Polenta Gratin With Savory Vegetables Food

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.

VEGETABLE GRATIN WITH POLENTA AND SMOKED TOMATO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For the polenta: Brush an 8-inch square baking pan with olive oil or butter. In a medium-sized, heavy-bottomed pot bring 1 cup milk and 2 cups water to a boil, then sprinkle in the cornmeal whisking constantly. Keep whisking or stirring until mixture boils and thickens, then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 1/2 cup of water if polenta gets too thick. Stir in the salt, softened butter, and herbs, then pour into baking pan and try to smooth into an even layer about 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick. Let cool. For the vegetables: Alternate layers of vegetables on top of polenta, pressing down firmly on each layer, and ending with red peppers and cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Cut into squares and serve with smoked tomato vinaigrette.
• For the Smoked Tomato Vinaigrette: Place wine, shallots, and vinegar in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup. Core and quarter the tomatoes. Puree in blender, then strain puree into the pot. Bring to a boil and simmer until about 1/2 cup of liquid remains. Whisk in olive oils and season with salt and pepper.

POLENTA GRATIN WITH MUSHROOM "BOLOGNESE"

Steps:

• Heat the peanut oil in a large skillet over medium heat until it moves easily across the pan. Add the onion, carrot, celery, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cook for 1 minute, then add the mushrooms and thyme leaves. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms are almost tender, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato, cook for about 2 minutes more, then add the stock 2 tablespoons at a time, bringing to a simmer before each addition. Simmer the bolognese until it is concentrated but not yet dry, about 30 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Moisten the polenta with 2 tablespoons of water, mixing well with your hands. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Add a pinch of salt and gradually stir in the polenta. Stirring constantly, bring the polenta to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cook the polenta, stirring occasionally, until it is no longer grainy, about 30 minutes. Stir the olive oil into the polenta, season with salt, and remove it from the heat.
• TO ASSEMBLE: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spoon 1/2 the polenta into a medium baking dish and cover with 1/2 of the sauce. Spoon in the remaining polenta, spread it evenly, then sprinkle with the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Transfer the remaining sauce to a small saucepan and reserve.
• Bake the gratin until the top is golden, about 40 minutes. Just before serving, warm the reserved sauce over low heat. Divide the gratin and sauce among 4 plates and serve.

SAVORY POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large, oven-safe saucepan heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the red onion and salt and sweat until the onions begin to turn translucent, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, add the garlic, and saute for 1 to 2 minutes, making sure the garlic does not burn.
• Turn the heat up to high, add the chicken stock, bring to a boil. Gradually add the cornmeal while continually whisking. Once you have added all of the cornmeal, cover the pot and place it in the oven. Cook for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring every
• 10 minutes to prevent lumps. Once the mixture is creamy, remove from the oven and add the butter, salt, and pepper. Once they are incorporated, gradually add the Parmesan.
• Serve as is, or pour the polenta into 9 by 13-inch cake pan lined with parchment paper. Place in the refrigerator to cool completely.
• Once set, turn the polenta out onto a cutting board and cut into squares, rounds, or triangles. Brush each side with olive oil and saute in a nonstick skillet over medium heat, or grill.

POLENTA GRATIN WITH SAVORY VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Polenta
• Brush an 8-inch square baking dish with a thin coating of olive oil or butter.
• Bring the milk and 3 cups of water to a boil in a heavy-bottomed 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Slowly pour in the polenta, whisking constantly. Continue whisking or stirring until the mixture boils. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes. Add a little more water if the polenta gets too thick (it should be loose enough to pour, but not runny). Stir in the salt, butter, and the Grana Padano cheese, and pour the mixture into the baking dish. Using a spatula, smooth the polenta into an even layer, 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick. Gently press a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the polenta and let it cool for 10 minutes at room temperature, then refrigerate it until needed. Meanwhile, prepare the vegetables.
• When all the vegetables are ready, top the polenta with the eggplant, then sprinkle with a little fontina cheese and spread the spinach on top. Arrange the mushrooms and garlic confit over the spinach, then a little more cheese. Finish with the red peppers and the remaining cheese.
• Bake for about 15 minutes, until the polenta is heated through. Serve with a tomato basil sauce if desired.
• If you are not serving the polenta immediately, let it cool for 15 minutes, then cover it with plastic wrap, place another pan of the same size on top, and weight it down, using 3 or 4 pounds. Refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour. Pressing the vegetables in this manner helps them meld with the polenta; however, you shouldn't use so much weight that you make a flat "pizza." This also makes the gratin easier to cut into neat squares. Then you can serve this dish as I do at the restaurant-simply reheat individual squares in the oven. Portions can also be tightly wrapped in plastic and frozen for up to 2 months.
• Savory Vegetables Topping
• Prepare 2 recipes of Garlic Confit. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Remove the seeds from the peppers and cut them into strips or dice. Set aside. Place the eggplant in a large bowl with 1 cup of water, 3 tablespoons olive oil, and a generous pinch of salt. Toss the eggplant well to coat, then transfer it to a baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes (flipping once), or until golden brown and soft. Use a metal spatula to flip the eggplant once during cooking.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and sauté them (in batches, if necessary, to avoid overcrowding the pan) until golden brown and crispy, about 5 minutes. Season them with salt and pepper, then transfer to a plate and cool. Wipe the skillet with a paper towel, if necessary, and heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the spinach and a pinch of salt and cook, turning frequently with tongs, for 2-3 minutes, until just wilted. Use a strainer to drain it.