**Polenta Parmigiana: A Culinary Symphony of Italian Flavors**
Polenta Parmigiana, a delectable dish that embodies the essence of Italian cuisine, is a harmonious blend of flavors and textures. This culinary masterpiece begins with a creamy polenta base, crafted from cornmeal and simmered in flavorful broth. The polenta is then transformed into a golden-brown treasure by being pan-fried until crispy on the outside yet tender and velvety within. This crispy polenta is then layered with a savory marinara sauce, a rich and tangy sauce made from tomatoes, herbs, and spices. The final touch is a generous sprinkling of Parmesan cheese, adding a nutty and umami flavor that perfectly complements the other components. Polenta Parmigiana is a symphony of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.
The article delves into the intricacies of preparing Polenta Parmigiana, providing step-by-step instructions for crafting the perfect dish. It also offers variations on the classic recipe, including a vegetarian version that uses roasted vegetables instead of meat. Additionally, the article explores the history and cultural significance of Polenta Parmigiana, shedding light on its origins and popularity in Italian cuisine. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting your culinary journey, this article will guide you through the process of creating this delicious and authentic Italian dish.
PARMESAN-CRUSTED POLENTA
Provided by Michael Symon : Food Network
Categories side-dish
Time 40m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Add 8 cups water, the oil and salt to a large saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
- Slowly stream in the polenta while whisking constantly. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the polenta is thickened and smooth, about 3 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place a large, heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Drizzle with olive oil and evenly coat the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle 1 cup of the Parmesan evenly over the bottom of the pan and allow to toast until golden brown and nutty, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Pour the polenta over the Parmesan crust and smooth the surface. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan. Set at room temperature until firm, 20 to 30 minutes. (At this point, the polenta can be refrigerated up to overnight.)
- When ready to serve, place the pan back over medium heat to warm the cheese. Place a large plate or serving platter over the surface and invert the polenta onto the plate. Serve topped with your favorite sauce.
POLENTA PARMIGIANA
"This warm, Italian-flavored appetizer also makes a quick, filling lunch. I prefer this veggie version, but my kids like to add pepperoni or sausage to create mini pizzas." -Carolyn Kumpe, El Dorado, California
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Appetizers
Time 30m
Yield 16 appetizers.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425°. Place polenta in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan; brush with olive oil. Bake until edges are golden brown, 15-20 minutes., Spoon pasta sauce over polenta slices. Top each with a mozzarella cheese slice; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Bake until cheese is melted, 3-5 minutes longer. Garnish with basil if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 108 calories, Fat 7g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 12mg cholesterol, Sodium 273mg sodium, Carbohydrate 7g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.
PARMESAN POLENTA
Steps:
- Saute about 1/4 of the mushrooms in butter over high heat until browned. Add shallots, reduce heat to keep from burning, and continue sauteing until soft. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute more. Add peas and salami, and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Set aside in a sealed plastic container to keep warm. Reserve pot for polenta.
- Polenta: Bring water to a boil, then slowly stir in cornmeal with a fork. Reduce heat as low as possible. Continue to cook for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring often. Turn heat off and add cheese and butter, and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Top with ragout and serve.
POLENTA-PARMESAN COOKIES
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories dessert
Time 1h30m
Yield About 48 cookies
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Whisk the flour, polenta, 1 teaspoon pepper, the baking powder and salt in a small bowl.
- Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Beat in the cheese, then the egg. Mix in the flour mixture until the dough just comes together.
- Divide the dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Shape each piece into a log and wrap in the plastic. Press the sides of the logs against the counter to form compact square-sided logs, about 7 inches long and 1 inch wide. Freeze the logs until firm, about 45 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Stir the sanding sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Trim the ends of the logs. Cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices and arrange 1 inch apart on the prepared pans. Sprinkle with the sugar-pepper mixture.
- Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are crisp and golden on the bottom, 12 to 16 minutes. Let cool completely on the pans.
CREAMY PARMESAN POLENTA
Easy and delicious creamy polenta. Makes a great side, appetizer, or base for a hearty stew.
Provided by Keith Haney
Categories Side Dish Grain Side Dish Recipes Polenta Recipes
Time 15m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Stir polenta and chicken broth together in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir until the polenta is heated through completely, about 5 minutes.
