Sicilian Herb Mushroom Ragu with Polenta
This post is sponsored by Vero Gusto. All opinions are my own.
We have a love for all things Italian in our household. At least once a week, Ryan and I cook Italian food, drink the wines, listen to the music, and embrace la dolce vita. We love learning about the different regions of Italy as well, as the cuisine differs quite a bit throughout the country.
I recently teamed up with Vero Gusto, a premium Italian sauce line made by Barilla, and created four different curated Italian boxes inspired by the ingredients featured in each of the sauces. Each of the four Vero Gusto sauces are made in Italy with some of the best ingredients grown in the region that deliver delicious, distinct flavors. The four varieties are:
Vero Gusto Tomato & Basil, which features Genovese Basil, which is bright and aromatic and is harvested in select areas of Genoa. It differs from other basils with a light green color and a very delicate, sweet aroma, which alone can make all the difference in a simple dish. Genovese Basil has a very delicate, sweet aroma so we chose light, airy pieces like the beautiful Alessi serving spoon and effervescent Italian soda for something delicious to sip on while enjoying a simple, elevated meal.
Vero Gusto Heritage Marinara, which features Datterini tomatoes, grown in the fields of Emilia Romagna and Lombardy. This sauce is very vibrant due to the sun-ripened tomatoes. Datterini is characterized by a small “date” size and elongated shape similar to San Marzano. Its thick skin and firm pulp make it ideal for homemade sauces. It is juicy, naturally sweet, and aromatic, due to a higher natural sugar content than other tomatoes. I really liked the sleek modern Italian design of the cheese grater and the dishes. It’s a great way to taking traditional items and updating them in a modern way.
Vero Gusto Sicilian Herb, which features Sicilian oregano, making it a favorite of Southern Italian cuisine. This sauce is a bit more earthy given the robust and intense aromatics of the Sicilian oregano. Its fragrance and unique aroma (a little sweet, slightly spicy) adds a special touch to many Mediterranean dishes. The cuisine in Sicily is very unique. During our time there, we tried so many dishes that were new to us and this sauce evoked some of those memories of our time in Italy. We wanted to make a nod to this earthy ingredient with the items in the box, like the mezzaluna that can be used to chop fresh herbs and spices.
Vero Gusto Calabrian Marinara, which features Calabrian pepper, native to the Calabrian region. This sauce features smoky, spicy and fruity notes which I love. I find the taste of Calabrian Marinara to be very robust with a unique heat depth that inspired the items we chose here (for example, the coffee and the trivet that looks like flames). It is considered the best chili pepper because of its unique sensorial characteristics – mainly that it has more depth (fruitiness) versus heat alone.
I sent them out to friends and everyone really enjoyed them. Each box contained items to create an artfully balanced dining experience, like textiles, table setting pieces, culinary tools, essential oils or candles, or a food or beverage pairing that complemented the sauce’s distinct flavor profile. Of course, I included a jar of Vero Gusto. I feel good about sharing this sauce with my friends and family, as it contains simple ingredients, nothing artificial, no added water or paste, no added sugar, and it is non-GMO Project-Verified. Plus, it tastes amazing because it is prepared like homemade, with a slow sauté and long simmer.
Since we spend most of our time at home these days, Ryan and I look at our meals as our way of having special moments with each other. We have “date nights” and cook for each other and set the table. I got creative with the pieces in my Vero Gusto boxes to put together an Italian dinner date night for us, and I used the Vero Gusto Sicilian Herb sauce to make a vegetarian “Mushroom Ragu” and served it over polenta. In the summer of 2019, we took a trip to Sicily and we found so many dishes that we enjoyed that were vegetable forward.
To make the mushroom ragu, I simply sautéed the mushrooms in olive oil with some garlic, then added some red wine, and the Sicilian Herb sauce and let it cook so the flavors married together. I served it over polenta for a hearty dish since the weather is getting colder. I am a fan of polenta because it reminds me of grits, a very popular dish where I’m from in West Virginia (so goes the joke, “how do you tell the difference between polenta and grits? Ten dollars. Hahaha) I topped it with Parmesan cheese and it was absolutely divine. This was the perfect dish for me to cook, as I don’t have as much time as I used to since having our baby, Iris! Luckily, it tasted 100% homemade. I think I’m not the only one who finds themselves in a time crunch like this these days, and Vero Gusto represents modern Italian cooking and using it gives an elevated dining experience in the comfort of my own home.
I hope you’ll make this recipe and enjoy it as much as we did!
Sicilian Herb Mushroom Ragu with Polenta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 (8 ounce) package mushrooms (white button, shiitake, oyster, cremini, or any combination), roughly chopped
- ¼ cup red wine (optional)
- 1 jar Vero Gusto Sicilian Herb sauce
- Salt and pepper
- Polenta, prepared to package directions (*note: I use creamy polenta, but if you prefer the sliced variety, that works as well)
- Grated Parmesan, for serving
Cooking Directions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté garlic with olive oil for about 1 minute. Add mushrooms and increase heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring often, until browned and tender. Season with salt and pepper. Add wine, if using, and cook until wine evaporates almost completely.
- Stir in sauce and reduce heat to low. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Serve over polenta and top with Parmesan cheese.
