Instant Pot cheesy polenta with sautéed mushrooms

Polenta with sautéed mushrooms is a fancy-looking dish I can throw together in 20 minutes with fridge and pantry staples. Versatile enough to be eaten any time of day, top with with a fried egg for a fancy breakfast or brunch! With different seasoning and acid combinations, the flavor possibilities are endless! My fave combo is Truffle Dust and white wine.

Ever since I made grits in the Instant Pot for shrimp and grits, I've been obsessed with creamy corn-based applications of this method. I'm not surprised that the Instant Pot is great at making grits and polenta--I've already written about how much I love cooking things like risotto in it. This is another dish that normally requires a lot of stirring and babysitting but is fast and hands-off in the Instant Pot!

Instant Pot cheesy polenta
4 cups water
1 1/2 t salt
1/2 t garlic powder
1 cup cornmeal, polenta, or grits (Serious Eats has a great explanation of how all three are interchangeable)
1 cup half-and-half or milk
1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend or Parmesan 

In the Instant Pot, stir in all ingredients except milk or half-and-half and cheese. Seal Instant Pot and pressure cook on high for 11 minutes, then release valve to do a quick release. Remove lid and stir in half-and-half or milk and cheese. If the polenta is too thin, let stand for a few minutes; if too thick, add a little water.

While the polenta is cooking, sauté the mushrooms...

Sautéed mushrooms
2 T butter
1 lb fresh mushrooms (any kind you like, button, cremini, oyster, etc.)
2 t garlic
splash of red or white wine, wine vinegar, or lemon juice
salt and black pepper to taste
a pinch of Italian seasoning, Truffle Dust, truffle salt, or a splash of truffle oil

a few T water to make it saucy

garnish with green onions or parsley, optional

In a sauté pan, melt butter and sauté mushrooms on med-high heat until browned, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds. Add remaining ingredients, tasting and adjusting seasoning as necessary. Add water to make it as saucy as you like. I usually do around 3 T. Simmer for about 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld.