Polenta is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Made from coarsely ground cornmeal, polenta is a hearty and filling dish that can be cooked in a variety of ways. One of the easiest ways to cook polenta is in a slow cooker. With just a few simple ingredients, you can have a delicious and creamy polenta dish that is perfect for a busy weeknight meal.
Here are our top 12 tried and tested recipes!
SLOW-COOKER POLENTA
This Italian classic is so simple to make, you can now make it any night of the week. -Elisabeth Matelski, Boston, Massachusetts
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 6h10m
Yield 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a 6-qt. slow cooker, combine 12 cups broth, cornmeal, onion, garlic, bay leaves and salt. Cook, covered, on low , 6-8 hours, until liquid is absorbed and polenta is creamy. Remove bay leaves. Stir in cream, cheese, butter, pepper and remaining broth. If desired, serve with additional cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 255 calories, Fat 8g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 25mg cholesterol, Sodium 1168mg sodium, Carbohydrate 34g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 9g protein.
BASIC POLENTA (SLOW COOKER)
From The Italian Slow Cooker. You could add in grated cheese or herbs to the finished polenta for more flavor if desired. You could also use half broth and half water when cooking.
Provided by Brookelynne26
Categories Grains
Time 2h
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Stir together the cornmeal, salt, and water in a slow cooker. Cove and cook on high for 2 hours. Stir the polenta. If it seems too thick, add in a little water, milk, broth, or cream. Cook for 30 to 60 minutes more, until thick and creamy.
SLOW-COOKER BEEF AND POLENTA
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 8h25m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Toss the beef with the Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Scatter the mushrooms and garlic in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker; top with the beef. Add the pepperoncini, brine, tomatoes and beef broth. Cover and cook on low until the beef is tender, 8 hours.
- Uncover the slow cooker and let stand 5 minutes. Spoon off any fat from the top and discard. Shred the beef with 2 forks.
- Meanwhile, cook the polenta as the label directs. Remove from the heat and stir in the parmesan and butter until smooth; season with salt and pepper. Divide among bowls and top with the beef mixture.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 580, Fat 18 grams, SaturatedFat 9 grams, Cholesterol 157 milligrams, Sodium 1384 milligrams, Carbohydrate 46 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 52 grams, Sugar 5 grams
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.
BEST SLOW-COOKER BEEF ROAST
Oh y'all this beef roast is incredible & so easy to cook. If you choose to do this is in the crockpot just be sure to cook on high for 4 hours on high .
Provided by Parkers Mom
Categories Roast Beef
Time 2h10m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Wash and rinse your meat (then towel dry) stab it all over with a very sharp knife & rub or sprinkle all of the seasonings onto the roast .
- Sauté minced garlic in the oil .
- Add the onions & sauté until light golden brown & then remove them with a slotted spoon or tongs and set to the side.
- Brown the seasoned roast on all sides (may need to add a little more olive oil).
- If using a roasting pan line it with foil and also generously spray the foil.
- Place the fried roast in the baking pan with the remaining grease (add a cup of water around it .
- Bake Roast at 400 for 45 minutes (covered).
- Add potatoes & carrots on the sides of the roast .
- Pour the can of beef broth & French soup over everything .
- Now add the sautéed onions & garlic on top of the roast.
- Sprinkle a little bit of the seasonings you rubbed into the roast over the entire dish .
- Bake at 400 for 45 minutes.
- Mix 2 Tablespoons of flour with 1/4th cup of water & pour it over everything in the dish . This is going to be the yummy gravy .
- Bake covered for another 45-55 minutes or until the veggies are tender .
Nutrition Facts : Calories 416, Fat 12.8, SaturatedFat 3.6, Cholesterol 108.6, Sodium 677.7, Carbohydrate 35.7, Fiber 4.6, Sugar 3.8, Protein 41.4
CREAMY POLENTA (SLOW COOKER)
Make and share this Creamy Polenta (Slow Cooker) recipe from Food.com.
Provided by pedspeech
Categories < 4 Hours
Time 2h5m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Spray insert of slow cooker with cooking spray and preheat on high.
- In a medium saucepan, add milk, one cup half and half, 1 Tbsp butter, and polenta. Season and bring to a boil over medium high heat, whisking constantly. Boil for 2-3 minutes.
- Pour the mixture into the slow cooker and cook for two hours, stirring once or twice per hour.
