Indulge in the creamy delight of soft polenta, a versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or as an accompaniment to your favorite dishes. This article presents a collection of enticing recipes that elevate polenta to new heights, featuring roasted herbs, savory mushrooms, and a medley of fresh vegetables. Discover the secrets to achieving a smooth and velvety texture, along with tips for creating flavorful variations that will tantalize your taste buds. Whether you're a seasoned polenta enthusiast or a curious culinary adventurer, these recipes will guide you through the process of crafting this Italian classic with ease.
Let's cook with our recipes!
SOFT POLENTA
Provided by Michael Symon : Food Network
Categories side-dish
Time 55m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Add 4 1/2 cups water, 1 tablespoon salt and the olive oil to a medium saucepot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk in the cornmeal in a steady stream, until it is all incorporated and smooth.
- Reduce the heat to medium low and continue to cook at a simmer until the polenta is creamy and fully hydrated, 30 to 40 minutes.
- Take the saucepot off the heat and whisk in the butter and Parmesan. Season with additional salt and pepper. Transfer the polenta to a large serving bowl and serve.
SOFT POLENTA WITH ROASTED HERBS
Comfort food! Roasting the herbs lends them an even fuller flavor, giving ghe dish it's special savor! Adapted from Caprial's Cafe Favorites cookbook.
Provided by Sharon123
Categories Grains
Time 20m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over high heat until very hot. Add the garlic and shallots and saute until they begin to give off their aroma, 2-3 minutes.
- Add the stock and heat just to a boil. Gradually whisk in the polenta to avoid lumps from forming. Cook until the polenta is thick, 3-4 minutes. Add the cheese and cream and mix well. Season with salt and pepper and remove from the heat. Set aside.
- In a small saute pan over high heat, cook the butter until golden brown, 2-3 minutes.
- Add the herbs and immediately remove the pan from the heat. Stir the pan roasted herbs into the polenta and serve right away. Enjoy!
SOFT HERBED POLENTA
Provided by Food Network
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Combine the milk, water, salt, and cornmeal in a 2 or 3 quart heavy bottomed saucepan. Stir with a whisk to eliminate any lumps. Heat just to a boil (but without scorching). Reduce the heat to very low and simmer the polenta for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. If, near the end of the cooking, the polenta is becoming too thick and heavy to stir, add one or more tablespoons of cold water to loosen the mixture enough to be able to stir it, and to maintain a creamy consistency.
- Remove from the heat. Immediately add the butter, the Parmesan cheese, the herbs and stir quickly to incorporate. The polenta can now be served soft, similar to a porridge, to accompany meat or game.
POLENTA WITH HERBS
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories side-dish
Time 55m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a medium saucepan, over medium-low heat, the heat the oil with the garlic, and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds more. Add the broth and milk, and bring to a boil over high heat. While whisking constantly, slowly pour the cornmeal into the hot liquid. Stir in the salt. Lower the heat to cook the mixture at a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring frequently, until the cornmeal is creamy and not all grainy, about 30 minutes. Remove the polenta from the heat and stir the cheese, butter, and the herbs. 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.
SOFT POLENTA WITH ROASTED RED PEPPERS
Steps:
- In a large heavy saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and saute, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes, or until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes more, until its aroma is released.
- Add the chicken stock, water, and salt to the pan and increase the heat to medium high. When the liquid is simmering, gradually sprinkle the polenta over in a very slow, thin stream, whisking constantly in the same direction until all the grains are incorporated and no lumps remain. Reduce the heat to very low. Switch to a wooden paddle and stir thoroughly every few minutes for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan and the grains of polenta have softened. Stir in the butter, thyme, pepper, and grated Manchego and remove from the heat. Spoon some polenta into each of 6 warmed shallow soup bowls and top with some of the roasted peppers and chopped cilantro.
POLENTA WITH MASCARPONE AND ROASTED GARLIC
Categories Food Processor Garlic Side Bake Cornmeal Parsley Boil Bon Appétit Pescatarian Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Toss garlic with oil in small baking dish. Cover with foil. Bake until garlic is tender, about 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until garlic is very tender, about 10 minutes linger. Cool garlic; peel. Puree garlic in processor. Set puree aside.
- Bring 5 1/2 cups chicken stock and 1 tablespoon butter to boil in large saucepan. Reduce heat to medium. Gradually whisk in yellow cornmeal. Continue to cook until mixture is creamy, whisking occasionally and adding more chicken stock 1/4 cup at a time as necessary to keep polenta soft, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in cheese, chopped parsley and roasted garlic puree. Season polenta to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl and serve.
HERBED POLENTA
Creamy polenta with chopped chives and parsley makes a great side for pasta, pork, or roasted chicken.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Healthy Recipes Gluten-Free Recipes
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- In a medium pot, bring broth to a boil. Whisking constantly, slowly add polenta. Continue whisking until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low, season with salt and pepper, and simmer gently, whisking occasionally, until thick and creamy, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in herbs. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 132 g, Fat 3 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 5 g, SaturatedFat 1 g
POLENTA CRUSTED ROASTED POTATOES WITH HERBS AND GARLIC
Toss Yukon gold potatoes with pre-made polenta for a trend-worthy new side dish. Add just a bit of garlic, sea salt and fresh herbs to finish off the dish.
Provided by By Stephanie Wise
Categories Side Dish
Time 45m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Heat oven to 425°F. Cut potatoes into medium-size chunks (about 8 pieces per half-potato). Place potatoes in 2-quart saucepan of salted water. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-high; simmer 10 minutes or until potatoes are fork-tender.
