Polenta Cornmeal Chips Food

BASIC POLENTA

Steps:

• For firm polenta use 4 cups water; for soft polenta use 5 cups water. Bring water to a boil in a medium-size heavy sauce pan over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Pour cornmeal slowly into water, stirring with a wire whisk or wooden spoon. Continue stirring as mixture thickens, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Turn heat to low. Cook for at least 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so. If polenta becomes quite thick, thin it with 1/2 cup water, stir well and continue cooking. Add up to 1 cup more water as necessary, to keep polenta soft enough to stir. Put a spoonful on a plate, let it cool, then taste. Grains should be swollen and taste cooked, not raw. Adjust salt and add pepper if you wish.
• For firm polenta, lightly butter a baking sheet or shallow dish, approximately 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Carefully pour polenta into pan. Using a spatula, spread polenta to a thickness of 3/4 inch. Cool to room temperature to allow polenta to solidify. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. For soft polenta, add 6 tablespoons butter to pot and stir well. Serve immediately or transfer to a double boiler set over low heat, cover and keep warm for up to an hour or so. (Or set the saucepan in a pot of barely simmering water.) Stir well before spooning into low soup bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan, if desired.

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.

POLENTA (CORNMEAL) CHIPS

Steps:

• Cook the garlic in the chicken stock until it is tender& set aside.
• Combine the polenta& 2 cups of the cold water, stir until mixed.
• Bring the other 2 cups of cold water to the boil in a large pot with the salt.
• Add the polenta mix and cook for 5 minutes, stirring vigoursly.
• Turn the heat down to low& cook for 30 minutes until mixture comes away from the sides.
• Chop the garlic very finely, then add to the polenta with the parmesan, stir until combined.
• Pour the mixture into an oiled baking tray& spread out to about 1/2 centimetre thick.
• Cool overnight.
• Cut into chips.
• Beat the eggs& milk together.
• Dust the chips in the flour, dip in the egg, then coat in the breadcrumbs.
• Repeat this process until all the chips are crumbed.
• Heat the oil in a large pot until hot.
• Deep-fry the chips until they are golden brown.
• Drain well& serve hot.

POLENTA

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring the chicken broth and the water to a boil. While whisking constantly, slowly pour the cornmeal into the hot liquid. Stir in the salt. Lower the heat to cook the mixture at a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring frequently, until the cornmeal is creamy and not grainy, about 30 minutes. Remove the polenta from the heat and stir in the cheese and the butter. Serve.
• In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring the chicken broth and the water to a boil. While whisking constantly, slowly pour the cornmeal into the hot liquid. Stir in the salt. Lower the heat to cook the mixture at a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring frequently, until the cornmeal is creamy and not grainy, about 30 minutes. Remove the polenta from the heat and stir in the cheese and the butter. Serve.

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.

POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Pour in polenta steadily, stirring constantly. Continue to stir until polenta is thickened. It should come away from sides of the pan, and be able to support a spoon. This can take anywhere from 20 to 50 minutes. Pour polenta onto a wooden cutting board, let stand for a few minutes.

THICK POLENTA OVEN CHIPS (FRIES)

Steps:

• In a large pan bring the water and stock to a rolling boil.
• Whisking constantly, add the polenta all at once in a steady stream.
• Reduce the heat and cook stirring constantly for about 10 minutes or until really thick. Be careful as thick polenta tends to 'erupt' like a volcano if left unattended, keep stirring being careful not to burn the bottom.
• Stir in the cheese and butter then season with salt.
• Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary, if you think it needs something then add it! I like finely chopped pickled jalapeño peppers personally.
• If the polenta is really thick then it is ready to pour into a square dish lined with cling film.
• Once cold it will be set and firm. Set the oven to 200C/400°F Turn out the polenta, remove cling film and cut into thick chips.
• Arrange on a baking tray lined with foil and sprayed generouly with cooking spray. Coat the chips with plenty of spray and bake for 20-40 minutes or until crisp and browned, turning over once during cooking and spraying again if necessary.
• The time they take to cook will depend on the size you cut them.
• Delicious and different but not 'out there'.