Polenta, a staple in Northern Italian cuisine, is a dish made from coarsely ground cornmeal. It can be used as a base for savory or sweet dishes, and can be served hot or cold. When paired with the smoky flavor of bacon and the nutty richness of fontina cheese, polenta is transformed into a hearty and satisfying meal. This article will provide you with a recipe for polenta and bacon with fontina that is sure to impress your family and friends.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
CREAMY POLENTA WITH CRISPY BACON AND CHARD
Steps:
- Add the milk and heavy cream to a medium saucepan and bring to a low boil, stirring constantly so the milk doesn't scorch. Whisk in the polenta, whisking constantly until smooth. Stir in a big pinch of salt. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring frequently, until the polenta is tender, about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add the bacon to a medium pan. Turn the heat to medium high and cook, flipping once, until the bacon is crispy, about 10 minutes. Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Add the shallot to the pan and cook until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the chard and a big pinch of salt and cook until wilted but still crisp-tender, about 7 minutes. Stir in a shake of hot sauce if desired. Chop the bacon, add it to the greens and stir to combine. Remove from the heat.
- Add a big pinch of black pepper to the polenta and stir. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper. Remove the polenta from the heat and stir in the butter. Transfer to a serving plate and top with the greens in the center.
POLENTA WITH FONTINA AND EGGS
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 40m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large nonstick ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the polenta slices dry with paper towels, add to the skillet and cook until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
- Reduce the heat under the skillet to low. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil, the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until the garlic is golden, about 1 minute.
- Add the tomatoes and 1/2 cup water, bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Remove 1/4 cup of the sauce and set aside.
- Arrange the polenta rounds in the skillet with the sauce, then crack the eggs on top. Season with salt and pepper and top with the reserved sauce and the cheese. Transfer to the oven and bake until the egg whites are set, 13 to 15 minutes. Top with the parsley.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 471, Fat 25 grams, SaturatedFat 9 grams, Cholesterol 393 milligrams, Sodium 962 milligrams, Carbohydrate 33 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 24 grams
BAKED POLENTA WITH FRESH TOMATOES AND PARMESAN
This recipe is a perfect way to highlight and use fresh summer tomatoes. It makes a great side dish for grilled chicken or pork chops.
Provided by rjohl
Categories Side Dish Grain Side Dish Recipes Polenta Recipes
Time 40m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease an 8x8 inch baking dish.
- Place the water, milk, and butter in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the polenta and stir with a wooden spoon until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup Parmesan cheese and 2 chopped basil leaves; season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer the polenta to the prepared baking dish and arrange the remaining chilled pieces of butter over the top.
- Bake the polenta in the preheated oven until bubbly and beginning to brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven.
- Decoratively arrange the slices of tomato over the top of the polenta, spread the remaining basil leaves over the tomatoes, and sprinkle with 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.
- Return to the oven and bake until the tomatoes are warm and the Parmesan cheese is bubbly, 5 to 10 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 427.6 calories, Carbohydrate 37.5 g, Cholesterol 56.5 mg, Fat 21.1 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 22.4 g, SaturatedFat 11.9 g, Sodium 1013 mg, Sugar 6.8 g
POLENTA AL FORNO WITH SPINACH, RICOTTA AND FONTINA
Provided by David Tanis
Categories dinner, weekday, main course
Time 1h30m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Blanch spinach briefly in a large pot of boiling water, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain and cool. Squeeze all excess moisture from spinach and roughly chop.
- In a large bowl, combine chopped spinach and ricotta. Season with salt and pepper, then add cayenne, lemon zest, half the Parmesan and all but 2 tablespoons of the fontina and stir well.
- Butter a 9- by 12-inch casserole dish. Ladle in half of the warm, soft polenta and spread with a spatula to make a thin layer. Spoon spinach mixture evenly over it. Top with remaining soft polenta and spread to smooth the surface. (May be made ahead up to this point, then covered and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before baking.)
- Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and fontina. Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes, until nicely browned. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
POLENTA AND BACON WITH FONTINA
Categories Cheese Pork Side Sauté Parmesan Corn Fall Hominy/Cornmeal/Masa Bon Appétit Sugar Conscious Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added
Yield Makes 6 side-dish servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Sauté chopped bacon in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to bowl. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons drippings. Add onion and garlic to drippings in skillet and sauté until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add chicken broth, corn, and bacon; bring to boil. Gradually add cornmeal, whisking constantly. Cook until polenta is soft and thick, stirring frequently, about 20 minutes. Add Fontina and Parmesan, stirring until melted, about 2 minutes. Stir in chopped parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl and serve hot.
- Available at Italian markets, natural foods stores, and some supermarkets. If unavailable, substitute 1 cup of regular yellow cornmeal, and cook mixture for about 10 minutes.
