Mushroom Topped Steaks With Creamy Polenta - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 large flat mushrooms, sliced thickly (like a portobello)
200 g swiss brown mushrooms, sliced
1 teaspoon garlic powder
40 -50 g butter
4 steak fillets (I like thick cut steaks but thin is fine too.)
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking polenta
1 teaspoon chicken stock
200 g mascarpone cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
100 g baby spinach leaves
5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
8 tablespoons dry red wine
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon beef stock
pepper

Preparation

Melt butter in a pan, add mushrooms and garlic, cook until mushrooms soften and are browned slightly. Add wine, balsamic vinegar, sugar and beef stock, stir to combine and add pepper to taste.
Meanwhile combine water, milk and chicken stock in a saucepan, bring to the boil, gradually stir in polenta. Reduce heat, stir until polenta thickens, add cheeses and stir to combine, stir in spinach. (I usually cook my steaks while making polenta and let them rest while I stir in the cheeses and spinach, but it will keep warm over a low heat stir occasionally to prevent bottom from burning.).
Season steaks with salt and pepper. Heat a small amount of oil in a pan and cook steaks until desired doneness. Cooking times will vary depending on the thickness of the steaks.
To Serve: Place a few spoonfuls of polenta on a plate top with steak and mound steak with mushrooms, drizzled with balsamic sauce.