TOMATO AND GROUND CHUCK CASSEROLE WITH POLENTA CRUST

October 26, 2019
Patricia Braun
Recipes

Tomato, Beef & Polenta Casserole Recipe From El Toro Gourmet Meats in Lake Forest, CA TOMATO AND GROUND CHUCK CASSEROLE WITH POLENTA CRUST
Ground chuck is one of the most versatile and affordable meats around. And when you’re trying to get dinner on the table fast, ground chuck is a must “go-to”. It’s a food-staple that you can freeze, and at a moment’s notice pull it out and whip up an easy and satisfying dinner. All without stress or lengthy cook time. Whether it’s casseroles, burgers, or even a salad, you must have reliable ground chuck recipes in your bag of tricks. You can sauce it, stew it, bake it, and crumble it for an unlimited list of crave-worthy dishes. Here is one of our favorites. And, for the month of October, 2019 we are featuring Ground Chuck on sale. Hurry in, stock up, and freeze for later.
Bon Appetite from El Toro Gourmet Meats
Servings:       6
Prep Time:   20 Minutes
Cook Time: 35 Minutes
Bake Time:   30 Minutes

INGREDIENTS
1-Tsp. Salt
Dash of Pepper
1-2 Cloves Crushed Fresh Garlic
½-Tsp. Cumin
1-C Plain Yellow Cornmeal
1/2-Tsp. Steak Seasoning
1-Cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1-Lb. El Toro Meats Ground Chuck
1-Cup Chopped Onion
1-Large Portabella Mushroom – Sliced
1-Medium Zucchini, Cut in Half Lengthwise and Sliced (About 2-Cups)
1-Tlb. Olive Oil
2-(14.5 Oz.) Cans Petite Diced Tomatoes, Drained
1-6 Oz. Can Tomato Paste
2-Tlbs. Chopped Fresh Flat-Leaf Parsley
Avocado & Sour Cream to Garnish

DIRECTIONS
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°. Bring 3 cups water and 1 tsp. salt to a boil in a 2-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in cornmeal; reduce heat to low, and simmer, whisking constantly, 3-minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in steak seasoning and 1/4 cup Cheddar cheese. Spread cornmeal mixture into a lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish. Put this into the oven to cook slightly while you prepare the rest of the ingredients if you like your Polenta crunchier.

Step 2
Add ground chuck to a large nonstick skillet and cook over medium-high heat. Add all the spices, stirring often. Cooke 10-minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink; drain and transfer to a bowl.

Step 3
Sauté onion, mushrooms and zucchini in hot oil in skillet over medium heat 5-minutes or until crisp-tender. Stir in ground chuck, tomatoes, and tomato paste; simmer, stirring often, 10-minutes. Pour ground chuck mixture over cornmeal crust. Sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup cheese.

Step 4
Bake at 350° for 30-minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle casserole with parsley just before serving. Slice avocado and place decoratively on top of casserole or serve on a separate platter. Add dollops of sour cream on top of the casserole or serve in a separate bowl.