12ouncesmeat loaf mixveal, pork, and beef or ground beef chuck
1jumbo onion1 pound, chopped
2garlic clovesfinely chopped
1can28 ounces tomatoes in puree
1smalleggplant1 to 1¼ pounds, cut into ½-inch pieces
4cupswater
1can14½ ounces chicken broth
1½cupscornmeal
½teaspoonsalt
¾cupfreshly grated pecorino- romano or parmesan cheese
Instructies
In 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven, cook sausage and meat loaf mix over medium-high heat 5 to 6 minutes or until browned, stirring and breaking up meat with spoon.
With slotted spoon, transfer meat to medium bowl.
To same pan, add onion; cook over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes or until tender.
Stir in garlic; cook 30 seconds.
Add tomatoes with their puree; heat to boiling over high heat, breaking up tomatoes with spoon.
Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes.
Add eggplant and meat; cover and cook 5 minutes over medium heat.
Uncover and cook 10 minutes longer or until eggplant is tender, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°F.
In microwave-safe 4-quart bowl, with wire whisk, combine water, broth, cornmeal, and salt.
Microwave on High 15 to 20 minutes or until cornmeal mixture is very thick.
After first 5 minutes of cooking, whisk vigorously until smooth; whisk two more times during remaining cooking time, then whisk in Romano.
Spoon 2 cups hot polenta into each of two 1½-quart shallow casseroles.
Spread polenta over bottom and up sides of casseroles.
Spoon filling over polenta.
Spread remaining polenta around casserole edge to form a rim.