Grilled Polenta With Peppers And Pecorino Food

GRILLED POLENTA

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, over medium-high heat, bring the water and the salt to just a boil. Reduce the heat, slowly whisk in the polenta and season with pepper. Continue to whisk until the mixture starts to tighten up, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the fresh chopped herbs, 2 tablespoons of the butter and the Parmesan. Continue to stir until well combined and very thick, taste for seasoning adjustment.
• Liberally butter a 10-inch springform pan on the bottom and about 2-inches up the side. Pour in the hot polenta and with a rubber spatula, rubbed with butter, smooth out the top. Set aside to cool to room temperature, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours to set. (This can also be done up to 1 day ahead.)
• Preheat a grill to medium.
• When ready to grill, or pan fry, remove the polenta from the pan and cut it into equal pie shapes or cut circles with a biscuit cutter. Lightly oil a grill, brush each side of the polenta with olive oil and grill or pan sear until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side. Arrange the polenta on a serving platter and serve hot.

PECORINO-AND-PEPPER POLENTA

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine 4 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper; bring to a boil. Whisking constantly, gradually add cornmeal. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, whisking often, until thickened, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat, and stir in Pecorino and butter. Serve immediately, sprinkled with more pepper.

POLENTA CACIO E PEPE

Steps:

• Whisk polenta and 4 cups water in pressure cooker until combined. Season with 1 tsp. salt and several grinds of pepper. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium-high, whisk again, then seal pressure cooker according to manufacturer's directions. As soon as cooker hits high pressure, set a timer for 9 minutes. When timer goes off, remove from heat and manually release pressure. Carefully open lid and whisk polenta until homogenous and creamy.
• Whisk butter into polenta, then gradually add 4 oz. Pecorino, whisking until melted. Taste and season with more salt, if needed, and lots of pepper.
• Transfer polenta to a wide shallow bowl and top with more cheese and coarsely grind more pepper over.

POLENTA WITH PEPPERS

Steps:

• Whisk together oil, vinegars and salt and pepper. Add peppers and shallot. Set aside to marinate.
• Cook polenta according to package directions and stir in the cream and butter at the end. Season with salt and pepper. Immediately pour onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and spread evenly. Set aside to set and cool.
• Cut rounds of polenta with a cookie cutter. Top with peppers and a basil leaf.

GRILLED POLENTA AND VEGETABLES WITH CHIMICHURRI

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium high. Make the chimichurri: Combine the parsley, oregano, garlic, vinegar, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoons water and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a mini food processor. Blend until pourable, thinning with more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed.
• Combine the polenta, red bell pepper, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the eggplant, squash, red onion, remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper.
• Add the polenta and bell pepper to the grill and cook, flipping halfway through, until well marked and the pepper has softened, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove to a baking sheet. Add the eggplant, squash and red onion to the grill and cook until well marked and softened, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to the baking sheet with the polenta. Roughly chop the red onion and bell pepper.
• Divide the polenta, eggplant and squash among plates. Top with the red onion, bell pepper and walnuts and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Drizzle with the chimichurri.

GRILLED JALAPENO POLENTA WITH SWEET AND SOUR CHUTNEY

Steps:

• For the polenta: In a medium size sauce pan bring milk to a boil over medium high heat. Slowly add cornmeal, whisking in. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add yolk, jalapeno and cheese. Salt and pepper to taste. Put into a greased 9 by 5 by 3-inch pan. Cover tightly and refrigerate until firm, about 10 minutes. Cut into 24 pieces. Grill or saute to heat.
• For the chutney: Combine above ingredients in a large bowl and refrigerate up to 1 hour or until ingredients absorb flavors. Spoon over polenta.

ROASTED RED PEPPER POLENTA

Steps:

• To fire-roast the red peppers, place them over a high flame on a stove-top burner and roast, turning occasionally, until the skins turn black on all sides. Place the peppers in a medium bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow to steam for 10 minutes. Peel away the blackened skins from the peppers. Cut away the stems and then seed, core and coarsely chop the peppers. Place them in a food processor and puree until smooth; reserve to the side.
• In a heavy-bottom medium pot, bring 8 cups water, thesalt and the roasted red pepper puree to a boil. Add the stone-ground cornmeal in a gentle stream, whisking or stirring vigorously in the same direction as you pour it in. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring continuously for 2 to 3 minutes. Cook the polenta for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring every few minutes and scraping the bottom of the pan to prevent it from sticking. When the polenta is thick, glossy and pulling away from the side of the pan, add the Pecorino Romano and butter, stirring quickly to incorporate. Pour the polenta into a medium serving dish and serve immediately.