Pecorino And Pepper Polenta Recipes

PECORINO-AND-PEPPER POLENTA

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine 4 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper; bring to a boil. Whisking constantly, gradually add cornmeal. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, whisking often, until thickened, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat, and stir in Pecorino and butter. Serve immediately, sprinkled with more pepper.

GRILLED POLENTA WITH PEPPERS AND PECORINO

Steps:

• Preheat a clean, seasoned grill to high heat.
• Grill the chiles and bell peppers until charred all over, 3 to 4 minutes per side, then immediately them to a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap to steam for 10 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel and discard the blackened skins and remove the stems and seeds. Finely dice the peppers and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Pour 4 1/2 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt in a heavy-bottomed pot set over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. In a slow, steady stream, add the cornmeal while whisking vigorously to incorporate and smooth out lumps. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring continuously for the first 2 to 3 minutes. Cook the polenta until thick, and it begins to pull away from the sides of the pot, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the diced peppers, the Pecorino-Romano and butter.
• Grease a quarter-sheet tray with the oil. Pour the polenta on the prepared sheet tray and smooth out the top with a rubber spatula. Bake until golden brown and bubbling, 20 to 30 minutes. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Cut the polenta into squares, then brush the squares with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the polenta on both sides to create grill marks and heat through, 3 to 5 minutes. Keep warm until ready to serve.

ROASTED RED PEPPER POLENTA

Steps:

• To fire-roast the red peppers, place them over a high flame on a stove-top burner and roast, turning occasionally, until the skins turn black on all sides. Place the peppers in a medium bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow to steam for 10 minutes. Peel away the blackened skins from the peppers. Cut away the stems and then seed, core and coarsely chop the peppers. Place them in a food processor and puree until smooth; reserve to the side.
• In a heavy-bottom medium pot, bring 8 cups water, thesalt and the roasted red pepper puree to a boil. Add the stone-ground cornmeal in a gentle stream, whisking or stirring vigorously in the same direction as you pour it in. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring continuously for 2 to 3 minutes. Cook the polenta for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring every few minutes and scraping the bottom of the pan to prevent it from sticking. When the polenta is thick, glossy and pulling away from the side of the pan, add the Pecorino Romano and butter, stirring quickly to incorporate. Pour the polenta into a medium serving dish and serve immediately.

PASTA WITH PECORINO AND PEPPER

Steps:

• Place the peppercorns in a mortar and pestle and crush them until you have a mixture of coarse and fine bits. (You can also grind them in a small food mill or coffee grinder.) Set aside.
• Fill a large, heavy-bottomed pot with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon salt and the pasta and cook according to the directions on the package until al dente. Ladle 1 cup of the pasta cooking water into a glass measuring cup and reserve it. Drain the pasta quickly in a colander and return the pasta to the pot with a lot of the pasta water still dripping.
• Working quickly, with the heat on very low, toss the pasta with 1/2 cup of the grated Pecorino, the crushed peppercorns, cream, butter, parsley, and 1 teaspoon salt, tossing constantly. If the pasta seems dry, add some of the reserved cooking water. Off the heat, toss in the remaining 1/2 cup Pecorino. Serve immediately with a big bowl of extra grated Pecorino for sprinkling.

POLENTA CACIO E PEPE

Steps:

• Whisk polenta and 4 cups water in pressure cooker until combined. Season with 1 tsp. salt and several grinds of pepper. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium-high, whisk again, then seal pressure cooker according to manufacturer's directions. As soon as cooker hits high pressure, set a timer for 9 minutes. When timer goes off, remove from heat and manually release pressure. Carefully open lid and whisk polenta until homogenous and creamy.
• Whisk butter into polenta, then gradually add 4 oz. Pecorino, whisking until melted. Taste and season with more salt, if needed, and lots of pepper.
• Transfer polenta to a wide shallow bowl and top with more cheese and coarsely grind more pepper over.