Cumin Polenta Food

SPICY PORK CHILI WITH CUMIN POLENTA

Steps:

• Make the chili: heat 2 tablespoons oil in a big, heavy, deep-sided pot set over med-high heat.
• When hot, add onion and carrots; saute, stirring, for 5 minutes.
• Add in serrano peppers; cook 1 minute.
• Remove pan from heat and spoon ingredients onto a plate; set aside; reserve pot.
• Put pork in a large ziplock plastic bag; add flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and several grinds of pepper; seal bag and shake well to coat pork with flour.
• Return pot to med-high heat and add 2-3 more tablespoons oil, or enough to coat the bottom of pan lightly.
• When hot enough, add enough floured pork cubes to fit comfortably in a single layer in pan (do not crowd); brown pork, turning, for 3-4 minutes.
• Using slotted spoon, transfer pork to paper towels to drain; repeat with remaining pork, adding more oil as needed.
• Return all browned pork to pan and add garlic.
• Cook and toss 1 minute.
• Return reserved onion, carrots, and peppers to pan.
• Add tomatoes, lime juice, and broth.
• Bring mixture to simmer, then decrease heat.
• Simmer, uncovered, for 40 minutes, then cover and cook until meat is quite tender, about 50-60 minutes.
• Taste chili and season with salt and pepper, if needed.
• **Chili can be prepared 2 days ahead; cool, cover, and refrigerate; reheat over medium heat.
• To make polenta: combine 4 cups stock and the cumin in a large, heavy saucepan set over med-high heat.
• When stock begins to boil, decrease heat and gradually (in a thin stream) whisk in cornmeal.
• Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture starts to thicken, for 6-8 minutes or less.
• Stir in butter and milk; taste and add salt, as needed.
• **Polenta can be made up to 2 days ahead; cool, cover, and refrigerate; reheat over low heat, stirring constantly and adding additional stock, as needed, until polenta is desired texture.
• To serve--spoon a generous 1/2 cup polenta into 6 shallow soup bowls.
• Ladle pork chili over polenta and sprinkle each portion with some cilantro.
• Garnish with a lime wedge.

CUMIN POLENTA

Steps:

• In large heavy saucepan combine chicken broth and cumin; bring to boiling.
• Reduce heat; gradually whisk in cornmeal.
• Cook and stir until thick, about 6 to 8 minutes. Whisk in milk and butter.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Bake at 400 for 12-13 minutes.

FIRM POLENTA

Steps:

• In a large pot bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
• Add the salt and slowly pour in the cornmeal, mixing constantly with a wooden spoon until it is all incorporated.
• Turn the heat to low and cook until it's smooth and no longer grainy (30-35 minutes). Be sure to stir often so that the bottom doesn't burn.
• Spread the warm polenta evenly into a lightly oiled container and allow to cool.
• When cool, cut the polenta into whatever shape you desire. Firm polenta can be grilled, baked or fried.