Polenta is a traditional dish of Italian cuisine, for the preparation of which you will need corn grits or flour. This dish can be served as for an everyday dinner or supplemented with mushrooms, cheese or pumpkin and surprise guests. Polenta has amazing taste characteristics and an unsurpassed aroma that cannot be confused with anything else. If you have never tried this dish, you will definitely choose one of the recipes and give yourself gastronomic pleasure!
Polenta - a classic recipe
Polenta is a classic that, in addition to Italy, can also be enjoyed at home, because all the ingredients can easily be purchased at the nearest supermarket. For cooking, we need a deep and thick-walled frying pan, more like a cauldron, as well as a wooden cutting board.
- Corn grits 105 (grams)
- Corn flour 90 (grams)
- Water 1.8 (liters)
- Salt 1 (teaspoons)
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First of all, measure out the required amount of dry and liquid ingredients using a kitchen gram scale. -
Pour water into a fireproof form and bring to a boil, add some salt. -
Add the cereal and boil for 5 minutes. -
While constantly stirring, slowly add flour and close the bowl with a lid for 60-120 seconds. -
Afterwards, remove the lid and set aside for 20 minutes: all this time we cook the polenta over a high flame while actively working with a spatula from the edges to the center. -
At the moment when the mass has thickened, reduce the heat to medium and compact the surface, giving it an even shape. -
Remove the food from the burner and pierce it with a spatula, separating it from the walls and bottom. Cool for 5-10 minutes and cover with a flat wooden board. -
Holding the board, carefully turn the heat-resistant container over. -
Remove the burnt crust. -
And serve to the table, cutting with a thread. Bon appetit!
Corn polenta with milk
Corn polenta with milk is a hearty and nutritious dish that is ideal to start the day and goes well with a wide variety of additives: berries, fruits, nuts. Prepare yourself this dish for breakfast and you will be satisfied!
Cooking time - 20 minutes.
Cooking time - 5 minutes.
Portions – 1.
Ingredients:
- Milk – 400 ml.
- Corn polenta – 80 gr.
- Granulated sugar – 1 tbsp.
- Jerusalem artichoke syrup - to taste.
- Salt – 1 pinch.
- Bananas – 1 pc.
- Berries – 30 gr.
- Walnut kernels – 25 gr.
Cooking process:
Step 1. Pour milk into a thick-walled pan and, bringing to a boil, add salt.
Step 2. Pour in the polenta in a thin stream, working with a whisk, adding sugar. Immediately reduce the heat to a minimum.
Step 3. Cook the polenta for 10 minutes with the lid tightly closed.
Step 4. At the same time, peel and cut the banana, dry the nuts in a frying pan and chop with a knife.
Step 5. Place the porridge into portioned bowls and add fruits, berries, nuts and syrup - taste it. Bon appetit!
Corn flour polenta with cheese
Corn flour polenta with cheese is a hearty and very tasty dish that will pleasantly surprise you and your household. As an addition, we recommend that you try a combination of hard cheese and butter. So delicious that you can’t stop eating!
Cooking time – 50 min.
Cooking time - 30 min.
Portions – 6.
Ingredients:
- Corn grits – 300 gr.
- Hard cheese – 200 gr.
- Butter – 50 gr.
- Water – 1.2 l.
- Salt - to taste.
- Greens - to taste.
Cooking process:
Step 1. Pour water into a saucepan and add cereal, mix and place on the burner - add salt and bring to a boil.
Step 2. Stirring vigorously and reducing the flame, cook the porridge until thickened, adding boiling water if necessary.
Step 3. Grind the third part of the cheese using a grater with small holes, cut the remaining piece into arbitrary slices.
Step 4. Season the boiled porridge with butter (40 grams) and mix thoroughly.
Step 5. Add some of the cheese shavings and, after mixing, take a sample and adjust the salt.
Step 6. Grease the baking dish with the remaining butter and spread the polenta with a spoon moistened with water, leveling the surface.
Step 7. Lay out the cheese slices.
Step 8. And also sprinkle with shavings - transfer to the oven, preheated to 200 degrees.
Step 9. Bake for about 15-20 minutes and then, turning it over, carefully remove it from the mold.
Step 10. Before serving, sprinkle with chopped herbs. Bon appetit!
Corn polenta on water
Corn polenta with water is a versatile dish that can be prepared either salty or sweet - it all depends on your taste preferences. In simple words, polenta is a porridge made from corn flour that can be easily prepared at home.
