Baked Polenta With Swiss Chard And Cheese Recipes

BAKED CHEESE POLENTA WITH SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat; Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds, then stir in Swiss chard stems; pour in a couple tablespoons water and cover pan; cook the stems 2 minutes; Remove the cover and mix in the Swiss chard leaves; Cover the pan again and cook until the leaves wilt, about 3 minutes; Remove pan from heat and let cool, uncovered.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F; spray a 2 1/2-quart shallow baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
• Combine the chicken broth, water and salt in a medium size saucepan and bring to a boil; reduce the heat to medium-low and SLOWLY drizzle in the cornmeal, WHISKING all the while with a wire whisk.
• Continue to cook and whisk the polenta until it is the consistency mashed potatoes, about 5 minutes; whisk in 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese, the 1 tablespoon butter, and the Mozzarella cheese.
• Spread HALF of the polenta into the baking dish; Spoon on Swiss chard and distribute it evenly on top of polenta; Drop on small spoonfuls of the sour cream over Swiss chard; spread it out with back of spoon.
• Spoon on the remaining polenta and spread it out; Sprinkle on the remaining tablespoon of Parmesan cheese (the casserole may be prepared to this point and refrigerated up to 24 hours in advance, bring to room temperature before baking).
• Bake the polenta for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden on top and sizzling, DO NOT overcook it because you want to retain its creamy interior.

BAKED CHEESE POLENTA WITH SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds, then stir in the Swiss chard stems. Pour in a few tablespoons of water and cover the pan. Cook the stems 2 minutes. Remove the cover, the mix in the Swiss chard leaves. Cover the pan again and cook until the leaves wilt, about 3 minutes. Toss occasionally. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool, uncovered.
• To make the polenta preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Butter a 2 1/2quart shallow baking dish and set it nearby. Combine the milk, water, and salt in a mediumsize saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to mediumlow and slowly drizzle in the cornmeal, whisking all the while with a wire whisk. Continue to cook and whisk the polenta until it is the consistency of mashed potatoes and tears away from the sides of the pan, about 5 minutes. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese, the 1 tablespoon of butter, and the mozzarella cheese.
• Spread half the polenta in the baking dish. Spoon on the Swiss chard and distribute it evenly. Drop on small spoonfuls of the sour cream and spread it with the back of a spoon. Spoon on the remaining polenta and spread it out. Sprinkle on the remaining tablespoon of Parmesan cheese. (The casserole may be prepared to this point and refrigerated up to 24 hours in advance. Bring to room temperature before baking.)
• Bake the polenta for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden on top and sizzling. Do not overcook it because you want to retain its creamy interior.

CREAMY POLENTA WITH CRISPY BACON AND CHARD

Steps:

• Add the milk and heavy cream to a medium saucepan and bring to a low boil, stirring constantly so the milk doesn't scorch. Whisk in the polenta, whisking constantly until smooth. Stir in a big pinch of salt. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring frequently, until the polenta is tender, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the bacon to a medium pan. Turn the heat to medium high and cook, flipping once, until the bacon is crispy, about 10 minutes. Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Add the shallot to the pan and cook until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the chard and a big pinch of salt and cook until wilted but still crisp-tender, about 7 minutes. Stir in a shake of hot sauce if desired. Chop the bacon, add it to the greens and stir to combine. Remove from the heat.
• Add a big pinch of black pepper to the polenta and stir. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper. Remove the polenta from the heat and stir in the butter. Transfer to a serving plate and top with the greens in the center.