Best 19 Corn Polenta Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S THREE CORN POLENTA

Steps:

• Melt 1 teaspoon butter and olive oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook and stir 2/3 of the corn, with a pinch of salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper in the hot butter and oil until the corn is fragrant and golden, about 10 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Pour 2 cups water into corn mixture; bring to a simmer and whisk polenta into mixture. Bring to a simmer again, reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until mixture is thick and polenta absorbs the water, 20 minutes. Add remaining 1/2 cup water and stir; cook for until water is completely absorbed, about 10 minutes more.
• Stir remaining corn and 1 teaspoon butter into polenta mixture. Remove from heat, cover the pot, and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

CREAMY CORN POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring the broth, 2 1/2 cups water, butter and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil in a heavy, large saucepan over high heat. Gradually whisk in the polenta. Continue to whisk until the polenta begins to thicken, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook until the polenta is very thick and tender, stirring often with a flat-bottom spoon or heatproof rubber spatula to prevent sticking or burning, about 20 minutes. Blend the corn in a mini processor until a coarse puree forms. Stir the corn puree into the polenta. Season with more salt if desired.

HERBY POLENTA WITH CORN, EGGS AND FETA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit/200 degrees Celsius.
• Add the corn to a food processor and pulse once or twice, just until roughly chopped. Transfer corn to a large bowl and add the spinach, cornmeal, Parmesan, scallions, 1/4 cup cilantro, parsley, dill, garlic, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a good grind of pepper; stir to combine. Transfer this mixture to a large, deep, oven-proof skillet, then add the milk, stock and butter, stirring gently to mix through. Transfer to the oven and bake for 20 minutes, then remove from the oven and give everything a good whisk.
• Return to the oven and bake until the cornmeal is cooked through and the mixture has thickened, about 20 minutes. Give the polenta another good whisk - it should be quite smooth and not completely set - then stir in half the feta. Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees Fahrenheit/220 degrees Celsius.
• Use a dinner spoon to make 8 shallow wells in the polenta. Crack an egg into each well and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the remaining feta all over, and bake until the egg whites are cooked and the yolks are still runny, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the reserved scallions and cilantro in a bowl with the oil. Spoon this mixture all over the polenta and eggs and sprinkle with the red-pepper flakes. Serve directly from the pan.

POLENTA WITH CORN AND THYME

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high. Add corn and thyme. Cook, stirring occasionally, until corn is warmed through, about 1 minute. Add milk and water and bring to a boil. Slowly whisk in cornmeal. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick and creamy, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter and Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper; serve immediately.

GRILLED POLENTA WITH CORN AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add onion; sauté 5 minutes. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add corn; sauté until heated through, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Bring 2 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt to boil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk cornmeal and 1 cup water in medium bowl to blend. Whisk cornmeal-water mixture into boiling water; return to boil. Cook until polenta is smooth and thick, stirring often, about 30 minutes. Stir in corn mixture.
• Brush 11x7x2-inch dish with oil. Spread polenta in dish. Cool completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.)
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush grill with oil. Cut polenta into 12 squares. Brush both sides with oil. Place on grill; cover grill. Grill until polenta is golden brown, about 3 minutes per side, sprinkling with cheese during last minute. Serve hot.

CREAMY POLENTA WITH CORN, PARMESAN AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• In 3-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions and 1 teaspoon salt; sauté 4 to 7 minutes or until onions are translucent. Add water, milk and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Increase heat to medium-high; heat to boiling, stirring occasionally.
• Very slowly stir in cornmeal with whisk. Continue cooking and stirring until thickened slightly. Stir in frozen corn; cover. Reduce heat to low; cook 5 minutes. Reserve 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese. Stir remaining cheese into polenta.
• In large bowl, beat oil, vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper with whisk until well blended. Add arugula; toss to coat.
• Divide polenta among 4 bowls. Top each serving with salad; sprinkle with reserved tablespoon cheese. Serve immediately.

POLENTA WITH FRESH CORN

Steps:

• Pour 2 cups water into a medium saucepan. Add the salt, corn kernels, and milk. Set over high heat, and bring to a boil. In a steady stream, slowly pour in the polenta, stirring constantly.
• Reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring often, until polenta is very thick, 4 to 6 minutes. Stir in the butter and pepper. Serve warm.

CREAMY CORN-STUDDED POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring broth, cream, and salt to boil in medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in polenta; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 10 minutes, stirring often. Add corn; increase heat and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook until polenta is soft, thick, and creamy, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Stir in butter and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot.

CORN POLENTA

Steps:

• In a sauce pan sweat the shallot and garlic with a little bit of olive oil until cooked (translucent).
• Add the water and quickly bring to a boil.
• Gradually whisk in the polenta a little at a time until all the polenta is in the water (to prevent lumps).
• Turn the heat down to medium-low flame and cook the polenta until done (about 40 minutes or when the polenta 'pulls' away from the sides of the pan).
• Stir frequently so the polenta doesn't crust on the bottom of the pan--this makes cleanup MUCH easier.
• In another pan sweat the corn until fully cooked, no colour, then remove from heat.
• When the polenta is done fold in the corn and grated cheese.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Layout on a pan or into a mold and refrigerate until firm (20 minutes).
• To serve: Sauté, grill, toss with flour and fry for croutons, etc-- the options are endless!
• As an extra option, use 5 cups of water instead of 4 for a soft polenta. Serve warm out of the pan and elevate it by adding some marscapone cheese, whipped cream, or roasted mushrooms.

