Pan Fried Polenta With Bruschetta Topping Food

BRUSCHETTA POLENTA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook polenta slices in oil over medium heat for 2 minutes on each side or until golden. , Place the bruschetta topping in a microwave-safe bowl; cover and cook on high for 1 minute. Spoon 1 tablespoon onto each slice of polenta; sprinkle with cheese.

FRIED POLENTA

Steps:

• Cut one 18-ounce tube polenta into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Heat 1/4 inch of vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat the polenta in flour and fry in batches until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side (add more oil if necessary). Drain on a rack; sprinkle with salt and grated parmesan.

FRIED POLENTA

Steps:

• Lightly oil an 11 by 7-inch baking dish. Transfer the hot polenta to the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly to 3/4-inch thick. Refrigerate until cold and firm, about 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Cut the polenta into 2 by 1-inch pieces. Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, fry the polenta pieces until golden brown on all sides, about 3 minutes per side. Using tongs, transfer the polenta pieces to paper towels and drain. Place the polenta pieces on a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while cooking the remaining batches.
• Transfer the polenta pieces to a serving platter. Sprinkle the polenta with the Parmesan cheese and salt. Serve, passing the marinara sauce alongside.
• 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.

PAN-SEARED POLENTA WITH SPICY TOMATO-BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Place 15x10x2-inch glass baking dish on rimmed baking sheet. Combine 8 cups water, 3 tablespoons olive oil, and 2 teaspoons salt in dish. Gradually mix in polenta.
• Place baking sheet with polenta in oven. Bake polenta 1 hour. Add pepper and stir to blend. Bake 20 minutes. Stir again and spread evenly. Bake until polenta is very thick, about 20 minutes longer. Cool polenta to room temperature, 1 to 2 hours (polenta will become firm). Using metal spatula, press polenta all over to even thickness. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover with plastic wrap; chill.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Cut polenta lengthwise into 4 strips. Cut each strip crosswise into 6 squares. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add polenta squares. Sauté until crisp and beginning to color, about 8 minutes per side. Transfer polenta to small baking sheet; place in oven to keep warm. Repeat with remaining polenta, adding oil to skillet as needed.
• Divide polenta among plates. Top with warm Spicy Tomato-Basil Sauce. Garnish with fresh basil sprigs, if desired.
• Sold at some supermarkets and at natural foods stores and Italian markets. If unavailable, substitute an equal amount of regular yellow cornmeal.
• What to drink:
• A medium-bodied red Italian wine is great with the spicy sauce. One to try: Montresor NV "Il Veronese" Valpolicella ($14), a lovely red blend with dried fruit flavors and vanilla notes.

POLENTA BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• Carefully unwrap polenta so as not to crumble it and slice the log into 12 even rounds.
• Add 2 tbs olive oil to a sauté pan and fry the polenta rounds until crisp. Flip the rounds and continue crisping the other side.
• Meanwhile, slice the tomatoes into 12 thick slices and drizzle them with the balsamic vinegar.
• Remove the polenta slices from the pan and put them onto a cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Top each slice with a tomato, salt and pepper to taste, and bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
• Once thoroughly heated, top the polenta stacks with a basil leaf and a slice of brie. Return to the oven for 5 minutes or until brie melts. Serve immediately.
• Makes 12 appetizers or 4 - 6 light entrees.

FRIED POLENTA WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring water and salt to boil in medium saucepan on medium heat. Gradually stir in grits; cook 5 to 6 min. or until grits are thickened and start to pull away from bottom and side of pan. Stir in cheeses. Pour into 9x5-inch loaf pan sprayed with cooking spray; cool 10 min. Refrigerate 1 hour or until chilled.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in medium saucepan on medium heat. Add onions and garlic; cook and stir 2 min. or until onions are crisp-tender. Stir in tomatoes and oregano; simmer on medium-low heat 10 min, stirring occasionally. Cool 15 min. Pour into blender; blend until smooth. Transfer to bowl; set aside.
• Unmold polenta; cut into 16 slices. Cut each slice lengthwise in half, then cut each piece diagonally in half. Melt 1 Tbsp. butter in large skillet on medium heat. Add 16 polenta triangles; cook 2 to 4 min. on each side or until crisp and lightly browned. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining butter and polenta triangles. Serve with sauce.

