Beautiful mounds of creamy yellow polenta, garnished with golden-brown crispy cuts of pancetta, scattered vibrant green peas, and a healthy sprinkle of sharp Parmesan. Caramelized onion and brightly sautéed wild mushrooms festively dot the peaks of the polenta.

Caramelized Onion and Wild Mushroom Pancetta Crisps over Creamy Polenta

Name: Caramelized Onion and Wild Mushroom Pancetta Crisps over Creamy Polenta
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: large onion, 1 large thinly sliced; wild mushrooms, 8 oz. roughly chopped; pancetta, 100 g sliced into thin strips; green peas, 1/2 cup frozen, thawed; polenta, 1 cup uncooked; parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup finely grated; extra virgin olive oil, 2 tbsp None; butter, 2 tbsp None; salt and pepper, to taste None

Category Main Course

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 30 minutes

Style American

Technique Sautéing

Diet Friendly Low-Carb

Daily Recipe: December 04, 2025

This exciting dish speaks volumes about American cuisine, while bringing a seasonal and delightful twist. Onion, our star ingredient, transforms to offer gentle sweetness and deep flavors. Coupled with the earthiness of wild mushrooms, richness of pancetta and creaminess of polenta, we present you an interesting array of textures and tastes.

Ingredients (for 2)

Large onion - 1 large - thinly sliced
Wild mushrooms - 8 oz. - roughly chopped
Pancetta - 100 g - sliced into thin strips
Green peas - 1/2 cup - frozen, thawed
Polenta - 1 cup - uncooked
Parmesan cheese - 1/2 cup - finely grated
Extra virgin olive oil - 2 tbsp
Butter - 2 tbsp
Salt and pepper - to taste

Preparation

Step 1 - 🧅🍳🔥

Heat half the olive oil and butter in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the thinly sliced onion and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Stir occasionally until the onions are caramelized.
Step 2 - 🍄🍳🔥

Remove onions from the pan and set aside. In the same pan, sauté the roughly chopped wild mushrooms until they soften and release their juices. Remove and set aside.
Step 3 - 🥓🔥🧻

In the same pan, cook the strips of pancetta until crispy. Place them on a paper towel to remove any excess grease.
Step 4 - 🌽🥣🔥

In a pot, prepare the uncooked polenta as per packet instructions until creamy. Stir in the remaining butter.
Step 5 - 🍽️🧀🍲

Serve hot creamy polenta on plates. Top with caramelized onions, sautéed wild mushrooms, pancetta crisps and scattered green peas. Finish with a sprinkle of finely grated Parmesan, salt and pepper to taste.

Additional

Experiment with different types of wild mushrooms for varied flavors. Children can help with washing mushrooms, grating the cheese, or assembling the final dish. A nice glass of red wine goes superbly with this richly flavored dish.