CREAMY POLENTA WITH BACON AND SAGE
Water or stock can be substituted for any or all of the milk. The more milk you use, the creamier the polenta will be.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Pork Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the bacon, and cook until crisp and golden, about 8 minutes. Remove bacon from saucepan; transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate. Set aside.
- Add chopped sage to saucepan, and cook in the bacon fat until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add milk, and bring to a boil.
- Add the polenta in a steady stream, whisking constantly until it is smooth and creamy, about 6 minutes. Whisk in the butter, and season with the salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl, and crumble the reserved bacon on top. Heat the olive oil, in a small saute pan over medium heat. Add the whole sage leaves, and fry until crisp, about 30 seconds. Remove from the skillet, and scatter over the polenta.
POLENTA WITH MUSHROOMS AND FONTINA
Be sure the Polenta is very soft (almost pourable) when spreading it in the baking dish. If necessary, thin with a little hot water. It will firm up as it bakes. Serve with a green salad or as a side dish to roasted chicken or meat. This one is time consuming and done the old fashioned Italian way.
Provided by Jencathen
Categories < 4 Hours
Time 1h10m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large sauté pan or frying pan over medium heat, melt 1/4 cup of the butter. When bubbly, add the mushrooms, raise the heat to medium high, and sauté, tossing often, until tender, about 5 minutes. Do not let brown. Season with salt and a little nutmeg and remove from the heat. Cover to keep warm.
- Position a rack in the center of an oven and preheat to 425 degrees F . Butter a 2 1/2-qt. baking dish.
- In a deep, heavy saucepan over high heat, bring the water to a rapid boil. Add 2 tsp salt and, while stirring continuously with a long-handled spoon, gradually add the polenta in a thin, steady stream until all has been incorporated. Continuing to stir constantly to keep lumps from forming, reduce the heat until the mixture only bubbles occasionally. Continue to cook, stirring, until smooth and creamy, about 20 minutes; be careful to scrape the bottom and sides of the pan to avoid sticking or lumping. Remove from the heat. Cut the remaining 1/4 cup butter into small cubes and add to the polenta, a few cubes at a time, stirring until melted after each addition. The polenta should be soft and spreadable.
- Spread one-third of the polenta over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spread half of the mushrooms in a layer on top, and then cover with a layer of half of the cheese slices. Repeat with half of the remaining polenta, than all of the remaining mushrooms and cheese. Top with the remaining polenta.
- Place in the oven and bake until lightly browned, about 20 minutes.
- Cut into squares and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 446.6, Fat 28.8, SaturatedFat 17.2, Cholesterol 84.5, Sodium 434.9, Carbohydrate 34.4, Fiber 3.7, Sugar 2.1, Protein 15.5
POLENTA AND BACON WITH FONTINA
If you have leftovers, serve the next day for lunch or breakfast and top with a fried egg. Creamy deliciousness with modifications from Bon Appetit and good enough to serve guests.
Provided by gailanng
Categories Cheese
Time 45m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a heavy skillet over medium-high heat, saute chopped bacon until crisp, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to bowl. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons drippings.
- Add onion and garlic to drippings in skillet and saute until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add chicken broth, corn and bacon; bring to boil. Gradually add cornmeal, whisking constantly. Cook until polenta is soft and thick, stirring frequently, about 20 minutes.
- Add Fontina and Parmesan, stirring until melted, about 2 minutes. Stir in chopped parsley. Season to taste with salt and red pepper.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 457.3, Fat 21.8, SaturatedFat 9.8, Cholesterol 49.1, Sodium 567.2, Carbohydrate 47.8, Fiber 4.2, Sugar 1.5, Protein 22.7
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: For the best results, use high-quality polenta, bacon, and cheese. Look for polenta that is made from finely ground cornmeal and has a smooth texture. Thick-cut bacon will add more flavor and texture to the dish. And finally, use a good-quality melting cheese, such as Fontina or Gruyère.
- Cook the polenta slowly: Polenta takes time to cook, so be patient and stir it frequently to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot. If the polenta starts to get too thick, add a little more milk or water.Thick-cut bacon will add more flavor and texture to the dish. And finally, use a good-quality melting cheese, such as Fontina or Gruyère.
- Don't overcook the bacon: Bacon is best when it is cooked until it is crispy but not overcooked. Overcooked bacon will be tough and chewy.
- Use a cast-iron skillet: A cast-iron skillet is the best choice for cooking this dish because it distributes heat evenly and creates a nice crust on the bottom of the polenta.
- Serve immediately: Polenta is best served immediately after it is cooked. If you need to keep it warm, you can place it in a preheated oven set to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Conclusion:
Polenta and bacon with Fontina is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is also a great way to use up leftover polenta. With its creamy texture, crispy bacon, and melted cheese, this dish is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
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