Indulge in the delightful flavors of polenta, a versatile dish that takes center stage in our culinary exploration. Polenta, a staple in Northern Italian cuisine, is a delectable porridge made from cornmeal and cooked with water or broth. Experience the creamy, smooth texture and irresistible taste of polenta, which serves as a blank canvas for a myriad of culinary creations. Embark on a journey of flavors with our curated collection of polenta recipes, encompassing classic and innovative dishes that highlight the versatility of this humble ingredient. From the comforting simplicity of creamy polenta to the grandeur of polenta with mushrooms and sausage, each recipe promises a unique taste experience. Whether you're seeking a hearty breakfast, a savory lunch, or an elegant dinner, our polenta recipes offer something for every palate. Prepare to be captivated by the charm of polenta, as it transforms ordinary meals into extraordinary culinary moments.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
CHEF JOHN'S THREE CORN POLENTA
When I first began my career as a cook in San Francisco, I remember talking with a Chef about an upcoming menu on which he was thinking of using polenta as the side dish. I asked him if he was talking about polanda. He said he'd never heard of polanda. I called my mom and told her we were going to serve something called polenta at the restaurant. I asked her if she had ever heard of it. She laughed and said that they were the same things! She explained that 'pol-an-da' was just our family's mispronunciation of the actual name polenta. I was pretty embarrassed, to say the least!
Provided by Chef John
Categories Side Dish Grain Side Dish Recipes Polenta Recipes
Time 55m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 8
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 166 calories, Carbohydrate 26.6 g, Cholesterol 7 mg, Fat 5.6 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 4.6 g, SaturatedFat 2.1 g, Sodium 211 mg, Sugar 2.9 g
CREAMY CORN-STUDDED POLENTA
Provided by Amy Finley
Categories Side High Fiber Dinner Corn Hominy/Cornmeal/Masa Bon Appétit Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added
Yield Makes 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
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.
POLENTA WITH CORN
Steps:
- In a medium-size saucepan, bring the milk, 2 cups water and bay leaf to a boil. Season generously with salt, almost to the point of over seasoning. How do you know that you are there? TASTE IT! When it has reached a boil, slowly whisk in the polenta in small sprinkles. Once all of the polenta has been incorporated, reduce the heat to medium and immediately switch over to stirring with a wooden spoon. Cook the polenta until it begins to pull away from the pan, adding water to loosen it up if it becomes too thick. Add the corn and stir to combine. When the polenta is thoroughly cooked, it should look creamy and not feel gritty on your tongue. Remove it from the heat and stir in the Parmesan and mascarpone.
POLENTA WITH FRESH CORN
Fresh corn kernels adds a burst of sweetness and texture to creamy polenta.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Quick & Easy Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 6
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 POLENTA
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories side-dish
Time 35m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 5
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.
POLENTA WITH FRESH CORN
Polenta is ground corn cooked in water to make a thick and creamy porridge. Coarse, stone-ground dried corn makes delicious polenta and long, slow cooking allows its full flavor to develop. When hot and just cooked, it is soft; as it cools, it becomes firm and can then be cut into shapes and fried, grilled, or baked. Polenta is versatile; serve it with all kinds of roasted or braised meats and poultry, vegetable stews, tomato sauces and ragus, beans, mushrooms, and greens. This recipe adds the sweet taste and crunchy texture of fresh corn.
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat 4 cups water to boiling. Add the salt and whisk in the polenta, adding it in a steady thin stream. Turn down the heat and stir constantly until the polenta has thickened evenly. Cook at a bare simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 1 hour, until the polenta appears glossy and creamy. If the polenta gets too thick while cooking, add water to keep it a smooth, creamy consistency.
- While the polenta cooks, prepare the fresh corn. Husk the corn and pull off the cornsilk; rub the ears with a clean dish towel to remove any remaining cornsilk. Cut the kernels from the cobs as directed on page 89. Heat a sauté pan over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of the butter. When the butter has melted, add the corn and cook for about 5 minutes, until the kernels appear translucent; take care not to let it brown.
- When the polenta is cooked, turn off the heat and stir in the cooked corn and remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Cover the pot to keep the polenta warm until ready to serve, or spread it out on a rimmed baking sheet or pan to cool and set up.
