"MARCO... POLENTA!"

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Start with the Italian cornmeal classic, polenta, and add the exotic new flavors of Marco Polo's journey to the East: chickpeas from Anatolia, spinach from Persia, cardamon from India and cinnamon from China. But don't worry, this recipe doesn't take years to complete! Prepared polenta and canned chickpeas make it easy (and nutritious).

Provided by realbirdlady

Categories     < 60 Mins

Time 40m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 (16 ounce) can chickpeas
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 garlic cloves
1 (10 ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed
2 tablespoons peanut oil
12 cardamom pods
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 inches ginger, peeled and chopped
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 teaspoons coriander
2 (16 ounce) packages prepared polenta (prepared, firm)

Steps:

  • In a boiler, simmer chickpeas, including liquid, with red pepper flakes and garlic for about 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, drain spinach, reserving the liquid.
  • In a large skillet, heat oil. Add cardamon and cook for about a minute (until the pods pop). Add onions, garlic and ginger and saute until the onions are translucent.
  • Add spinach, then cinammon and coriander. Reduce heat and simmer gently for about ten minutes, adding reserved spinach liquid as needed to keep the mixture moist.
  • Meanwhile, slice and grill polenta, using a dry skillet or stovetop grill.
  • Drain chickpeas and add to the spinach mixture.
  • Prepare for serving by placing two slices of polenta on each plate. Use a slotted spoon to drain the spinach and chickpea mixture, and top each slice of polenta.
  • (Preparation notes: If you're limited for time, you can skip the step of. seasoning the chickpeas separately. Prepare the spinach topping with the pepper and garlic, then add the chickpeas toward the end so that they are heated. Polenta can be baked rather than grilled.).
  • (Ingredient notes: Fresh, firm, polenta can be substituted for prepared.
  • One cup dried chickpeas can be substituted for canned, by soaking overnight and then cooking until tender. One pound fresh spinach, wash and deveined, can be substituted for frozen. Dried ground cardamon and ginger can be substituted for fresh.).

Aminu Abdulmumini
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Overall, I thought this was a great recipe. It was easy to make and the polenta turned out creamy and delicious.


Gift Ogugua
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This dish was a bit too rich for my taste. I think I would use less cheese next time.


Waduge Namal Krishanth De Silva W.N.K DE SILVA
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I'm not a big fan of polenta, but I thought this recipe was pretty good. The sauce was especially flavorful.


Verna Williams
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This is my new favorite polenta recipe! It's so easy to make and it always turns out perfect.


Shafique Ahmed Channa
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I liked the flavor of this dish, but I found the polenta to be a bit too soft. I think I would cook it for a little less time next time.


Ashiq Ullal
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This dish was absolutely delicious! The polenta was creamy and flavorful, and the sauce was rich and hearty. I would definitely recommend this recipe.


Ena Ena
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I was disappointed with this recipe. The polenta was too dry and the sauce was too bland.


kimera vian (sud 0 davenom)
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I've made this dish several times and it's always a hit. It's a great way to use up leftover polenta.


Bhatavoonga Channel
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This recipe was easy to follow and the polenta turned out great. I served it with a tomato sauce and it was delicious.


Sajan yadav Sajan yadav
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I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out perfectly. The polenta was creamy and the sauce was flavorful. I would definitely make this dish again.


Salman Pindi
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This dish was a little bland for my taste. I think it could have used more seasoning.


Meer Hamza
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I'm not usually a fan of polenta, but this recipe changed my mind. It was so easy to make and had a great flavor.


Adeola Wahab
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This polenta dish was a hit with my family! The creamy texture and rich flavor were delicious. I especially loved the addition of the mushrooms and cheese.