- Remove pan from heat. Stir Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and paprika with the polenta mixture.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 532.6 calories, Carbohydrate 87.1 g, Cholesterol 18.2 mg, Fat 12.3 g, Fiber 7.7 g, Protein 18.9 g, SaturatedFat 4.6 g, Sodium 1185.7 mg, Sugar 5.7 g
BAKED POLENTA WITH RICOTTA AND PARMESAN
This no-stir method produces an effortless polenta. The ricotta adds lightness and turns the polenta into an elegant side dish. It may be baked up to 2 hours in advance and reheated, if desired.
Provided by David Tanis
Categories dinner, grains and rice, side dish
Time 1h
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Soak polenta in cold water for 1 hour. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Drain polenta, then place in a heavy-bottomed pot or ovenproof baking dish. Add salt and 4 cups water.
- Place pot in oven, cover, and bake for 45 minutes. (The polenta will begin to simmer and absorb water after a few minutes. No need to stir.)
- After 45 minutes, uncover and stir in the olive oil, ricotta and Parmesan, but don't overmix. Some of the ricotta should remain in big blobs. The mixture may be a bit soupy at this point, but will thicken as it continues to cook. Bake, uncovered, for another 15 minutes, until top has browned. Finish with a generous amount of pepper.
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
CREAMY POLENTA WITH PARMESAN AND SAUSAGE
Polenta is such a natural base for so many savory foods - more flavorful than either pasta or mashed potatoes, but somehow just as forgiving - that it's hard to pick a favorite topping. Having said that, I know what mine is: sausage. The fatty succulence of a banger combined with the lean graininess of the cornmeal is somehow perfect.
Provided by Mark Bittman
Categories dinner, easy, main course
Time 1h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Put oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add sausages and cook, turning occasionally, until well browned on all sides and cooked through, about 20 minutes. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, put cornmeal in a medium saucepan along with 1 cup water and whisk well to make a slurry; continue whisking mixture to eliminate any lumps. Put pan over medium-high heat, sprinkle with salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook, whisking frequently and adding water as needed to keep mixture loose and free of lumps, between 3 and 4 more cups. If mixture becomes too thick, simply add a bit more water; consistency should be similar to sour cream's.
- Polenta will be done in 15 to 30 minutes, depending on grind. Add cheese and butter. Taste and add salt, if necessary, and lots of pepper; serve topped with sausages.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 731, UnsaturatedFat 30 grams, Carbohydrate 33 grams, Fat 54 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 27 grams, SaturatedFat 21 grams, Sodium 1121 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams
CREAMY PARMESAN POLENTA
Steps:
- Add the water to a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the 2 teaspoons of salt and 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. Stir in the Parmesan and incorporate well. This will slightly thicken the polenta. Add the cream and 1 teaspoon of black pepper and stir with a wooden spoon until incorporated. Taste the polenta, and add a little more salt and a little ground black pepper, if necessary. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve.
PARMESAN POLENTA
Steps:
- Bring chicken stock to boil in heavy large saucepan. Reduce heat to medium. Gradually whisk in cornmeal. Cook until cornmeal is very soft and mixture is thick and creamy, whisking occasionally, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese and butter. Season polenta to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl and serve.
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
Tips:
- Use Coarse Polenta: For a more rustic and authentic texture, opt for coarse polenta instead of fine polenta.
- Cook Polenta Properly: Ensure the polenta is cooked thoroughly and has a smooth, creamy consistency before proceeding with the recipe.
- Use Quality Marinara Sauce: Opt for a flavorful and robust marinara sauce, either homemade or a high-quality store-bought brand.
- Generous Cheese Layer: Use a generous amount of Parmesan and mozzarella cheese to achieve a golden, bubbly crust.
- Broil Carefully: Keep a close eye on the polenta parmigiana while broiling to prevent burning.
- Serve Hot: Polenta parmigiana is best enjoyed hot and fresh out of the oven.
Conclusion:
Polenta parmigiana is a delightful and versatile dish that combines the hearty goodness of polenta with the classic flavors of Italian cuisine. With its crispy crust, flavorful marinara sauce, and gooey cheese, it's a satisfying and comforting meal that can be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a beginner, this recipe provides a step-by-step guide to creating a delicious polenta parmigiana that will impress your family and friends. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on a culinary journey to savor this Italian classic.
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