- Drain potatoes; place in large bowl. Gently toss potatoes with polenta, sea salt and pepper.
- Heat large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add olive oil; swirl to coat. When oil is hot, add herbs; cook 1 minute. Add potatoes, scattering in even layer in skillet. Place skillet to oven.
- Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until bottoms are golden and crisp. Turn potatoes; sprinkle with garlic. Bake 10 minutes longer or until crisp on both sides.
- Using slotted spoon, transfer potatoes to serving bowl or plate.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 Serving
SOFT POLENTA
It's easy to prepare this quick and delicious side dish; all it takes is a bit of whisking. Serve polenta straight from the pot, or cool, slice, and broil until crisp.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- In a large saucepan over high heat, bring 4 cups water with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper to a boil. Very gradually, add cornmeal in a thin stream, whisking constantly until smooth. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, whisking often, until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in butter until smooth.
BASIC POLENTA (SOFT OR SET)
Whether you choose the soft and creamy version or the firmer, set rendition, polenta makes a wonderful side dish for hearty fall and winter meals.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Healthy Recipes Gluten-Free Recipes
Yield Makes 24 set pieces
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Put 6 cups cold water, the salt, and bay leaf into a Dutch oven or a heavy stockpot, and bring to a boil. Bring remaining 4 cups cold water to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Add polenta to large pot in handfuls, separating your fingers to let the grains slip through and whisking constantly until combined. Reduce heat until only a couple of large bubbles appear at a time.
- Whisk 2 ladlefuls of simmering water into polenta, and cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until water has been absorbed, about 5 minutes. Continue to add 2 ladlefuls of water every 5 minutes, stirring often and waiting for it to be absorbed before adding more, until polenta is creamy and just pulls away from sides of pot, about 45 minutes. (It may be necessary to adjust heat.)
- If not serving immediately, reduce heat to lowest setting, cover pot, and keep warm until ready to serve (up to 1 hour). Remove bay leaf. Season with pepper.
- For soft polenta only: Stir in butter. Use a damp spoon to serve. Top each serving with Parmigiano-Reggiano.
- For set polenta only: Pour into a slightly damp medium bowl (or a 13-by-9-inch baking dish). Let stand until no longer steaming, about 10 minutes. Refrigerate, uncovered, until cold and set, about 1 1/2 hours. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to serve (up to 2 days).Turn out polenta. Using plain dental floss, cut horizontally in half, pulling string toward you. Cut in half crosswise, pressing string downward. Cut each half lengthwise into 1 1/2-inch-wide strips, cut strips crosswise into thirds, and then into triangles or squares if desired. (Alternatively, cut polenta with a knife.)
SAUTEED POLENTA WITH ROASTED TOMATOES
Steps:
- For the polenta: Bring 6 cups water and the salt to a boil over high heat in a medium (6-quart) heavy-bottom pot. Bring remaining 4 cups water to a simmer over medium heat in a small saucepan.
- Gradually add polenta to the large pot while whisking constantly. Switch to a wooden spoon once mixed in with no lumps. Cook until cornmeal has absorbed all of the water, about 3 minutes. Lower heat until only one or two large bubbles break the surface at a time (over medium-low or low, adjusting heat as necessary).
- Stir 2 ladles of simmering water into polenta and cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until water has been absorbed, about 5 minutes. Continue to add 2 ladles of water every 5 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent polenta from scorching and waiting for it to be absorbed before adding more, until polenta is creamy and just pulls away from sides of pot, about 45 minutes. (It may be necessary to adjust heat.)
- Stir in butter and season with pepper. Use a damp spoon or ladle to transfer polenta to a parchment-lined small rimmed baking sheet and chill until firm.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees for the tomatoes.
- Make the tomatoes: In a shallow baking dish, combine garlic, tarragon, sugar, vinegar, and oil. Add tomatoes and toss to combine; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to oven and bake until soft, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
- To finish: Invert chilled polenta onto work surface and remove parchment paper. Trim edges and cut polenta into 4 inch squares. Cut squares in half on the diagonal to form triangles. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium saute pan. Sear triangles on each side until light golden, about 2 minutes per side. Serve polenta with roasted tomatoes and fresh ricotta. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and sprinkle with fleur de sel.
Tips:
- Use fresh herbs: Fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage add a burst of flavor to the polenta. If you don't have fresh herbs on hand, you can use dried herbs, but reduce the amount you use by half.
- Roast the herbs before adding them to the polenta: Roasting the herbs brings out their flavor and makes them more aromatic. To roast the herbs, spread them out on a baking sheet and roast them in a preheated oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes, or until they are fragrant and slightly browned.
- Use a good quality polenta: The type of polenta you use will make a big difference in the final dish. Look for a polenta that is made from stone-ground cornmeal. This type of polenta has a more complex flavor and texture than polenta made from finely ground cornmeal.
- Cook the polenta slowly and stir it frequently: Polenta can easily scorch, so it's important to cook it slowly and stir it frequently. This will help the polenta cook evenly and prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Let the polenta cool slightly before serving: Polenta is best served slightly warm. If you let it cool for a few minutes before serving, it will be easier to handle and less likely to stick to your plate.
Conclusion:
Soft polenta with roasted herbs is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served as a main course or a side dish. It's a great way to use up leftover polenta, and it's also a good option for a vegetarian or vegan meal. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create a delicious and satisfying dish that everyone will enjoy.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
#celebrity #weeknight #30-minutes-or-less #time-to-make #course #main-ingredient #cuisine #preparation #occasion #side-dishes #eggs-dairy #european #vegetarian #italian #grains #dietary #pasta-rice-and-grains #brunch #novelty
You'll also love