- When ready to serve, whisk in the remaining half and half, butter, and Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 285.4, Fat 21.2, SaturatedFat 13, Cholesterol 64.6, Sodium 308.3, Carbohydrate 14.6, Fiber 0.7, Sugar 0.3, Protein 10.1
DREAMY POLENTA
I grew up eating polenta, so it's a must at my holiday gatherings. Traditional recipes require constant stirring, but using my handy slow cooker allows me to turn my attention to the lineup of other foods on my spread. -Ann Voccola, Milford, Connecticut
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 5h10m
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Generously grease a 5-qt. slow cooker with 1 tablespoon butter. Add milk, cream, 6 tablespoons butter, cornmeal, salt, rosemary and pepper; stir to combine., Cook, covered, on low 5-6 hours or until polenta is thickened, whisking every hour. Just before serving, whisk again; stir in cheese and remaining butter. Garnish with additional rosemary if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 444 calories, Fat 29g fat (18g saturated fat), Cholesterol 100mg cholesterol, Sodium 379mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 13g protein.
HOW TO MAKE PERFECT POLENTA
Polenta is nothing more than coarsely ground cornmeal. The classic ratio is 1 part polenta to 4 parts water, but I like to measure the polenta just a little scant of a full cup. I often use chicken broth instead of water. It's a perfect base for any kind of saucy meat or mushroom ragout.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Side Dish Grain Side Dish Recipes Polenta Recipes
Time 55m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Bring water and salt to a boil in a large saucepan; pour polenta slowly into boiling water, whisking constantly until all polenta is stirred in and there are no lumps.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer, whisking often, until polenta starts to thicken, about 5 minutes. Polenta mixture should still be slightly loose. Cover and cook for 30 minutes, whisking every 5 to 6 minutes. When polenta is too thick to whisk, stir with a wooden spoon. Polenta is done when texture is creamy and the individual grains are tender.
- Turn off heat and gently stir 2 tablespoons butter into polenta until butter partially melts; mix 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese into polenta until cheese has melted. Cover and let stand 5 minutes to thicken; stir and taste for salt before transferring to a serving bowl. Top polenta with remaining 1 tablespoon butter and about 1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for garnish.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 291.2 calories, Carbohydrate 31 g, Cholesterol 33.4 mg, Fat 14.7 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 9.2 g, SaturatedFat 8.2 g, Sodium 1186.1 mg, Sugar 2 g
QUICK-COOKING SOFT POLENTA
Serve this quick-cooking dish with our Osso Buco.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Quick & Easy Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- In medium saucepan over medium heat, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add polenta in a slow steady stream, whisking continuously. Whisk until thickened and smooth, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, add butter and cheese, and stir. Season with salt and pepper; serve warm.
SLOW COOKER PUMPKIN-PARMESAN POLENTA
This tangy polenta, inspired by the flavors of pumpkin ravioli, is as an easy side dish that can be made on the stovetop or in the slow cooker. For something a little lighter, omit the butter that cooks with the polenta and reduce the browned butter to 1/2 stick, or 4 tablespoons, or halve the recipe if you're not serving a crowd. At first, there will seem to be too much liquid, but the nice thing about cooking polenta in the slow cooker is the grain has time to hydrate, plumping and absorbing the water. When you whisk in the cream cheese at the very end, the texture should be glossy and creamy - loose enough to expand slowly when ladled onto a platter but not runny. If it's too liquidy for you, let it sit with the lid off for a few minutes and then whisk it more. If it's too thick, whisk in some boiling water.
Provided by Sarah DiGregorio
Categories grains and rice, side dish
Time 6h
Yield About 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker, whisk together the polenta with 10 cups of water, then whisk in the pumpkin. Scatter in 4 tablespoons butter, cut into bits; the salt; a generous amount of pepper; the thyme sprig; 1 sprig of the sage; and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Cook on low for 6 hours, whisking once or twice if possible. (This can hold very well on warm for several hours.)
- Break the cream cheese into pieces and drop them into the polenta; whisk to melt the cream cheese and combine. Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg, then stir in the grated Parmesan. Taste and add more salt if necessary.
- In a medium skillet, melt the remaining 8 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Pick the leaves from the remaining sage sprigs, and when the butter is melted, drop them in. Cook the butter and the sage, swirling the pan often, until the butter solids start to turn medium-brown and smell toasty, 3 to 5 minutes. (Don't walk away; butter goes from browned to burned in seconds.) Remove the pan from the heat immediately and swirl the browned butter-sage mixture into the polenta. Serve the polenta in a large platter or shallow bowl, topped with a bit more Parmesan and more nutmeg if desired.
- In a large pot, bring 10 cups of water to boil over high heat. Add the polenta in a steady steam while whisking constantly. Reduce the heat to low or medium-low. (You want the polenta-water mixture to be steaming hot, but not boiling.) Continue to whisk constantly for about 3 minutes, until the polenta and water have formed a smooth mixture. Whisk in the pumpkin, 4 tablespoons butter, the salt, a generous amount of pepper, the thyme sprig, 1 sage sprig and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Once all the ingredients are combined, cover and cook for 40 minutes, whisking well every 10 minutes.
