Double Corn Polenta With Prosciutto Food

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.

CHEF JOHN'S THREE CORN POLENTA

Steps:

• Melt 1 teaspoon butter and olive oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook and stir 2/3 of the corn, with a pinch of salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper in the hot butter and oil until the corn is fragrant and golden, about 10 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Pour 2 cups water into corn mixture; bring to a simmer and whisk polenta into mixture. Bring to a simmer again, reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until mixture is thick and polenta absorbs the water, 20 minutes. Add remaining 1/2 cup water and stir; cook for until water is completely absorbed, about 10 minutes more.
• Stir remaining corn and 1 teaspoon butter into polenta mixture. Remove from heat, cover the pot, and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

POLENTA SQUARES WITH PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Bring 7 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan; add 4 teaspoons salt. Whisking constantly, add cornmeal a little at a time. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until polenta pulls away from sides of pan and is very thick, about 25 minutes.
• Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat until hot but not smoking. Add prosciutto and garlic. Cook, stirring, until prosciutto is slightly crisp, about 5 minutes; stir into polenta. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
• Pour polenta mixture into a 9-by-13-inch baking pan; smooth with a dampened spatula. Let cool at least 1 hour.
• If not serving polenta immediately, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to use (or overnight).
• Trim 1/4 inch from all sides of polenta. Cut polenta into 48 squares. Preheat broiler with rack 5 inches from heat. Lightly brush a metal baking pan with oil; heat under broiler 30 seconds. In batches, broil squares in pan, 2 minutes. Place cheese on each square; season with pepper. Broil until cheese is melted, about 1 1/2 minutes. Garnish with herb sprigs.

DOUBLE CORN POLENTA WITH PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Combine water, milk and corn kernals in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Gradually whisk in polenta until well incorporated.
• Reduce heat to medium low and simmer until thickened, 3-5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in the butter, parmesan cheese and prosciutto.

POLENTA WITH CORN

Steps:

• In a medium-size saucepan, bring the milk, 2 cups water and bay leaf to a boil. Season generously with salt, almost to the point of over seasoning. How do you know that you are there? TASTE IT! When it has reached a boil, slowly whisk in the polenta in small sprinkles. Once all of the polenta has been incorporated, reduce the heat to medium and immediately switch over to stirring with a wooden spoon. Cook the polenta until it begins to pull away from the pan, adding water to loosen it up if it becomes too thick. Add the corn and stir to combine. When the polenta is thoroughly cooked, it should look creamy and not feel gritty on your tongue. Remove it from the heat and stir in the Parmesan and mascarpone.

CORN POLENTA

Steps:

• In a sauce pan sweat the shallot and garlic with a little bit of olive oil until cooked (translucent).
• Add the water and quickly bring to a boil.
• Gradually whisk in the polenta a little at a time until all the polenta is in the water (to prevent lumps).
• Turn the heat down to medium-low flame and cook the polenta until done (about 40 minutes or when the polenta 'pulls' away from the sides of the pan).
• Stir frequently so the polenta doesn't crust on the bottom of the pan--this makes cleanup MUCH easier.
• In another pan sweat the corn until fully cooked, no colour, then remove from heat.
• When the polenta is done fold in the corn and grated cheese.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Layout on a pan or into a mold and refrigerate until firm (20 minutes).
• To serve: Sauté, grill, toss with flour and fry for croutons, etc-- the options are endless!
• As an extra option, use 5 cups of water instead of 4 for a soft polenta. Serve warm out of the pan and elevate it by adding some marscapone cheese, whipped cream, or roasted mushrooms.

POLENTA

Steps:

• Gradually add the polenta to the lightly salted, hot water by allowing it to fall from your hand from above the pot like sand through your fingers.
• If the water is not boiling, you will be able to stir in all the polenta without lumps forming.
• As the temperature rises, the flour will integrate with the water and thicken.
• Stir all the time, and if you have used too much of the flour and the mixture is too thick, add a little water.
• I taste for salt and perhaps add a little parmesan cheese.
• When the polenta is smooth and does not taste of raw maize, it is ready.
• You can use this sloppy polenta with anything that has been braising for a while.
• Alternatively, pour the polenta into a flat baking dish where it will cool and become firm.
• At that point, it can be grilled or oven baked for 20 minutes.
• As a grilled slice, polenta can be used as a base for eggplant slices, goats cheese, rocket, prosciutto and so on.
• For me, grilled polenta is good with either baked or fried fish and lumps of parmesan cheese.
• Baked polenta can be dressed with cheese, roasted capsicum and fine pancetta.
• After you have poured the polenta into a tray, some will remain stuck to the sides of the pot.
• Let it dry even for a day, and peel these skins off.
• They are delicious with parmesan cheese.

DOUBLE CORN POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spray a 7-1/2" by 11-3/4" pan or 2 quart casserole with cooking spray.
• Break the eggs into a medium bowl and beat lightly.
• Add the remaining ingredients except parmesan and mix well.
• Pour into prepared pan and place in oven.
• Bake until firm, about 40 minutes.
• sprinkle with parmesan cheese and bake for 5 more minutes or until cheese melts.
• Serve with salsa and sour cream.