IOTM: Fresh porcini polenta

[Jenise]

Late yesterday afternoon, the porcinis that I ordered that weren't going to come because they were out were delivered anyway, much to my surprise, so I cut one up, sauteed it, and built the polenta that was already on my menu from there. The only other additions were a pinch of basil and a handful of grated parmesan.

The result was quite tasty, but unfortunately the dish was terribly unattractive as the greenish-colored gills dissolved into the porridge and turned it a rather unappetizing color compared with polenta's usual brilliance. For that reason alone, I would not do this again.

But at least I tried.

[Robin Garr]

unfortunately the dish was terribly unattractive as the greenish-colored gills dissolved into the porridge and turned it a rather unappetizing color compared with polenta's usual brilliance.

I wonder if you could have played an artist's palette (as opposed to palate) game and worked in some other ingredient colors to come up with something more attractive, albeit different? Sun-dried tomatoes? Saffron or turmeric? Squid ink? It might have ended up with an even more atrocious color, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

I wonder if it was really a porcini and not a related genus like Suillis? When wet, did the top skin of the cap seem slimy at all? Was the spongy part (should be pores, not gills) yellowish-green before cooking?