**Creamy Polenta with Thyme: A Culinary Journey of Delight**
Indulge in the exquisite flavors of creamy polenta, a versatile dish that offers a symphony of textures and aromas. Originating from the northern regions of Italy, polenta is a porridge-like dish traditionally made from cornmeal. Embark on a culinary adventure with our collection of polenta recipes, showcasing unique flavor combinations and diverse cooking techniques. From the classic Creamy Polenta with Thyme to the hearty Mushroom and Sausage Polenta, our recipes cater to various tastes and preferences. Discover the art of polenta-making, exploring its endless possibilities as a main course, side dish, or even a delectable dessert. Let your taste buds embark on a journey of delight with our curated selection of polenta recipes.
CREAMY POLENTA WITH THYME
Pair this delicious side dish with Braised Short Ribs for a savory homemade meal.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains
Time 20m
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, combine 7 cups water, 2 teaspoons coarse salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; bring to a boil over high heat. Whisking constantly, gradually add cornmeal. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer polenta, whisking frequently, until thickened and creamy, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Stir in butter and thyme and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with thyme, and serve. If polenta thickens upon standing, stir in a little hot water.
CREAMY POLENTA WITH MUSHROOMS
Who knows who first mixed soy sauce and butter and discovered the pleasures the combination provides. Try the mixture on warm white rice, a steaming pile of greens or an old sneaker - regardless, the taste is a sublime velvet of sweet and salty, along with a kind of pop we call umami, a fifth taste beyond sweet, sour, bitter and salty. Soy butter provides warmth and luxury, elegance without pomp. For this recipe, we've adapted a dish that was on the menu at the chef Chris Jaeckle's All'onda, in Manhattan: a mixture of soy and butter with mushroom stock to pour over polenta and sautéed mushrooms. The result is a dinner of comfort and joy.
Provided by Sam Sifton
Categories weekday, appetizer, main course, side dish
Time 1h
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- For the polenta, bring 4 1/2 cups water and the milk to a high simmer in a medium-size heavy saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add salt. Pour the cornmeal slowly into the liquid, stirring with a wire whisk to prevent clumping. Continue stirring as the mixture thickens, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Turn heat to low. Cook for approximately 40 to 45 minutes, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes. If the 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 the polenta soft enough to stir.
- Add the butter to pot, and stir well. Add the Parmesan, if using. Taste for seasoning. Set the covered saucepan in a pot of barely simmering water, and keep warm for up to an hour or so.
- Meanwhile, put the dried mushrooms in a small bowl, and cover with about 1/2 cup boiling water. Allow to steep for 20 minutes. Remove the mushrooms, and pat dry, then chop roughly. Reserve the mushroom stock.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a sauté pan set over high heat until it has melted. Add the garlic and cook until it starts to sizzle, about 30 seconds. Do not let the garlic brown.
- Add the fresh and reconstituted mushrooms and thyme to the pan, and sauté 3 to 4 minutes, turning until browned. Add about 1/4 cup of the mushroom stock to deglaze the surface, using a wooden spoon to scrape at the browned bits. Allow the stock to reduce by half, then turn the heat to medium-low and add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter, whisking to combine, followed by the soy sauce, cream and olive oil. Allow mixture to cook until it thickens a little, then remove from heat. Taste for seasoning, adding black pepper, if desired.
- Put the polenta in a warmed bowl, then top with mushrooms and the sauce. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 382, UnsaturatedFat 8 grams, Carbohydrate 40 grams, Fat 22 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 6 grams, SaturatedFat 12 grams, Sodium 286 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 1 gram
CREAMY POLENTA
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, bring the water, milk and butter to a boil. Add 2 teaspoons of salt to the water and whisk in the polenta. Whisk constantly for 3 to 4 minutes to prevent lumps. Simmer for 45 minutes, partially covered and stirring every 10 minutes, until the polenta is thick, smooth, and creamy. Add the creme fraiche and Parmesan. Check for seasoning and adjust consistency by adding milk or water to the polenta. Polenta may be made up to 20 minutes ahead of time and kept covered until ready to serve.
HERBED POLENTA
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories side-dish
Time 35m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Bring the 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. Remove from the heat. Add the cheese, milk, butter, parsley, rosemary, thyme, and pepper, and stir until the butter and cheese melt. Transfer the polenta to a bowl and serve.
POLENTA WITH FONTINA AND THYME
Steps:
- Bring broth, thyme and garlic to boil in heavy large saucepan. Gradually whisk in polenta. Reduce heat to medium; cook until polenta is thick and creamy, whisking frequently, about 20 minutes. Add cheeses. Stir until melted. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl and serve.
- *Available at Italian markets and some supermarkets. If unavailable, substitute 1 cup regular yellow cornmeal, and cook mixture about 12 minutes.
CREAMY POLENTA & MUSHROOM RAGOUT
Parmesan polenta topped with a rich mushroom mix and melting Taleggio cheese makes for a vegetarian main with a difference
Provided by Barney Desmazery
Categories Main course
Time 1h5m
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Soak the dried mushrooms in 150ml warm water. Set aside for 20 mins, then drain and squeeze, reserving the soaking liquid. Heat the butter in a large frying pan. When sizzling, add the shallot and cook for a few mins until soft. Add the garlic and thyme leaves, cook for 1 min more, then turn up the heat and add the soaked mushrooms. After 1 min, add all the other mushrooms and fry over a very high heat for 5 mins until soft. Splash in the red wine and boil rapidly for 1 min. Pour in the stock and reserved mushroom liquid, and simmer for 15 mins until you have a thickened stew. Turn off the heat.
- For the polenta, bring the milk to the boil with 500ml water, the bay and thyme. Turn off the heat and leave to infuse for 20 mins, then fish out the herbs and bring back to the boil. Add the polenta in a steady stream, whisking steadily. Cook for 1 min until thickened, then stir in the butter and Parmesan. Spoon a 'crater' of polenta onto a baking tray and fill with the ragout. Top with slices of Taleggio, place under a hot grill until melting and oozy, then let everyone help themselves.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 643 calories, Fat 31 grams fat, SaturatedFat 19 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 61 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 10 grams sugar, Fiber 4 grams fiber, Protein 25 grams protein, Sodium 1.8 milligram of sodium
Tips:
- Use the right polenta. For a creamier polenta, use fine-ground polenta. For a more rustic polenta, use coarse-ground polenta.
- Bring the liquid to a boil before adding the polenta. This will help to prevent the polenta from clumping.
- Cook the polenta over low heat, stirring constantly. This will help to prevent the polenta from burning.
- Season the polenta to taste. Salt and pepper are a good starting point, but you can also add other herbs and spices, such as garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika.
- Serve the polenta immediately. Polenta is best when it is hot and creamy.
- Top the polenta with your favorite toppings. Some popular toppings include butter, grated Parmesan cheese, sautéed mushrooms, or roasted vegetables.
Conclusion:
Polenta is a simple but delicious dish that can be enjoyed in many different ways. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create a creamy, flavorful polenta that is sure to please everyone at your table. So next time you're looking for a comforting and satisfying meal, give polenta a try. You won't be disappointed!
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