What to do with polenta?

apple_mint

I made a potato wedges coating mix with my polenta.

I dessert spoon polenta. 1 dessert spoon of parmesan cheese. 1/2 dessert spoon of paprika. Dropped the wedges in a plastic bag. Sprinkled them with olive oil and jiggled the bag till they were coated with the oil. Sprinkled in the polenta mix and jiggled the bag again. Poured the potatoes out into a roasting tray with a little more olive oil and then roasted for 40 mins.

Debt_Free_Chick

"Wet" polenta - as suggested, like the consistency of mashed potato and usually served as an accompaniment to a rustic stew. You can flavour the polenta with garlic, herbs etc.

Firm polenta - made to a less runny consistency, then poured into a shallow tray and baked until golden brown. Served as wedges or slices. Can be a little bland, but again - flavour it. Sun dried toms & rosemary works very, very well. Again, serve as an accompaniment.

The packet should give instructions for both, but a word of warning ..... you have to pour the polenta into boiling water and at this point it can splutter with volcano like consequences :eek: I get the water boiling, pour in the polenta and then remove it from the heat, stirring all the time. Then replace the pan onto a lower heat and try to get the polenta to bubble gently, rather than splutter explosively

We found we had to persevere a little to get to love it and it does really need some extra flavourings. But it's now a firm favourite in our house

Jayar

I bought a packet of ready made polenta because it was reduced (10p) and now, apart from cutting it into slices and frying it perhaps?) I haven't got a clue what to do with it.
What's your favourite recipe using polenta?
p.s. I also have some left over cooked chicken which I'd like to use up.

nikibella

Hi
have a look at the new thread about Italian cooking, there are many recipes for polenta.
Other ways to prepare ready made polenta, other than the one you mentioned: you can cut it in slices and grill it and eat it with stews.
You can slice it and layer in a baking dish with white sauce and bolognese sauce, sprinkle with parmesan and bake in the oven.
Or simply cover with cheese (with or without white sauce) and grill etc.

Fivenations

Sorry I cant help as the one and only time I bought it ready made I ended up feeding it to the birds (and even they didn't eat it) as it was nothing like polenta should be. Maybe brands differ - I bought it from Waitrose so it should have been good. I was virtually weaned on the stuff so I guess I'm just that little bit fussier than most?!

Reheat the chicken in a tomato a pinch of cumin - laced with a tablespoon of paprika and cumin, sort of goulash sauce, and serve this over the reheated polenta.

odds-n-sods

you can also keep it quite wet, like mashed potato. Add some herbs, a little parmesan cheese and serve it spooned onto the plate.

stressedoutmumof1

You can make cornbread with it, which is absolutely delish with a bowl of chili

ilovecakes

Hiya,

If it is ready made polenta you have, try it cut into cubes and fried in a little olive oil with some roasted peppers, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes or other mediterranean (sp?) veg. It is lovely with some melting cheese like tallegio on top. mmmm. or you can fry it in butter and sprinkle with lots of cinnamon and sugar and serve it with thick cream or mascarpone for pudding. It is lovely lke this with some raspberries or other soft fruit. unfortunatley not so good for the waistline.

ilovecakes

Bibendum

Fivenations wrote: »

Sorry I cant help as the one and only time I bought it ready made I ended up feeding it to the birds (and even they didn't eat it) as it was nothing like polenta should be. Maybe brands differ - I bought it from Waitrose so it should have been good. I was virtually weaned on the stuff so I guess I'm just that little bit fussier than most?!

Reheat the chicken in a tomato a pinch of cumin - laced with a tablespoon of paprika and cumin, sort of goulash sauce, and serve this over the reheated polenta.

I know the feeling.
My kids were wondering why they were expected to eat the sliced rubber...

Quasar

Ready made polenta is good only for grilling. I told my mum about it, when I went home to visit, and she turned her nose up.