POLENTA WITH FRESH CORN
This is a very basic polenta with the addition of fresh summer corn! It gives you a double hit of corn. Yum. You can cut the leftovers into squares and fry them topped with Parmesan. Recipe is courtesy of Gwyneth Paltrow. :) Note: You can make this even easier by using instant polenta, following the box directions, then adding the corn, milk, cream, salt, pepper and chives.
Provided by LifeIsGood
Categories Cheese
Time 1h
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring the water to a boil in a pot. Slowly whisk in the polenta and a pinch of salt. Turn the heat down as low as it will go and put a lid on the pot, slightly ajar, and cook the polenta for about 40 minutes, stirring every 5-10 minutes.
- Add the corn, milk and cream and cook another 5 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and sprinkle the chives on top.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 195.7, Fat 7.2, SaturatedFat 3.8, Cholesterol 20.9, Sodium 41.7, Carbohydrate 30.1, Fiber 2.8, Sugar 1.8, Protein 4.7
POLENTA WITH FRESH CORN AND SAGE
Provided by Florence Fabricant
Categories easy, quick, side dish
Time 25m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Bring stock to a simmer in a heavy saucepan. Add cornmeal slowly in thin stream, stirring constantly.
- Cook, stirring, for about five minutes, then fold in the remaining ingredients. Cook 5 to 10 minutes longer, until the mixture has thickened but is not stiff. Serve at once.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 333, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 51 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 10 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 684 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 0 grams
FRESH CORN POLENTA
Steps:
- Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat for 1 minute. Add 2 tablespoons butter and, when it foams, add the corn. Season with the thyme, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper and sauté 3 to 4 minutes, until the corn is just cooked and tender. Stir the corn into the polenta right before serving.
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
BASIC POLENTA
Polenta is basically cornmeal mush, and it can be made with any kind of cornmeal, ground coarse, medium or fine. (You don't need bags marked "polenta.") As with most ingredients, though, the better the cornmeal you start with, the better your result in the kitchen. The trick is cooking the polenta for a sufficient amount of time. You must allow the cornmeal to swell and become fully cooked. That way, you emphasize the sweet corn flavor and don't end up with something bitter and lame. Yes, it takes a long time. But it's worth it - and you can fry the leftovers tomorrow night in a snap.
Provided by David Tanis
Categories easy
Time 1h
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- For firm polenta use 4 cups water; for soft polenta use 5 cups water. Bring water to a boil in a medium-size heavy sauce pan over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Pour cornmeal slowly into water, stirring with a wire whisk or wooden spoon. Continue stirring as mixture thickens, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Turn heat to low. Cook for at least 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so. If 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 polenta soft enough to stir. Put a spoonful on a plate, let it cool, then taste. Grains should be swollen and taste cooked, not raw. Adjust salt and add pepper if you wish.
- For firm polenta, lightly butter a baking sheet or shallow dish, approximately 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Carefully pour polenta into pan. Using a spatula, spread polenta to a thickness of 3/4 inch. Cool to room temperature to allow polenta to solidify. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. For soft polenta, add 6 tablespoons butter to pot and stir well. Serve immediately or transfer to a double boiler set over low heat, cover and keep warm for up to an hour or so. (Or set the saucepan in a pot of barely simmering water.) Stir well before spooning into low soup bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan, if desired.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 100, UnsaturatedFat 0 grams, Carbohydrate 21 grams, Fat 1 gram, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 62 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams
Tips:
- Use fresh corn for the best flavor. If using frozen corn, thaw it completely before using.
- Be sure to cook the polenta according to the package directions. Cooking time may vary depending on the brand of polenta you use.
- If the polenta is too thick, add a little milk or water to thin it out.
- Season the polenta with salt and pepper to taste.
- To make the polenta creamier, stir in a tablespoon or two of butter or olive oil.
- Top the polenta with your favorite toppings, such as grated Parmesan cheese, crumbled bacon, or sautéed vegetables.
Conclusion:
Polenta with fresh corn is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served as a main course or a side dish. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With so many different ways to enjoy it, polenta with fresh corn is sure to become a favorite in your household.
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