Easy Baked Polenta Food

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.

EASY OVEN-BAKED REAL POLENTA (NOT INSTANT)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
• Pour water into the prepared dish; stir in polenta and salt.
• Bake in the preheated oven until polenta is thickened, about 40 minutes. Stir in squash, sour cream, and Cheddar cheese. Continue baking until cheese is melted, about 10 minutes more. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

OVEN-BAKED CREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In an ovenproof saucepan with a lid, whisk together 3 cups water, cornmeal, salt, and pepper. Cover, and bake 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.
• Remove from oven, and add milk, butter, and marjoram; whisk briskly until smooth. Serve immediately.

BAKED POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease an 11 by 17-inch baking sheet pan with oil. Line pan with waxed paper. The oil will secure the waxed paper onto the pan.
• In a large pot bring to a boil 2 quarts of salted water. Stir in extra-virgin olive oil. When water has reached a boil, reduce heat to medium high and slowly add the polenta, whisking constantly for 3 minutes. When polenta is thick and smooth, pour it into the prepared pan. Spread the polenta evenly.
• Bake in oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool in pan. Note: the polenta will not brown or change in color. When cool enough to handle, cut into any shape you desire. I like to cut out 2-inch circles.

OVEN-ROASTED POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 3-qt. nonstick ovenproof skillet; pour in the cornmeal, water, milk (if using), butter, and salt and stir with a fork until blended. The mixture will separate and take more than half the cooking time to come together. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes. Stir the polenta, taste, add salt if needed, and bake for another 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the polenta rest in the pan for 5 minutes before pouring it into a buttered bowl to scoop out and serve or onto a wooden board or pizza peel to slice into wedges.

BASIC POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a heavy large saucepan. Add 2 teaspoons of salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add the butter, and stir until melted.

BAKED POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• In large pot or dutch oven bring water to full boil. Add salt. Slowly add polenta. Whisk for 5 minutes until slighly combined. Some water will remain. Cover with lid slightly askew so some steam escapes. Continue to simmer stirring every few minutes for about 25 minutes or until polenta is smooth ans soft.
• Remove polenta from heat. Add butter and parmesan.
• While polenta is cooking, start sausage ragu
• In a large skillet, brown the sausage. Drain any exccess grease. Add onion and pepper and cook until soft. Add garlic and saute for a few minutes. Add tomato paste and crushed tomatoes. Simmer for a few minutes. Add herbs, salt and pepper. Simmer about 10 minutes until thick. Taste. More salt?
• Pour the polenta over the ragu and smooth with the back of a spoon
• Bake for 30 minutes or until puffy and hot in the middles. Top with mozzarella and bake for additional 5 minutes.
• Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. The longer you allow to cool the firmer the polenta will become.
• Store leftovers in fridge for up to 3 days.

BAKED POLENTA FRIES

Steps:

• Follow the directions on your box of polenta to prepare it. They should look something like this:.
• Bring the water and chicken broth to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, add the salt, and slowly stream in the instant polenta. Stir constantly for 3-5 minutes (depending on the polenta).
• Now transfer the polenta into a casserole or baking dish and spread to evenly coat (you should have a layer at least 1/2 " thick, but if it's thicker don't worry, you can always just cut the pieces in half later to thin them down). You can grease the dish if you want, but I never have a problem with it sticking.
• Let cool for at least one hour and up to 2 days in the refrigerator (it will become solid and easy to work with once cooled).
• When ready to cook, preheat oven to 450, remove the polenta from the dish and cut into strips that resemble fries (I like 1/2" by 1/2" and about 3" in length).
• Place on a baking sheet and pour oil over the strips. Toss to coat and add salt or other desired seasonings at this point.
• Cook for 20 minutes in the oven, turning once halfway through. Enjoy and eat alone or serve with your favorite sauce.

EASY CREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• In a large, deep saucepan, bring 5 cups of water to a boil. While whisking constantly, add polenta in a slow, steady stream. Reduce heat to medium, cook until thickened, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, about 15 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in cheese, heavy cream, and butter. Season with salt and pepper.

EASY BAKED POLENTA

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375. Combine water, polenta, salt and pepper in 13x9 inch baking dish. Transfer dish to oven and bake, uncovered, until water is absorbed and polenta has thickened, about 60 minute.
• Remove baking dish from oven and whisk in parmesan and butter until smooth and creamy. Serve.