Polenta Pudding With Blackberry Compote And Mascarpone Cream Recipes

POLENTA PUDDING WITH BLACKBERRY COMPOTE AND MASCARPONE CREAM

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Preheat oven to 325° F. and butter and flour a 12-inch round cake pan.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat together butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Split vanilla bean lengthwise. Scrape seeds from pod and add to butter mixture. Beat in whole eggs and egg yolks 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, and fold in flour and cornmeal. Pour batter into pan and bake cake in middle of oven 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until golden. Invert cake onto a rack and cool completely. Transfer cake to a large platter.
• Make compote:
• In a saucepan cook blackberries, granulated sugar, and grappa over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes, or until sugar is dissolved.
• Pour compote over cake. Let pudding stand, loosely covered, at room temperature at least 6 hours and up to 1 day.
• Make mascarpone cream:
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat mascarpone until light and fluffy. Add cream and granulated sugar and beat mixture until it holds soft peaks.
• Garnish pudding with blackberries and serve with mascarpone cream.

SOFT POLENTA WITH MASCARPONE

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
• Slowly whisk in the polenta. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until the polenta is thick, about 2 hours (adjust the consistency with water or stock, if necessary).
• Remove from the heat and whisk in the mascarpone, parmesan and the remaining 4 tablespoons butter. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with parsley.

POLENTA WITH MASCARPONE

Steps:

• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan bring 5 cups water and salt to a boil then reduce to a bare simmer. Add polenta in a thin stream, stirring constantly; it will take about 10 minutes to add it all and will be fairly thick. Cook over low heat, 20 minutes, stirring constantly. Add melted butter, 4 tablespoons of the mascarpone, milk and nutmeg. Stir well.
• Pour hot polenta mixture into a very wide, warmed serving bowl. Top decoratively with mascarpone in 8 heaping spoonfuls. Serve immediately. Pass pepper mill and a bowl of extra mascarpone, if desired.

BLACKBERRY MASCARPONE TART WITH THYME SHORTBREAD CRUST

Steps:

• Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Add 1/4 cup powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; mix to combine. Add egg and mix until incorporated. Gradually beat in flour, thyme, and salt. Dough should come together and pull away from the sides of the bowl. Knead dough slightly and shape into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch round or 13x4-inch rectangular tart pan with a removable bottom.
• Press dough evenly into the prepared tart pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, 12 to 14 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before filling, about 30 minutes.
• Combine 3 ounces of blackberries and 1/2 tablespoon sugar in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring frequently and crushing the berries with a spoon, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and press mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove all seeds and collect as much of the berry pulp as you can. Discard any seeds and solids left behind in the sieve and return crushed berries to the saucepan.
• Mix together cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl. Add cornstarch mixture to the saucepan with the berry sauce; cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil and starts to thicken, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Combine mascarpone cheese, 3/4 cup powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in a bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth.
• Beat cream in a separate chilled glass or metal bowl with an electric mixer until frothy. Add sugar gradually, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. Fold whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture and mix well. Spoon filling into the cooled tart crust and spread evenly. Using a teaspoon, drop spoonfuls of the smooth blackberry sauce on top of the filling. Using a knife, gently cut through sauce and filling to swirl. Garnish the top of the tart with the remaining 3 ounces blackberries and fresh mint.

CREAMY MASCARPONE POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the salt. Whisking constantly, add the cornmeal in a very thin, steady stream. Turn the heat as low as possible. Cook for 1 hour, stirring vigorously every 10 minutes. Add the mascarpone and pepper and beat until smooth and creamy. Serve hot.