Quick & Easy Polenta
Enjoy a warm, comforting bowl of creamy polenta in just ten minutes!
Polenta is a traditional Italian dish made from cornmeal. It can be served hot as a comforting porridge-like dish or chilled and sliced for grilling or frying. It has a subtle corn flavor that takes well to generous amounts of butter and cheese, and it makes an excellent base for saucy dishes, such as chicken cacciatore or meatballs. There are two types of polenta: traditional and instant. Traditional polenta is made with coarsely ground cornmeal and takes up to an hour to cook with frequent stirring. Instant polenta, on the other hand, is made with pre-cooked, dried and finely ground cornmeal, and takes just minutes to prepare. Although the traditional version has a more rustic texture and pronounced corn flavor, I usually opt for instant polenta for convenience. It still delivers great taste, and you can’t beat a side dish that can be whipped up in 10 minutes!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE QUICK & EASY POLENTA
Instant polenta is usually located in the international section of the grocery store, near the other Italian foods. If you can’t find it, you can use regular medium or coarse cornmeal and grind it in a food processor before using (you’ll have to increase the cook time to 12 to 15 minutes).
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Add the cold milk, cold water, salt, and pepper to a medium pot. (Starting with cold milk and water reduces the chance of any lumps.)
Turn the heat to medium-high and slowly whisk in the polenta. Allow the liquid to come to a boil, which will take 3 to 5 minutes, whisking every minute or so.
Once the mixture comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low so it begins to simmer. Cook uncovered, whisking regularly, for about 3 minutes, or until the polenta has become very creamy and thickened.
Turn off the heat and add the butter and Parmigiano Reggiano (if using).
Stir until the butter and cheese have melted completely.
Serve immediately with a pat of butter, a drizzle of olive oil, and more cheese, if desired.
Quick & Easy Polenta
By Jennifer Segal
Enjoy a warm, comforting bowl of creamy polenta in just ten minutes!
Servings: 4 Cook Time: 10 Minutes Total Time: 10 Minutes
INGREDIENTS
3 cups cold whole milk (see note)
1 cup cold water
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup instant polenta (see note)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small cubes, plus more for serving
½ cup (2 ounces) finely grated Parmigiano Reggiano, plus more for serving (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
Add the cold milk, cold water, salt, and pepper to a medium pot. (Starting with cold milk and water reduces the chance of any lumps.) Turn the heat to medium-high and slowly whisk in the polenta. Allow the liquid to come to a boil, which will take 3 to 5 minutes, whisking every minute or so.
Once the mixture comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low so it begins to simmer. Cook uncovered, whisking regularly, for about 3 minutes, or until the polenta has become very creamy and thickened.
Turn off the heat and whisk in the butter and Parmigiano Reggiano (if using) until the butter and cheese have melted completely. Serve immediately with a pat of butter and more cheese, if desired.
Note: If you don't have whole milk (or don't want to purchase a whole carton), feel free to use 2% or skim milk; simply replace the water in the recipe with more milk.
Note: If your supermarket does not carry instant polenta, regular cornmeal can be used. Simply blend the cornmeal in a food processor until it is finely ground and increase the cooking time to 12 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
Per serving (4 servings)
Calories:360
Fat:18 g
Saturated fat:11 g
Carbohydrates:40 g
Sugar:10 g
Fiber:2 g
Protein:9 g
Sodium:667 mg
Cholesterol:49 mg
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