Creamy Tex Mex Polenta Food

CREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• In a medium pot with high sides combine the water, milk, and heavy cream and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and slowly pour in the polenta while whisking constantly. Cook the mixture for at least 5 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon until thickened and cooked. Stir in the lemon zest and kosher salt.

CHEESY POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring the water to a boil in a large, heavy pot. Add the salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring often, until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat. Add the cheese, milk, butter, and parsley. Stir until the butter and cheese have melted. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer the polenta to a bowl and serve.

CREAMY CORN POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring the broth, 2 1/2 cups water, butter and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil in a heavy, large saucepan over high heat. Gradually whisk in the polenta. Continue to whisk until the polenta begins to thicken, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook until the polenta is very thick and tender, stirring often with a flat-bottom spoon or heatproof rubber spatula to prevent sticking or burning, about 20 minutes. Blend the corn in a mini processor until a coarse puree forms. Stir the corn puree into the polenta. Season with more salt if desired.

CREAMY PARMESAN POLENTA

Steps:

• Place the chicken stock in a large saucepan. Add the garlic and cook over medium-high heat until the stock comes to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and very slowly whisk in the cornmeal, whisking constantly to make sure there are no lumps. Switch to a wooden spoon, add the salt and pepper, and simmer, stirring almost constantly, for 10 minutes, until thick. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan thoroughly while you're stirring. Off the heat, stir in the Parmesan, creme fraiche, and butter. Taste for seasonings and serve hot with extra Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top.

CREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring the water, milk and butter to a boil. Add 2 teaspoons of salt to the water and whisk in the polenta. Whisk constantly for 3 to 4 minutes to prevent lumps. Simmer for 45 minutes, partially covered and stirring every 10 minutes, until the polenta is thick, smooth, and creamy. Add the creme fraiche and Parmesan. Check for seasoning and adjust consistency by adding milk or water to the polenta. Polenta may be made up to 20 minutes ahead of time and kept covered until ready to serve.

HOW TO MAKE PERFECT POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring water and salt to a boil in a large saucepan; pour polenta slowly into boiling water, whisking constantly until all polenta is stirred in and there are no lumps.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer, whisking often, until polenta starts to thicken, about 5 minutes. Polenta mixture should still be slightly loose. Cover and cook for 30 minutes, whisking every 5 to 6 minutes. When polenta is too thick to whisk, stir with a wooden spoon. Polenta is done when texture is creamy and the individual grains are tender.
• Turn off heat and gently stir 2 tablespoons butter into polenta until butter partially melts; mix 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese into polenta until cheese has melted. Cover and let stand 5 minutes to thicken; stir and taste for salt before transferring to a serving bowl. Top polenta with remaining 1 tablespoon butter and about 1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for garnish.

MUSHROOM TOPPED STEAKS WITH CREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• Melt butter in a pan, add mushrooms and garlic, cook until mushrooms soften and are browned slightly. Add wine, balsamic vinegar, sugar and beef stock, stir to combine and add pepper to taste.
• Meanwhile combine water, milk and chicken stock in a saucepan, bring to the boil, gradually stir in polenta. Reduce heat, stir until polenta thickens, add cheeses and stir to combine, stir in spinach. (I usually cook my steaks while making polenta and let them rest while I stir in the cheeses and spinach, but it will keep warm over a low heat stir occasionally to prevent bottom from burning.).
• Season steaks with salt and pepper. Heat a small amount of oil in a pan and cook steaks until desired doneness. Cooking times will vary depending on the thickness of the steaks.
• To Serve: Place a few spoonfuls of polenta on a plate top with steak and mound steak with mushrooms, drizzled with balsamic sauce.

CREAMY BLUE CHEESE POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat milk and water in heavy bottomed sauce pan and bring to simmer over medium heat. be careful not to boil.
• Whisk in polenta in slow stream. Bring to a boil, then turn heat to low.
• Continue to stir, adding more water if it gets too thick.
• Stir every few minutes and continue cooking for 25 to 30 minutes, adding water when needed.
• Remove from heat and add sour cream, butter and blue cheese. Season with salt & pepper to taste.

TEX-MEX STEAK AND POLENTA #A1

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix together brown sugar, A-1 and 1/3 cup of water and wisk until blended. Cut steak into thin strips. Cut onion into wedges and dice the tomato. Add to marinade and stir to cover ingredients. Cover and place to the side.
• In a large sauce pan mix 4 cups water, cornmeal, pepper seeds and garlic pepper (may also add salt if desired) and bring to a boil while stirring. Once boiling reduce heat and simmer for 25 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Place butter in large frying pan over medium-high heat. add marinade mixture to melted butter and stir-fry.
• Scoop out avocados into medium sized bowl and add lime juice. Add salt and pepper to taste and coarsely mash avocado.
• Place polenta in center of plate, top with steak mixture and a dollop of avocado.

CREAMY TEX-MEX POLENTA

Steps:

• In pot, bring 4 cups salted water to boil; reduce heat to medium-low. Slowly stir in cornmeal.
• Stir until mixture is thick and creamy, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in butter, 1 cup cheese, scallion, chipotle and salt until cheese and butter are melted.
• Serve sprinkled with remaining 2 T cheese.