- Uncover the pot and cook for about 1 hour more, whisking every 10 minutes, until the polenta is smooth and tender, and the mixture has thickened and is creamy but not runny.
- Break the cream cheese into small pieces and drop them into the polenta; whisk to melt the cream cheese and combine. Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg and the grated Parmesan. Taste and add more salt if necessary.
- Melt the remaining 8 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat in a medium skillet. Pick the leaves from the remaining sage sprigs and when the butter is melted, drop them in. Cook the butter and the sage, swirling the pan often, until the butter solids start to turn medium brown and smell toasty, 3 to 5 minutes. (Don't walk away; butter goes from browned to burned in seconds.) Remove the pan from the heat immediately and swirl the browned butter-sage mixture into the polenta. Serve the polenta in a large platter or shallow bowl, topped with a bit more Parmesan and more nutmeg if desired.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 506, UnsaturatedFat 10 grams, Carbohydrate 40 grams, Fat 32 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 18 grams, SaturatedFat 19 grams, Sodium 558 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 1 gram
CREAMY SLOW-COOKER POLENTA WITH SAUSAGES
The key to creamy polenta is a relatively high ratio of liquid to dried polenta: about five to one, instead of the more standard four to one. But the more liquid you use, the longer it will take the polenta to absorb it. That's why the best polenta is made in a slow cooker, where the dried corn can gently hydrate all day, with no stirring or worrying about clumps or molten splatters. In this recipe, the polenta is cooked with marinara (which is part of the liquid) and roasted red peppers. Then it's topped with quick-roasted sausages and sizzled capers and pepperoncini. If you are feeding spice-adverse kids, leave off the pepperoncini.
Provided by Sarah DiGregorio
Categories sausages, vegetables, main course
Time 6h5m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Whisk together the polenta, roasted red peppers, marinara, garlic, olive oil, oregano, garlic powder and 1 teaspoon salt in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Whisk in 5 1/2 cups of water. Cook on low for 6 hours. (The polenta will keep very well on warm.)
- About 10 or 15 minutes before you want to eat, heat the oven to 450 degrees. Lightly coat an oven-safe skillet with olive oil, and roast the sausages in the skillet in the oven until sizzling and browned, about 10 minutes. Remove the skillet and put it over medium-high heat on the stovetop. Add a little more oil if the pan is relatively dry. Add the capers and pepperoncini to the hot skillet with the sausages, and let the capers pop, 1 or 2 minutes. Turn off the heat.
- Stir the Parmesan into the polenta. The polenta will continue to firm up as it cools; stir in a few tablespoons of water if you would like it to be looser. Serve the polenta in shallow bowls topped with sausages, capers and pepperoncini. Pass more Parmesan at the table.
SLOW-COOKER ITALIAN SOFT POLENTA
Enjoy this tasty polenta made with cheese, Progresso® artichoke hearts and chicken broth. A perfect Italian side dish.
Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Side Dish
Time 4h40m
Yield 11
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Line 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with slow cooker liner; spray liner with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix broth, cheese blend, cornmeal, dried basil, salt, artichokes, milk and garlic until well blended. Pour mixture into slow cooker.
- Cover; cook on Low heat setting 4 to 5 hours, stirring once halfway through cooking. Turn off slow cooker. Stir in roasted peppers; let stand covered 30 minutes. Stir before serving. Sprinkle individual servings with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 250, Carbohydrate 24 g, Fat 1, Fiber 1 g, Protein 10 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 910 mg
Tips:
- Use the right polenta. Coarse polenta will take longer to cook than fine polenta, so adjust your cooking time accordingly. If you're not sure what kind of polenta you have, check the package instructions.
- Add flavor to your polenta. Polenta is a blank canvas, so you can add whatever flavors you like. Some popular options include butter, Parmesan cheese, garlic, herbs, and spices. You can also add cooked vegetables, meat, or seafood.
- Cook polenta until it is creamy and smooth. Polenta should be cooked until it is thick and creamy, but not too stiff. If it is too stiff, add a little more liquid and stir until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Serve polenta immediately. Polenta is best served fresh, so don't let it sit around for too long. If you need to make it ahead of time, you can reheat it gently over low heat or in the microwave.
Conclusion:
Polenta is a versatile and delicious dish that can be enjoyed in many different ways. It is a great option for a vegetarian or vegan meal, and it can also be used as a side dish or even a dessert. With a little creativity, you can create countless variations of polenta that will please everyone at your table. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give polenta a try. You won't be disappointed!
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