Cooking time - 30 min.
Cooking time - 5 minutes.
Portions – 1-2.
Ingredients:
- Polenta – 125 gr.
- Water – 400 ml.
- Butter – 50 gr.
- Salt - to taste.
Cooking process:
Step 1. Prepare the components.
Step 2. Bring water to a boil, add salt and oil - stir until completely dissolved.
Step 3. Gradually add polenta into a homogeneous “solution”, stirring constantly.
Step 4. Time it for 10-15 minutes and cook the porridge under the lid over low heat.
Step 5. Place the thick polenta in a serving dish and, if desired, add cherry tomatoes, hard cheese and fresh herb leaves. Bon appetit!
Polenta cooked in a slow cooker
Polenta cooked in a slow cooker is a versatile dish that goes well with many ingredients: for example, various cheeses, dried herbs or mushrooms. This dish can be served as a side dish, appetizer or main dish.
Cooking time – 45 min.
Cooking time – 7 min.
Portions – 4.
Ingredients:
- Corn flour – 1 tbsp.
- Water – 3-4 tbsp.
- Butter – 2 tsp.
- Salt - to taste.
Cooking process:
Step 1. Start the multicooker in the “Frying” mode, pour in water and add flour.
Step 2. Stirring, bring to a boil. Salt.
Step 3. Boil for about 5 minutes and switch the program to “Porridge”, constantly working with a spatula, boil until thick.
Step 4. At the moment when the polenta is ready, it leaves behind a long trail from the spatula.
Step 5. Place the mixture in a deep plate greased with butter and begin tasting or wait for it to cool.
Step 6. The cooled polenta hardens and is easily removed from the container. Bon appetit!
Polenta in the oven
Polenta in the oven is an original dish that will help you easily diversify your usual diet and introduce something completely new. To balance the taste, we recommend that you add a couple of pinches of turmeric, as well as soft cheese and dried onions.
Cooking time – 45 min.
Cooking time - 10 min.
Portions – 4.
Ingredients:
- Corn grits - 1 tbsp.
- Butter – 1 tbsp.
- Soft cheese – 1 tbsp.
- Cream – 2 tbsp.
- Turmeric – ½ tsp.
- Granulated garlic – 1 tsp.
- Dried onion – 1 tsp.
- Mozzarella cheese – 2 slices.
- Walnut kernels - to taste.
- Salt - to taste.
- Vegetable oil – 1 tbsp.
Cooking process:
Step 1. Boil the cereal in boiling salted water until tender, season with butter and mix vigorously.
Step 2. Next, stir in soft cheese.
Step 3. We also add cream, turmeric, garlic and dried onions - mix.
Step 4. Coat a deep baking dish with vegetable oil and spread polenta, randomly arrange nuts and mozzarella slices on top.
Step 5. Bake the food at 200 degrees until an appetizing crust forms on the surface. Cook and have fun!
Polenta with pumpkin
Pumpkin polenta is a healthy and nutritious dish that will become a hearty breakfast or a complete snack for you. Like any porridge cooked with milk, the dish surprises with its tenderness and creamy aftertaste, which is impossible to resist!
Cooking time - 30 min.
Cooking time – 5-7 min.
Portions – 1.
Ingredients:
- Pumpkin – 200-250 gr.
- Polenta – 40-50 gr.
- Milk – 350 ml.
- Granulated sugar – 1 tbsp.
- Butter - to taste.
- Salt - to taste.
Cooking process:
Step 1. Cut the pumpkin pulp into medium-sized cubes and add to the pan.Cook, add water, for 15-20 minutes.
Step 2. Drain the broth from the softened vegetable, mash the pieces into a puree.
Step 3. In a separate pan, boil the milk and pour in the polenta in a thin stream. Boil over low heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring constantly with a spatula.
Step 4. Transfer the puree into the finished porridge, add salt and sugar. Mix the ingredients and leave covered for about 10 minutes.
Step 5. Place on portioned plates, top with butter and start eating immediately. Bon appetit!
Polenta with mushrooms
Polenta with mushrooms cooked in the oven is an incredibly tasty dish that will fill your entire home with its aroma even during the cooking process. To enhance the flavor, the following ingredients will be used: truffle oil, chives, as well as rosemary and garlic.
Cooking time – 45 min.
Cooking time – 7-10 min.
Portions – 3.
Ingredients:
- Instant polenta – 1 tbsp.
- Vegetable broth – 4.5 tbsp.
- Grated Parmesan – 6 tbsp.