CREAMY CORN POLENTA

Steps:

• In a large pot add milk and cream along with thyme and garlic. Bring to a simmer then shut off the heat to let the milk and cream steep. Let it steep for at least 30 minutes. Once steeped, strain the milk mixture and discard the thyme and garlic. Bring the milk and cream mixture back up to a simmer and gradually pour in the cornmeal in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly. Once the milk is completely absorbed, lower the heat and set a timer for 20 minutes. Continue cooking, whisking often, until the timer goes off, add chicken stock if the mixture is too thick (it should be like creamy mashed potatoes). Once the timer goes off the polenta should be thick and smooth. Finish with butter, grated Parmigiano and salt and pepper.

POLENTA WITH CORN AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Shuck the corn, and scrape the kernels from it to yield 2 cups.
• With a fork, mix the ricotta and the blue cheese to blend well.
• Bring stock to boil; slowly stir in polenta, mixing constantly. Reduce heat to medium, and continue mixing until mixture thickens. Stir in corn and continue cooking until mixture is thick and corn is cooked, about 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat, and quickly stir in cheese mixture. Season with salt and pepper.

GRILLED POLENTA WITH CORN, RED ONION, AND CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups water and salt to boil in heavy large saucepan. Gradually add polenta, whisking until boiling and smooth. Reduce heat to low. Cook until very thick, whisking often, about 25 minutes (about 15 minutes for yellow cornmeal). Whisk in cheese. Spread in 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish. Cool slightly. Cover; chill at least 6 hours.
• Whisk lime juice, oil and garlic in large bowl to blend. Set dressing aside.
• Spray grill with oil spray; prepare barbecue (medium heat). Spray corn and onion slices with oil spray. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until vegetables are tender, turning often, about 8 minutes for corn and 15 minutes for onion. Cool. Cut corn kernels from cobs. Coarsely chop onion. Add corn, onion, tomatoes, cucumber and mint to dressing; toss. Season with salt and pepper.
• Cut polenta into 4 squares. Cut each square diagonally into 2 triangles. Spray polenta with oil spray. Grill until heated through, about 5 minutes per side.
• Divide salad among 4 plates. Place 2 polenta triangles alongside each salad.

POLENTA CORN CAKES WITH WILD MUSHROOM PAN ROAST '21' CLUB

Steps:

• Make polenta:
• Preheat broiler and butter an 8-inch square baking pan.
• On a rack of a broiler pan broil corn about 4 inches from heat, turning it occasionally, until lightly browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Cool corn and cut kernels from cobs.
• In a large heavy saucepan stir together milk and cornmeal and add corn kernels and butter. Bring mixture to a boil and simmer, stirring constantly to keep mixture from sticking and burning and adding water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if mixture becomes too thick 20 minutes. Stir in cheese until incorporated and season with salt. Pour polenta into baking pan spreading evenly, and cool. Chill polenta until cold, 2 to 3 hours. Polenta may be made 2 days ahead and chilled covered.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Make mushrooms:
• If using fresh or dried shiitake discard stems. Slice mushrooms. In a 10-inch skillet heat butter over moderately high heat until foam subsides and sauté mushrooms and shallots with salt to taste until mushrooms begin to brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add broth and boil until reduced by about half. Remove skillet from heat and add thyme, pepper, and salt to taste. Keep mushrooms warm.
• Unmold polenta onto a cutting board and cut into 16 triangles or 2-inch squares.
• On a lightly oiled baking sheet bake polenta pieces until heated through, 10 to 15 minutes, and broil about 4 inches from heat until golden, about 2 minutes.
• Arrange 2 polenta pieces on each of 8 plates. Spoon mushrooms over polenta and garnish with nuts.

CREAMED CHICKEN WITH CORN AND BACON OVER POLENTA

Steps:

• Cook bacon and chicken: Cook bacon in a large heavy skillet (preferably cast-iron) over moderate heat, stirring, until crisp. Transfer bacon with a slotted spoon to paper towels, then pour off all but about 1 1/2 tablespoons fat from skillet.
• Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Add to skillet with bacon fat and cook over moderately high heat, turning several times, until nicely crusted and just cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate and cool. Tear chicken into bite-size pieces.
• Prepare corn and sauce while chicken is cooking: Gently simmer corn and milk in a heavy saucepan until corn is crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Pour through a sieve into a bowl and reserve corn and milk separately.
• Melt butter in same saucepan over moderately low heat. Add flour and cook roux, stirring, 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in cream, then reserved warm milk, pepper, and salt. Bring to a boil, whisking, then simmer, whisking, 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, chicken, and corn. Keep warm, covered, over very low heat.
• Make polenta: Bring water with salt to a boil. Gradually whisk in polenta and cook over moderately high heat, whisking, 5 minutes. Stir in cheeses.
• Divide polenta among 6 shallow bowls. Stir basil into chicken mixture and spoon over polenta. Sprinkle with bacon.

