Michael Symon Lemon Polenta Cake Food

PARMESAN-CRUSTED POLENTA

Steps:

• Add 8 cups water, the oil and salt to a large saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
• Slowly stream in the polenta while whisking constantly. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the polenta is thickened and smooth, about 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a large, heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Drizzle with olive oil and evenly coat the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle 1 cup of the Parmesan evenly over the bottom of the pan and allow to toast until golden brown and nutty, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Pour the polenta over the Parmesan crust and smooth the surface. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan. Set at room temperature until firm, 20 to 30 minutes. (At this point, the polenta can be refrigerated up to overnight.)
• When ready to serve, place the pan back over medium heat to warm the cheese. Place a large plate or serving platter over the surface and invert the polenta onto the plate. Serve topped with your favorite sauce.

CHERRY POLENTA CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat.
• Vigorously whisk together the eggs and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the cornmeal, flour and salt, smoothing out any lumps. Whisk in the milk and almond extract.
• Add the butter to a 10- to 12-inch cast-iron skillet over direct heat. When the butter has melted, swirl it around to coat the bottom of the skillet. Right before you are ready to pour the batter into the pan, give the batter another whisk. (Cornmeal tends to sink to the bottom so re-whisking right before pouring it in is important.) Pour the batter into the cast-iron and cook until the batter begins to set, about 5 minutes. Every few minutes, using a rubber spatula, move some of the batter from the edges to the middle, like making scrambled eggs, to help it cook.
• Remove the skillet from the grill and distribute the cherries evenly over the surface of the cake. Place the cast-iron over indirect heat, close the grill and bake until puffed and golden brown, about 30 minutes.
• Remove the cake from the grill and immediately sprinkle it with the remaining teaspoon of granulated sugar. Allow to cool slightly before loosening and sliding it onto a plate. Slice and serve dusted with confectioners' sugar.
• (Alternatively, you can begin to bake the cake over medium-high heat on a stovetop, then finish it in a 375 degrees F oven for 30 minutes.)

LEMON UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat.
• Whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon in a small bowl. Whisk together the eggs, milk, olive oil, sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, lemon juice and zest in a large bowl. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and whisk to combine. Set aside.
• Place a shallow enameled Dutch oven over direct heat. Add the butter and melt. Continue to toast the butter until it becomes brown and nutty, 1 to 2 minutes. Swirl the butter up the sides of the Dutch oven as you are toasting it to prevent the cake from sticking.
• After the butter has browned, whisk in the brown sugar and allow it to melt. The mixture will resemble wet sand and won't get completely smooth.
• Take the Dutch oven off the heat and shingle the lemon slices in, covering the whole surface. Keep in mind that this will be the top of your cake. Pour the batter into the Dutch oven and put it back over indirect heat. Close the grill and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out dry, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Remove the cake from the grill and allow it to cool for 5 minutes. Invert the cake onto a platter and continue to cool until ready to serve.
• Meanwhile, place a 2-cup glass jar with a lid in the freezer for 20 minutes. When the jar is cold, pour in the cream and add the sugar and the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla. Vigorously shake until you end up with soft whipped cream, about 5 minutes.
• Cut the cake into 8 slices and serve with a dollop of whipped cream on top.
• (Alternatively, you can bake the cake in a 350 degrees F oven for 50 minutes.)

SOFT POLENTA

Steps:

• Add 4 1/2 cups water, 1 tablespoon salt and the olive oil to a medium saucepot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk in the cornmeal in a steady stream, until it is all incorporated and smooth.
• Reduce the heat to medium low and continue to cook at a simmer until the polenta is creamy and fully hydrated, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Take the saucepot off the heat and whisk in the butter and Parmesan. Season with additional salt and pepper. Transfer the polenta to a large serving bowl and serve.

CREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring 6 cups water and the olive oil to a boil. Add the salt to the water and whisk in the polenta. Whisk constantly for 3 to 4 minutes to prevent lumps. Simmer, partially covered and stirring every 10 minutes, until the polenta is thick, smooth and creamy, 45 minutes. Add the mascarpone and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Check for seasoning and adjust the consistency by adding water if desired. The polenta may be made up to 20 minutes ahead of time and kept covered until ready to serve.

LEMON POLENTA CAKE

Steps:

• Butter a 23cm cake tin and heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the lemons in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil, drain, pour over more cold water, then simmer for 1 hr until the lemons are really soft, topping up with more water if you need to. Drain the lemons well. When cool, halve them, remove the pips and blitz in a food processor to a purée.
• Add all the other cake ingredients and carry on blitzing until you have a loose batter. Scrape the batter into the cake tin and bake for 40-50 mins until golden and starting to shrink away from the sides.
• While the cake bakes, make the drizzle by mixing the sugar with the lemon juice. When the cake is ready, remove from the oven and leave to cool a little. While still warm, pour over the drizzle and leave to cool completely. Serve with mascarpone.

LEMON POLENTA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the base of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper and butter sides; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and superfine sugar until pale and fluffy.
• In a medium bowl, mix together almond meal, polenta, and baking powder. Add some of the almond meal mixture to the bowl with the butter mixture and beat to combine. Add one egg and mix until combined. With the mixer on low, continue alternating adding remaining almond meal mixture and 2 eggs; mix until well combined. Add lemon zest and mix just to combine.
• Pour batter into prepared pan and transfer to oven; bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs and cake begins to pull away from sides of the pan, about 40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, mix together lemon juice and confectioners' sugar; place over medium heat and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring, until sugar is dissolved; remove syrup from heat.
• Using a cake tester, prick holes all over the top of the cake; pour warm syrup over cake and let cool completely. Remove from pan and serve.

LEMON POLENTA POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F
• Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment or waxed paper.
• Combine the cornmeal, flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
• Beat the egg whites until stiff; set aside.
• Cream the butter, sugar and lemon zest until fluffy, then add the egg yolks and mix well.
• Add the lemon juice and milk alternately with the dry ingredients.
• Blend just until the dry ingredients are moistened.
• Carefully fold in the beaten egg whites.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center of the cake comes out clean.
• Let the cake cool for 15 minutes in the pan before turning out on a rack to cool.
• Remove the lining paper and cool completely.
• Slice, spread with lemon curd, top with whipped cream and berries.