Italian Polenta Recipes

BASIC POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring 6 cups of 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. Turn off the heat. Add the butter, and stir until melted.

ITALIAN POLENTA

Steps:

• 1. Heat oil in large saucepan and add garlic and onion, stirring until onion becomes translucent and garlic is nicely browned, about 6 minutes.
• 2. Add canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, mushrooms, italian seasonings and oregano.
• 3. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer on low-med heat for about a half hour to let all the seasonings meld together.
• 4. While tomato mixture simmers, bring 3 cups of water to a boil with the 2 bouillon cubes.
• 5. Mix together 1 cup cornmeal and 1 cup cold water and pour into boiling water. Stir constantly until it returns to a boil. Reduce heat to low and stir occasionally until thick. (The thickness is up to you. Cook until desire consistency.).
• 6. Add the Parmesan cheese and butter and stir into polenta.
• 7. To serve, place about 1/2-3/4 cup of polenta on plate and place 3/4 cup or so of tomato mixture on top. Garnish with more Parmesan cheese if desired.

ITALIAN POLENTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven, cook sausage and ground beef on medium-high 5 to 6 minutes or until browned, stirring and breaking up meat with side of spoon. With slotted spoon, transfer meat mixture to medium bowl.
• To same Dutch oven, add onion; cook on medium 8 to 10 minutes or until tender. Stir in garlic; cook 30 seconds. Add tomatoes with their puree; heat to boiling on high, breaking up tomatoes with side of spoon. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes. Add eggplant and meat; cover and cook 5 minutes on medium. Uncover and cook 10 minutes longer or until eggplant is tender, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In microwave-safe 4-quart bowl, with wire whisk, combine water, broth, cornmeal, and salt. Microwave on High 15 to 20 minutes or until cornmeal mixture is very thick. After first 5 minutes of cooking, whisk vigorously until smooth (mixture will be lumpy at first); whisk 2 more times during remaining cooking time. Remove from microwave, whisk in Romano.
• Spoon 2 cups hot polenta into each of two 1 1/2-quart shallow casseroles. Spread polenta over bottom and up sides of casseroles. Spoon filling over polenta. Spread remaining polenta around casserole edge to form a rim. Sprinkle with a couple tablespoons additional grated Romano, Parmesan, or Asiago.
• Bake one casserole 30 minutes or until hot. Let stand 10 minutes for easier serving. (Freeze the other one for later.).
• Makes 8 servings (in 2 casserole dishes).
• Note: if you want to lower the fat content, use turkey Italian sausage. Make sure to use quality sausage - I've used my favorite, our freshly made Merguez, and good sausage really makes a difference.