Soft Fontina Polenta Recipes

PERFECT SOFT POLENTA

Steps:

• In a 4-quart saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. Add the stock and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper.
• Slowly whisk in the polenta. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until the polenta is hydrated, about 2 hours.
• Remove from the heat and whisk in the mascarpone, Parmesan and remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve topped with a drizzle of olive oil and more Parmesan, if desired.

SOFT POLENTA

Steps:

• Add 4 1/2 cups water, 1 tablespoon salt and the olive oil to a medium saucepot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk in the cornmeal in a steady stream, until it is all incorporated and smooth.
• Reduce the heat to medium low and continue to cook at a simmer until the polenta is creamy and fully hydrated, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Take the saucepot off the heat and whisk in the butter and Parmesan. Season with additional salt and pepper. Transfer the polenta to a large serving bowl and serve.

SOFT POLENTA

Steps:

• In a 4-quart saucepan, heat butter over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and sweat for 3 minutes until vegetables are translucent and aromatic. Add chicken stock and cream and bring to a simmer. Whisk in polenta and reduce heat to low. Cook over a low heat for 2 hours, stirring regularly.
• Remove from heat and whisk in cheese and butter, and season with salt and serve.

POLENTA WITH FONTINA AND THYME

Steps:

• Bring broth, thyme and garlic to boil in heavy large saucepan. Gradually whisk in polenta. Reduce heat to medium; cook until polenta is thick and creamy, whisking frequently, about 20 minutes. Add cheeses. Stir until melted. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl and serve.
• *Available at Italian markets and some supermarkets. If unavailable, substitute 1 cup regular yellow cornmeal, and cook mixture about 12 minutes.

POLENTA WITH MUSHROOMS AND FONTINA

Steps:

• In a large sauté pan or frying pan over medium heat, melt 1/4 cup of the butter. When bubbly, add the mushrooms, raise the heat to medium high, and sauté, tossing often, until tender, about 5 minutes. Do not let brown. Season with salt and a little nutmeg and remove from the heat. Cover to keep warm.
• Position a rack in the center of an oven and preheat to 425 degrees F . Butter a 2 1/2-qt. baking dish.
• In a deep, heavy saucepan over high heat, bring the water to a rapid boil. Add 2 tsp salt and, while stirring continuously with a long-handled spoon, gradually add the polenta in a thin, steady stream until all has been incorporated. Continuing to stir constantly to keep lumps from forming, reduce the heat until the mixture only bubbles occasionally. Continue to cook, stirring, until smooth and creamy, about 20 minutes; be careful to scrape the bottom and sides of the pan to avoid sticking or lumping. Remove from the heat. Cut the remaining 1/4 cup butter into small cubes and add to the polenta, a few cubes at a time, stirring until melted after each addition. The polenta should be soft and spreadable.
• Spread one-third of the polenta over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spread half of the mushrooms in a layer on top, and then cover with a layer of half of the cheese slices. Repeat with half of the remaining polenta, than all of the remaining mushrooms and cheese. Top with the remaining polenta.
• Place in the oven and bake until lightly browned, about 20 minutes.
• Cut into squares and serve immediately.

POLENTA AND BACON WITH FONTINA

Steps:

• Sauté chopped bacon in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to bowl. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons drippings. Add onion and garlic to drippings in skillet and sauté until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add chicken broth, corn, and bacon; bring to boil. Gradually add cornmeal, whisking constantly. Cook until polenta is soft and thick, stirring frequently, about 20 minutes. Add Fontina and Parmesan, stirring until melted, about 2 minutes. Stir in chopped parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl and serve hot.
• Available at Italian markets, natural foods stores, and some supermarkets. If unavailable, substitute 1 cup of regular yellow cornmeal, and cook mixture for about 10 minutes.

SOFT POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring 3 cups water to a full boil in a heavy pot. Simmer the remaining water close by.
• Add the salt and rapidly stir the water with a whisk, creating a vortex. Continuing to stir constantly, add the polenta in a thin stream into the vortex.
• Continue to stir after all the polenta has been added, then lower the heat to a simmer rather than a boil.
• As the polenta thickens, replace the whisk with a long-handled wooden spoon.
• Add the 1 cup of remaining water and continue to stir. Break up any lumps with the back of the spoon pressed against the pot.
• Continue stirring the polenta, reaching to the bottom of the pot as necessary, until it gets thick and pulls away from the sides of the pot.
• Taste the polenta to test tenderness; add additional water if necessary. The polenta can take 15 to 60 minutes to cook properly, depending on its type.
• During the last 5 minutes of cooking, stir in the pepper and butter, then add the cheese.
• Remove from heat.
• If serving immediately, pour onto a large platter or into a bowl or individual dishes.