CORN AND POLENTA FRITTERS

Steps:

• Combine flour, polenta, baking powder, and salt in large bowl. Whisk together buttermilk, olive oil, maple syrup, and egg yolks in separate bowl. Stir buttermilk mixture into flour mixture.
• Beat egg whites with electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold egg whites into batter, then fold in corn.
• Coat griddle or large skillet with olive oil, and heat over medium heat. Spoon 2 Tbs. batter onto griddle for each fritter, and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until browned and crisp. Transfer to serving plate, and keep warm until all fritters are done.

POLENTA BAKED WITH TOMATOES, CORN AND BASIL

Steps:

• Make the polenta: Lightly oil a 9 by 13-inch pan and set aside. Bring water to a rapid boil in a large saucepan. Add salt, then vigorously whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat and cook at a low boil for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until the grains have opened up and the polenta is smooth. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the pepper, a few pinches of cayenne, the butter and the cheese. Pour the hot polenta into the baking dish and set aside to cool. Cut into 12 squares, then cut each square into two triangles. Make about 2 cups of fresh tomato sauce. Assembly: Make the polenta, and while it is cooking, make the sauce. Heat the butter in a large skillet and add the corn. Saute over medium heat for 10 minutes, until the corn is tender; season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. While the corn is cooking, cut the tomatoes into large pieces - you should have about 11/2 cups. Marinate the tomatoes in the olive oil with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few pinches of pepper. Cool the corn and toss with the tomatoes, the basil and the chilies. Add salt and pepper to taste. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Pour the sauce into the bottom of a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Arrange the polenta triangles upright in rows across the width of the dish, overlapping the triangles slightly. Use all of the polenta. Spoon the vegetables into the spaces between the polenta trianges, separating the rows as you go. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and bake for 25 minutes, then uncover and bake for 10 minutes more, until the gratin in bubbly. Sprinkle with a little fresh basil for garnish, if desired.

QUINOA AND CORN GRITS POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat a sauce pan to medium high. Add the oil, let it heat up, then add the onion. Cook the onion until it is fragrant, then add the garlic.
• Reduce heat if necessary to cook until transparent, about 5 minutes. Add the water or milk and water.
• Stir once or twice and allow it to come to a boil. Add the polenta and quinoa, reduce the heat to medium low.
• Stir frequently until the quinoa is cooked and the mixture begins to pull away from the edges of the pot while stirring (about 15 minutes). Remove from heat and add salt and pepper, cheese and or sunflower seeds.
• At this point you can spread the polenta onto an oiled sheet pan and allow to cool until firm.
• Once cooled you can cut it into pieces and gently crisp it on a skillet in olive oil. You can also cover the cooled polenta with sauce, cheese and other toppings and bake in the oven.
• Or you can eat the polenta while it is still soft and hot with whatever toppings or accompaniments appeal to you.

SMOKED LOBSTER WITH CORN AND PEPPERS OVER SOFT POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the corn and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Place in a bowl and toss with the lobster, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm. Place the peppers in the skillet and cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Keep warm.
• To make the polenta, bring the water to a boil in a medium-size saucepan. Whisking constantly, add the cornmeal in a slow, steady stream. Switch to a wooden spoon, lower the heat and stir until thick, about 10 minutes. Stir in the remaining salt.
• Spoon the polenta onto the center of 4 plates. Surround the polenta with the peppers. Top with the lobster mixture and sprinkle with parsley. Serve immediately.

CORN POLENTA WITH BAKED EGGS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. In an ovenproof skillet over medium heat, melt butter. (If you like, you can let it bubble and turn brown, about 5 minutes.)
• Stir in the corn kernels (frozen, fresh, canned, or leave the corn out entirely). Let sizzle for a few minutes, then add broth, polenta and kosher salt. Whisk until the mixture bubbles and thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.
• At this point, add a handful of chopped herbs and a couple of sliced scallions or a shallot, if using. Add the greens, if using. Stir in cheese, if using. Stir in sliced olives or roasted red peppers or marinated artichokes, if using.
• Cover the pan. (Aluminum foil or a pasta pot lid will work if you don't have a covered skillet.) Bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and give it all a good stir with a whisk. Cover once more, and bake for another 15 to 25 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed and the polenta is tender.
• Add eggs: Use a spoon to make 4 to 6 divots in the polenta, and crack an egg in each. Return the pan to the oven and bake uncovered for another 5 to 10 minutes, until the eggs are cooked to taste. You can run it under the broiler for a few seconds to set the jiggly whites, but it's risky because you might overcook the yolks.
• Crack lots of pepper on top, sprinkle with flaky sea salt, and strew with herbs and maybe more cheese before serving. Serve alongside a green salad.