • When the ragu is ready preheat the oven to 180°C/350F/gas mark 4.
  • Transfer the ragu into a large baking dish. Remove the polenta from the fridge and cut out rounds using a cookie cutter or glass or cut it into strips and place them on top of the ragu.
  • Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. The polenta will be slightly crunchy on top and the ragu bubbling, let it cool for 5 minutes then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcal