Mediterranean Grilled Polenta With A Tomato Compote Food

HERB AND TOMATO POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and tomatoes. Cook the tomatoes, stirring occasionally, until they start to blister and release some of their juices, 8 to 10 minutes. Toss in the garlic and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook another 1 minute, then remove from the heat.
• In a saucepan over low heat, stir the Parmesan and butter into the Cooked Polenta, thinning with milk as desired. Turn off the heat, stir in the lemon zest, taste for seasoning and add salt if necessary.
• Transfer the polenta to a serving bowl. Use a spoon to create a shallow well and top with the tomatoes, torn basil, some black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.
• Bring 6 cups of water to a rolling boil in a heavy-bottomed 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting, add the baking soda and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and pour the cornmeal into the water in a very slow stream from a measuring cup, all the while whisking in a circular motion to prevent lumps.
• Cook, vigorously stirring the polenta with a wooden spoon for about 10 seconds once every 5 minutes and making sure to scrape clean the bottom and corners of the pot, until the polenta has lost its raw cornmeal taste and becomes soft and smooth, about 30 minutes. If the polenta looks like it's drying out too quickly, continue cooking with the lid on. Cooked Polenta recipe courtesy of Jeff Mauro.

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.

TOMATO, OLIVE, AND CAPER COMPOTE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, jalapeno, and celery, season with pepper, and cook, stirring, until soft and fragrant, about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes, olives, and capers and cook, stirring, until hot, about 2 minutes more.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice and parsley.

MEDITERRANEAN GRILLED POLENTA WITH A TOMATO COMPOTE

Steps:

• Compote -- In a medium sauce pan, add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and bring to medium heat. Add the garlic and cook 3-4 minutes. Once nice and brown, add the tomatoes, roasted and yellow along with the peppers to the pan and cook about 15 minutes until very soft.
• Wine -- As the tomatoes cook add the wine to a small sauce pan and let it reduce on medium heat. You want it to reduce so you end up no more than 2-3 tablespoons of wine.
• Polenta and Onion -- Now as the wine reduces, grill the polenta and onions. I slice the polenta into 1/2" thick slices as well as the onion and then brush the grill pan with the olive oil and grill both until golden brown on each side. Now you can do this in a skillet, but I prefer the outdoor grill or a indoor grill pan.
• Finishing the Compote -- Add the butter to the wine and mix well. Then add another teaspoon of olive oil, chick peas and olives to the tomato mix. Cook another 3-4 minutes as you finish the polenta and the onion slices. Then stir in salt, pepper, and the fresh basil.
• Plate -- Arrange the grilled polenta on the plate and top with the tomato compote, grilled onion rings, drizzle with the last tablespoon of olive oil and the feta. You can add a few fresh basil leaves if you want to garnish.
• NOTE: You can make the tomato compote the day ahead and just heat up before you use it. Just do not add the basil until you are ready to serve it.

GRILLED POLENTA WITH BALSAMIC ROASTED TOMATOES

Steps:

• In a med-large pot, add the water, broth, polenta, and salt. Place on stove over high heat and whisk to combine. Bring to a boil and turn heat down to a low simmer. (*the polenta tends to spurt up so use long cooking utensils to prevent burns). Stir or whisk every 30 seconds to keep it smooth. It'll thicken up and finish cooking around the 4-5 minute mark. It should be very thick, but not have big clumps (whisk in more water/broth to smooth if needed).
• Remove from heat and stir in the vegan parmesan cheese and butter. Taste and add more seasoning if needed.
• Pour polenta into a 11X7 Baking Pan (or something similar) and smooth out evenly with a spatula. Let it cool for 10 minutes before transferring into freezer for another 10-15 minutes. You can also place in the fridge for 30-60 minutes.
• While the polenta is setting, you can roast the tomatoes. Preheat oven to 450° F (230° C). Place tomatoes in a small baking dish and nip each one with scissors (leave vine intact if preferred). Add garlic, drizzle with oil, balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with sugar, salt, and pepper. Place in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes until the tomatoes are blistered and tender.
• When the polenta is cooled and firm, flip over gently onto a cutting board. Cut into 8 rectangular slices.
• Heat a Grill Pan over medium-high heat for a few minutes. While the pan is heating, brush one side of the polenta to coat. When the pan is fully heated, add the polenta, leaving some room in between (don't crowd - work in batches if needed). Grill for 7-9 minutes until grill marks appear (push down gently to help it along). Don't move the polenta slices much or they won't grill properly. Use a metal spatula to gently remove. You can serve now or flip and grill the other side of the slices.
• Place a few slices on a plate and top with vegan cheese, a few tomatoes with a drizzle of the roasting sauce. If preferred, top with fresh-cut basil, crushed red pepper, capers and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Enjoy!

SLOW-COOKER TOMATO COMPOTE

Steps:

• In a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker, add the tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, honey, vinegar, herbs and red-pepper flakes (if using), and stir to combine. Season with 2 teaspoons salt and a few generous grinds of pepper. Cook on low for 6 hours, until the tomatoes are wrinkled, sweet and very soft, and some have burst. Remove the herb sprigs and squeeze in the lemon juice. Taste, and add more salt and pepper if necessary. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.

GRILLED POLENTA WITH TOMATO-CORN SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare a grill or grill pan for medium-high heat. Clean and oil the grill grates.
• Wrap each ear of corn in damp paper towels and microwave the wrapped corn on high for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the paper towels and let the corn cool slightly.
• Brush the corn with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until lightly charred in spots, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, cut the polenta crosswise into 10 or 12 rounds. Brush the rounds on both sides with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill over medium-high heat, turning once or twice, until nicely marked and slightly softened, about 6 minutes total.
• Whisk the 1/4 cup oil with the vinegar and garlic in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Invert a small bowl and place it in a large bowl. Hold one ear of corn vertically on the smaller bowl and, using a knife, cut the kernels off the cob. Repeat with the remaining ears of corn. Remove the small bowl.
• Add the tomatoes and dressing to the corn; toss well. Fold in the basil and arugula, then season the salad with salt and pepper. Serve the salad with the grilled polenta, topped with jalapeño slices if desired.

GRILLED POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the polenta, 1 1/2 quarts water and salt in a 2-quart baking dish, and stir together. Place the baking dish on top of a sheet pan (so that if water sloshes when you put it in the oven, it will just go onto the sheet pan), and place in the oven. Bake one hour. Remove from the oven, stir in the butter and return to the oven for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, and stir again. Return to the oven for 10 to 20 minutes, until stiff. Remove from the oven and allow to cool, then chill for one hour or more.
• Prepare a medium grill or heat an electric griddle on medium. Cut the polenta into squares, and brush the squares on both sides with olive oil. Place on the grill or griddle. When grill marks appear or when nicely browned, usually in about two to three minutes, turn and brown the other side. Serve hot.