- Butter – 4 tbsp.
- Rosemary – 1-1.5 sprigs.
- Chives – 1 handful.
- Olive oil – 1 tbsp.
- Mushrooms – 350 gr.
- Garlic – 2 teeth.
- Tarragon – 1 tbsp.
- Fresh thyme – 1 tbsp.
- Truffle oil – 1 tbsp.
- Cheese – 100 gr.
Cooking process:
Step 1. Pour the vegetable broth into a ladle and bring to a boil, slowly pour polenta into the bubbling liquid and, actively working with a whisk or spatula, cook for 3 minutes.
Step 2. Add salt, ground pepper, chopped chives, Parmesan, butter and half the amount of rosemary to the porridge.
Step 3. Without wasting time, fry the mushroom quarters in heated olive oil until golden. Season with truffle oil, remaining rosemary, salt and garlic, passed through a press.
Step 4.Grind the cheese using a grater.
Step 5. Place the polenta in a baking dish.
Step 6. Distribute the champignons.
Step 7. Sprinkle the food with grated cheese and move the preparation into the oven, heated to 200 degrees, for 7-10 minutes.
Step 8. Serve immediately, sprinkled with thyme and tarragon leaves. Bon appetit!
Polenta with chicken
Polenta with chicken is an Italian dish that will please everyone who tries at least a little. Porridge made from corn grits goes perfectly with juicy and rosy chicken thighs. The dish is perfect for a family lunch or dinner.
Cooking time – 90 min.
Cooking time - 15 minutes.
Portions – 4.
Ingredients:
- Chicken thighs – 4 pcs.
- Corn grits – 200 gr.
- Onion – 1 pc.
- Laurel leaf – 2 pcs.
- Dark beer – 1.5 tbsp.
- Chicken broth – 1.4 l.
- Pumpkin puree – ¾ tbsp.
- Olive oil – 1 tbsp.
- Dijon mustard – 2 tbsp.
- Garlic – 2 teeth.
- Thyme – 3 sprigs.
- Salt - to taste.
- Ground black pepper - to taste.
Cooking process:
Step 1. Wash and dry the chicken thighs with paper towels. Fry in hot olive oil for 4 minutes on both sides.
Step 2. Transfer the rosy bird to a plate, and add the onion, cut into half rings, into the same frying pan. Sauté for about 3 minutes and add finely chopped garlic, fry for another 30 seconds and season with bay leaf, mustard, black pepper and salt.
Step 3. Place the thighs on a vegetable “pillow” and pour dark beer over all the ingredients. Place the dishes in the oven for half an hour at 190 degrees, closing the lid. After the time has passed, remove the lid and cook the ingredients for another half hour.
Step 4.At the same time, prepare the polenta: boil the broth and pour in the cereal in a thin stream, also add pumpkin puree and thyme. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly, then cover with a lid and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes. When the moisture evaporates, add boiling water.
Step 5. Place the polenta into portioned plates, place the golden thighs on top and take a sample. Bon appetit!
Polenta Pie
Polenta pie with apples is an original pastry that will delight all your guests. And, having served such a dessert to the festive table, the cook can be sure that everyone will ask not only for an extra piece, but also to share the recipe!
Cooking time – 60 min.
Cooking time – 10-15 min.
Portions – 12.
Ingredients:
- Polenta – 100 gr.
- Granulated sugar – 100 gr.
- Flour – 200 gr.
- Breadcrumbs – 100 gr.
- Milk – 500 ml.
- Eggs – 3 pcs.
- Honey – 100 gr.
- Olive oil – 50 ml.
- Apples – 500 gr.
- Figs – 100 gr.
- Raisins – 100 gr.
- Ground cinnamon – ½ tsp.
- Lemon/lime zest – 1 tsp.
- Salt – 1 pinch.
Cooking process:
Step 1. To speed up the process and for your own convenience, lay out all the components on the work surface.
Step 2. In a plate with high sides, combine crackers, polenta, flour and granulated sugar.
Step 3. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg, milk, honey and olive oil.
Step 4. Mix the two mixtures.
Step 5. Wash the apples, remove the seed pod and peel. Cut into cubes.
Step 6. Add fig slices, raisins, cinnamon and zest to the apple slices and mix.
Step 7. Place the filling in a split cooking ring and fill it with dough. Bake for about 60 minutes at a temperature mark of 180 degrees.
Step 8. Serve the appetizing dessert warm or chilled and enjoy.Bon appetit!
