Grilled Polenta With Corn Red Onion And Cucumber Salad Recipes

GRILLED POLENTA

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, over medium-high heat, bring the water and the salt to just a boil. Reduce the heat, slowly whisk in the polenta and season with pepper. Continue to whisk until the mixture starts to tighten up, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the fresh chopped herbs, 2 tablespoons of the butter and the Parmesan. Continue to stir until well combined and very thick, taste for seasoning adjustment.
• Liberally butter a 10-inch springform pan on the bottom and about 2-inches up the side. Pour in the hot polenta and with a rubber spatula, rubbed with butter, smooth out the top. Set aside to cool to room temperature, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours to set. (This can also be done up to 1 day ahead.)
• Preheat a grill to medium.
• When ready to grill, or pan fry, remove the polenta from the pan and cut it into equal pie shapes or cut circles with a biscuit cutter. Lightly oil a grill, brush each side of the polenta with olive oil and grill or pan sear until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side. Arrange the polenta on a serving platter and serve hot.

GRILLED RED ONION AND CUCUMBER SALAD WITH YOGURT-MINT DRESSING

Steps:

• For the yogurt-mint dressing: Whisk the yogurt, mint, lemon juice, tahini, olive oil, cumin and garlic in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• For the salad: Preheat the grill. Brush both sides of the onion slices with olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Grill on each side for 2 to 3 minutes, just to obtain grill marks and cook slightly. Remove from the grill and coarsely chop. Add the onions, oregano and cucumber to the dressing and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with the feta.

GRILLED POLENTA WITH CORN AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add onion; sauté 5 minutes. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add corn; sauté until heated through, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Bring 2 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt to boil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk cornmeal and 1 cup water in medium bowl to blend. Whisk cornmeal-water mixture into boiling water; return to boil. Cook until polenta is smooth and thick, stirring often, about 30 minutes. Stir in corn mixture.
• Brush 11x7x2-inch dish with oil. Spread polenta in dish. Cool completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.)
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush grill with oil. Cut polenta into 12 squares. Brush both sides with oil. Place on grill; cover grill. Grill until polenta is golden brown, about 3 minutes per side, sprinkling with cheese during last minute. Serve hot.

GRILLED POLENTA WITH CORN, RED ONION, AND CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups water and salt to boil in heavy large saucepan. Gradually add polenta, whisking until boiling and smooth. Reduce heat to low. Cook until very thick, whisking often, about 25 minutes (about 15 minutes for yellow cornmeal). Whisk in cheese. Spread in 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish. Cool slightly. Cover; chill at least 6 hours.
• Whisk lime juice, oil and garlic in large bowl to blend. Set dressing aside.
• Spray grill with oil spray; prepare barbecue (medium heat). Spray corn and onion slices with oil spray. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until vegetables are tender, turning often, about 8 minutes for corn and 15 minutes for onion. Cool. Cut corn kernels from cobs. Coarsely chop onion. Add corn, onion, tomatoes, cucumber and mint to dressing; toss. Season with salt and pepper.
• Cut polenta into 4 squares. Cut each square diagonally into 2 triangles. Spray polenta with oil spray. Grill until heated through, about 5 minutes per side.
• Divide salad among 4 plates. Place 2 polenta triangles alongside each salad.

POLENTA WITH CORN, TOMATO AND RED ONION SAUCE

Steps:

• Chop whole red onion.
• Heat medium large nonstick pan until it is very hot. Reduce heat to medium high; add oil, and saute onion until it begins to soften, a couple of minutes.
• Wash, trim and cut tomatoes in half, squeezing them with your hands to remove excess juice and seeds. Chop the tomatoes, add to the onion and continue to cook over medium heat for a few minutes.
• Meanwhile, scrape the corn off the cobs.
• Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a medium covered pot.
• Wash, dry and chop basil.
• Stir the corn and basil into the tomato mixture, and season with salt and pepper.
• Reduce the heat under the chicken stock to medium; slowly stir the polenta into the stock, and cook over low heat a couple of minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture is thick but still runny.
• Grate the cheese.
• Spoon the polenta onto dinner plates, top with the sauce and sprinkle with cheese.

GRILLED POLENTA WITH TOMATO-CORN SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare a grill or grill pan for medium-high heat. Clean and oil the grill grates.
• Wrap each ear of corn in damp paper towels and microwave the wrapped corn on high for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the paper towels and let the corn cool slightly.
• Brush the corn with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until lightly charred in spots, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, cut the polenta crosswise into 10 or 12 rounds. Brush the rounds on both sides with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill over medium-high heat, turning once or twice, until nicely marked and slightly softened, about 6 minutes total.
• Whisk the 1/4 cup oil with the vinegar and garlic in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Invert a small bowl and place it in a large bowl. Hold one ear of corn vertically on the smaller bowl and, using a knife, cut the kernels off the cob. Repeat with the remaining ears of corn. Remove the small bowl.
• Add the tomatoes and dressing to the corn; toss well. Fold in the basil and arugula, then season the salad with salt and pepper. Serve the salad with the grilled polenta, topped with jalapeño slices if desired.

CUCUMBER AND RED ONION SALAD

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in a bowl; toss to combine. Refrigerate, covered, about 1 hour. Serve with a slotted spoon.