CRAB & POLENTA BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• Coat a 9-inch square baking pan with non-stick spray; set aside.
• MAKE THE POLENTA:.
• Combine water and salt in a saucepan over high heat.
• Slowly whisk in cornmeal, reduce heat to low, and simmer whisking constantly, until polenta is thick and smooth, 10 minutes.(My grandmother taught me to do it with a wooden spoon!).
• Remove polenta from heat; add Parmesan, cream, butter, and 1/2 tsp (or more) Tabasco, whisking until butter melts. (Toppings stay on the polenta better if it's smoothed a bit before chilling - use an offset spatula or a spoon.).
• Spread polenta in the prepared pan, cover with plastic wrap and chill 2 hours or overnight.
• Preheat a grill pan over high heat or preheat broiler to low.
• Turn chilled polenta out of pan; cut into 16 squares and brush with olive oil.
• Place polenta squares in grill pan and grill for 8-10 minutes or place polenta squares on broiler pan and broil until lightly browned.(When char marks are visible on the polenta edges, use a sturdy spatual to release it from the grill pan.).
• Cut squares into triangles.
• MAKE THE CRAB SALAD:.
• Combine tomatoes, scallions, maynnaise, sour cream, lime juice and the remaining Tabasco for the salad in a bowl until blended.
• Gently stir in crabmeat with a fork to coat with dressing.
• To serve, top each polenta triangle with 1 teaspoon crab salad.

CALZAGATTI (PAN-FRIED POLENTA AND BEANS)

Steps:

• Bring 3 cups of water to boil in a large pot. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Sprinkle in polenta, whisking constantly, to avoid lumps from forming. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, until polenta is creamy and no longer gritty, 15 to 20 minutes. Turn off the heat.
• While polenta is cooking, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a skillet. Add guanciale and saute until crispy. Add minced onion, garlic clove, and rosemary and cook until garlic is lightly browned and fragrant but not burned, about 1 minute. Remove and discard garlic clove. Stir in cranberry beans and tomatoes and simmer until thickened a bit, about 5 minutes.
• Fold bean mixture into polenta and mix well. Pour into a 9-inch square glass dish or silicone cake pan and allow to cool, about 30 minutes.
• Flip cooled polenta over and set out, covered with cheesecloth, to air-dry until most of the moisture has evaporated, 8 hours to overnight.
• Cut dried polenta into 2x3-inch rectangles.
• Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons oil. Add a few polenta rectangles to the hot oil and cook until brown and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes, without disturbing the calzagatti. Flip, and cook until brown and crisp on the other side. Remove and drain on paper towels. Continue with the rest of the calzagatti, adding more oil as necessary.

PAN-FRIED POLENTA WITH BRUSCHETTA TOPPING

Steps:

• Line a pie pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
• Bring water to a boil in a pot over high heat. Stir in cornmeal slowly. Add sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and pepper. Reduce heat to low and let simmer until thick, about 10 minutes. Pour into the prepared pan; smooth out evenly. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours.
• Mix tomatoes, onion, basil, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Chill bruschetta until ready to use.
• Heat olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium-high heat. Remove polenta from the pie pan and slice into 8 triangles. Brown slices in hot oil until golden, about 6 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels; transfer to a serving plate. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve with bruschetta topping on each slice.

POLENTA BRUSCHETTA WITH TAPENADE

Steps:

• Bring the stock to the boil in a saucepan, then reduce to a simmer. Stirring continuously, pour in the polenta in a steady steam and cook for 5 mins until thickened. Stir in the basil and season with black pepper and salt, if you like. Spread on an oiled shallow tin measuring 24 x 18cm. Leave to set for 1 hr.
• Cut the polenta into 9 rectangles, each 8 x 6cm, then cut in half diagonally to make triangle shapes. Heat a griddle until hot, brush each triangle with oil and grill for 4-5 mins each side, until crisp and golden.
• Top each triangle with 1⁄2 tsp tapenade and half a tomato. Serve warm on salad leaves.