Italian Polenta Casserole

Based on a recipe from Good Housekeeping. This Italian casserole delivers comfort with creamy polenta and a hearty tomato ragu studded with spicy sausage and eggplant.

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 8
• Yields: 2 casseroles

Ingredients

• 12  ounces  bulk hot Italian sausage (or links removed from casings)
• 12  ounces lean ground beef
• 16  ounces  chopped onions
• 4  garlic cloves, finely chopped (or more to taste)
• 1 (28 ounce) can  whole tomatoes in puree
• 1 (1 lb)  eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 4  cups water
• 1 3⁄4 cups chicken broth (1 14 to 14 1/2-ounce can)
• 1 1⁄2 cups cornmeal
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 3⁄4 cup  freshly grated pecorino romano cheese or 3⁄4 cup parmesan cheese, plus
•  freshly grated pecorino romano cheese (for topping) or 3⁄4 cup parmesan cheese (for topping)

Directions

1. In 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven, cook sausage and ground beef on medium-high 5 to 6 minutes or until browned, stirring and breaking up meat with side of spoon. With slotted spoon, transfer meat mixture to medium bowl.
2. To same Dutch oven, add onion; cook on medium 8 to 10 minutes or until tender. Stir in garlic; cook 30 seconds. Add tomatoes with their puree; heat to boiling on high, breaking up tomatoes with side of spoon. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes. Add eggplant and meat; cover and cook 5 minutes on medium. Uncover and cook 10 minutes longer or until eggplant is tender, stirring occasionally.
3. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees 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 (mixture will be lumpy at first); whisk 2 more times during remaining cooking time. Remove from microwave, whisk in Romano.
4. Spoon 2 cups hot polenta into each of two 1 1/2-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. Sprinkle with a couple tablespoons additional grated Romano, Parmesan, or Asiago.
5. Bake one casserole 30 minutes or until hot. Let stand 10 minutes for easier serving. (Freeze the other one for later.).
6. Makes 8 servings (in 2 casserole dishes).
7. Note: if you want to lower the fat content, use turkey Italian sausage. Make sure to use quality sausage - I've used my favorite, our freshly made Merguez, and good sausage really makes a difference.