Cooking with polenta

[Barriehie]

Mod.edit: This post and eight following posts have been moved from 'What did you cook or eat today?' to form an interesting new 'cooking methods' discussion. (MG).

Honey mushrooms served with grilled polenta

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Grilled polenta!!! I love polenta.

 

[MypinchofItaly]

Grilled polenta!!! I love polenta.View attachment 137949

It’s an amazing product, I truly adore it too

 

[Z-Cook]

It’s an amazing product, I truly adore it too

I've never really discovered the secret - any pointers? Cooked or the cornmeal as an ingredient?

 

[MypinchofItaly]

I've never really discovered the secret - any pointers? Cooked or the cornmeal as an ingredient?

You mean how to cook it properly?
Polenta (cornmeal) has a long tradition in Italy from North to South (mostly in the north, actually).
One of the most important point is the long cooking: at least 45–50 minutes over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent it from sticking.
You can use just water or broth for a richer flavour.
Salt is another important point: add during cooking, never at the end.

The trick for the perfect polenta is slowly pour the cornmeal into boiling water / broth, never all at once! and keep the heat very low.
I hope this helps!

 

[Z-Cook]

You mean how to cook it properly?
Polenta (cornmeal) has a long tradition in Italy from North to South (mostly in the north, actually).
One of the most important point is the long cooking: at least 45–50 minutes over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent it from sticking.
You can use just water or broth for a richer flavour.
Salt is another important point: add during cooking, never at the end.

The trick for the perfect polenta is slowly pour the cornmeal into boiling water / broth, never all at once! and keep the heat very low.
I hope this helps!

Thanks for that. And curious as to whether polenta ground coarsely like Barriehie's is used as well?

I really like the look of it as it is not degermed

Grilled polenta!!! I love polenta.View attachment 137949

 

[Barriehie]

Thanks for that. And curious as to whether polenta ground coarsely like Barriehie's is used as well?

I really like the look of it as it is not degermed

Mine is coarse stone ground. Here's a link on polenta grinds and another one on what it is.

 

[Puggles]

Mine is coarse stone ground. Here's a link on polenta grinds and another one on what it is.

Of coarse it is....

 

[Gone Hiking]

Honey mushrooms served with grilled polenta

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Huh! It never occured to me to grill polenta. I'd have guessed it would just fall apart! It's like mashed potatoes when I make it.

 

[TastyReuben]

Huh! It never occured to me to grill polenta. I'd have guessed it would just fall apart! It's like mashed potatoes when I make it.

I’ve done it by putting cooked polenta in a baking dish, chilling it, then cutting it into batons, so to speak, and frying/broiling it that way.

You’re taking me back a few years…

https://www.cookingbites.com/threads/broiled-polenta-with-fennel-seeds.18658/#post-199442

 

[Morning Glory]

Huh! It never occured to me to grill polenta. I'd have guessed it would just fall apart! It's like mashed potatoes when I make it.

It sets when allowed to cool. Its a really common way to cook it in Italy.

 

[Gone Hiking]

I’ve done it by putting cooked polenta in a baking dish, chilling it, then cutting it into batons, so to speak, and frying/broiling it that way.

You’re taking me back a few years…

https://www.cookingbites.com/threads/broiled-polenta-with-fennel-seeds.18658/#post-199442

It sets when allowed to cool. Its a really common way to cook it in Italy.

Thanks, I may try that. Hmmm... I wonder how smoked polenta on the pellet grill would be?

 

[karadekoolaid]

I have to admit that, polenta, on it's own, is not something I find very exciting.
However, if you add mushrooms, or bacon, or what ever else takes your fancy, it is immediately elevated to another level.

 

[Barriehie]

Thanks, I may try that. Hmmm... I wonder how smoked polenta on the pellet grill would be?

Not sure about smoked polenta but with other smoked things yes.

 

[CookieMonster]

DD#1 had a middle-school chum-ette - who was vegetarian 'by family/culture'
on multiple 'sleepovers' I pan fired slices of store bought roll polenta to go with 'our crowd' of pancakes and patty sausage.

with a tad of care&time, one can create a crispy 'skin' on a slice of polenta that is not all so different than patty sausage.
twenty years later, our vegetarian chum-ette still raved about her polenta and pancake breakfast(s)

or, of course, it may have bee just the generous application of (real) maple syrup that made all the stuff 'really good, Dad!'

note to readers: if you have not explored polenta - it is well worth the effort.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Huh! It never occured to me to grill polenta. I'd have guessed it would just fall apart! It's like mashed potatoes when I make it.

I also found that it tastes better when cooked a second time.

https://www.cookingbites.com/threads/panissa-chickpea-flour-slices.30250/