Discover the art of creating a creamy and delectable basic cheese polenta dish, a culinary journey that blends the rustic charm of Italian cuisine with the comfort of a warm and hearty meal. Explore the versatility of polenta, a staple ingredient made from cornmeal, as it transforms into a smooth and velvety canvas for a symphony of flavors. Embark on a culinary adventure to master the art of polenta cooking, unveiling the secrets to achieving a perfect balance of texture and taste that will delight your palate and leave you craving more.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
BASIC CHEESE POLENTA
Why buy polenta in a box when you can make it from scratch cheaper? A great day-before dish. Once the polenta has been refrigerated serve it in a variety of different ways: sliced and fried--or serve it immediately as a mashed potato or rice substitute!
Provided by Dawn
Categories Side Dish Grain Side Dish Recipes Polenta Recipes
Time 4h30m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- In a mixing bowl combine cornmeal, cold water and salt. Grease a loaf pan.
- Bring the remaining 3 cups of water to a rolling boil and stir in the cornmeal mixture. Bring the mixture back to a boil while stirring constantly. Reduce heat to a simmer and stir in the cheese.
- Let the mixture simmer for 20 to 30 minutes; stirring frequently. Allow the polenta to simmer until it becomes very thick. Spread the mixture into the loaf pan and refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 213.5 calories, Carbohydrate 28.1 g, Cholesterol 17.6 mg, Fat 6.3 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 10.2 g, SaturatedFat 3.5 g, Sodium 896.7 mg, Sugar 0.8 g
BASIC POLENTA
Dinner is easy with Giada De Laurentiis' Basic Polenta recipe from Everyday Italian on Food Network; it's the perfect cornmeal canvas for your favorite mains.
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories side-dish
Time 30m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a heavy large saucepan. Add 2 teaspoons of salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add the butter, and stir until melted.
CHEESY POLENTA
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Time 22m
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring the water to a boil in a large, heavy pot. Add the salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring often, until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat. Add the cheese, milk, butter, and parsley. Stir until the butter and cheese have melted. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer the polenta to a bowl and serve.
BASIC POLENTA
Polenta is basically cornmeal mush, and it can be made with any kind of cornmeal, ground coarse, medium or fine. (You don't need bags marked "polenta.") As with most ingredients, though, the better the cornmeal you start with, the better your result in the kitchen. The trick is cooking the polenta for a sufficient amount of time. You must allow the cornmeal to swell and become fully cooked. That way, you emphasize the sweet corn flavor and don't end up with something bitter and lame. Yes, it takes a long time. But it's worth it - and you can fry the leftovers tomorrow night in a snap.
Provided by David Tanis
Categories easy
Time 1h
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- For firm polenta use 4 cups water; for soft polenta use 5 cups water. Bring water to a boil in a medium-size heavy sauce pan over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Pour cornmeal slowly into water, stirring with a wire whisk or wooden spoon. Continue stirring as mixture thickens, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Turn heat to low. Cook for at least 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so. If polenta becomes quite thick, thin it with 1/2 cup water, stir well and continue cooking. Add up to 1 cup more water as necessary, to keep polenta soft enough to stir. Put a spoonful on a plate, let it cool, then taste. Grains should be swollen and taste cooked, not raw. Adjust salt and add pepper if you wish.
- For firm polenta, lightly butter a baking sheet or shallow dish, approximately 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Carefully pour polenta into pan. Using a spatula, spread polenta to a thickness of 3/4 inch. Cool to room temperature to allow polenta to solidify. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. For soft polenta, add 6 tablespoons butter to pot and stir well. Serve immediately or transfer to a double boiler set over low heat, cover and keep warm for up to an hour or so. (Or set the saucepan in a pot of barely simmering water.) Stir well before spooning into low soup bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan, if desired.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 100, UnsaturatedFat 0 grams, Carbohydrate 21 grams, Fat 1 gram, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 62 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams
BASIC POLENTA
Categories Condiment/Spread Side Vegetarian Quick & Easy Cornmeal Fall Spring Bon Appétit
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Combine 8 cups water and salt in heavy larger saucepan. Bring to a boil. Gradually add cornmeal, whisking until smooth. reduce heat to low. Cover and cook until polenta is thick and creamy, stirring frequently, about 30 minutes.
EASY CREAMY POLENTA
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dinner Recipes Dinner Side Dishes
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- In a large, deep saucepan, bring 5 cups of water to a boil. While whisking constantly, add polenta in a slow, steady stream. Reduce heat to medium, cook until thickened, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, about 15 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in cheese, heavy cream, and butter. Season with salt and pepper.
CHEESY POLENTA
This versatile side dish would work great along with pork, chicken, beef or fish. The trick is to slowly add the cornmeal and whisk constantly to avoid lumps.
Provided by dadrules
Categories Side Dish Grain Side Dish Recipes Polenta Recipes
Time 35m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, bring milk, water, and salt to a boil. Gradually whisk in polenta. Reduce heat to low, and cover. Cook 20 minutes, until creamy, lifting the lid and stirring every 3 or 4 minutes to prevent sticking. Remove pot from stove, stir in pepper and butter. Gradually stir in cheese. Serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 231.6 calories, Carbohydrate 18.4 g, Cholesterol 37.9 mg, Fat 14.1 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 8.2 g, SaturatedFat 8.3 g, Sodium 658.4 mg, Sugar 3.8 g
EASY CHEESE JALAPENO BAKED POLENTA (GRITS)
I don't care for grits, but I love polenta! Who knew they were the same thing? This recipe is made of wholesome ingredients and is so easy. The jalapenos, if properly seeded, add a lot of flavor without added heat. Serve this alongside your tex-mex dishes in place of rice or potatoes.
Provided by MommyMakes
Categories Breakfast
Time 1h
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Whisk cornmeal into water, cook until cornmeal comes together and is creamy 5-10 minutes.
- Meanwhile prepare peppers, and grate cheese.
- Add corn, pepper, cheese, butter, and salt. Butter a small-medium baking dish.
- Pour polenta into baking dish and bake 30-45 minutes. Turn on broiler and broil until bubbly, 2 to 3 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 260.8, Fat 13.6, SaturatedFat 7.9, Cholesterol 34.1, Sodium 610.5, Carbohydrate 28.1, Fiber 2.9, Sugar 1.1, Protein 8.5
Tips:
- Select the right polenta: Use coarse polenta for a heartier texture and fine polenta for a smoother texture.
- Use flavorful broth: The broth you use will greatly impact the flavor of the polenta. Choose a broth that is packed with flavor, such as chicken broth, vegetable broth, or beef broth.
- Cook the polenta slowly: Polenta takes time to cook, so be patient. Bring the broth to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer the polenta for the recommended amount of time, stirring occasionally.
- Add seasonings: Feel free to add seasonings to the polenta to taste. Some popular options include salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- Top with your favorite ingredients: Once the polenta is cooked, you can top it with a variety of ingredients, such as cheese, butter, vegetables, or meat.
Conclusion:
Polenta is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is a good source of fiber and nutrients, and it can be made with a variety of ingredients. With a little creativity, you can create a polenta dish that is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you are looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give polenta a try!
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