Polenta Pie Food

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.

MUSHROOM AND POLENTA POTPIE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine porcini mushrooms with boiling water. Let stand for 15 minutes. Pass soaking liquid through damp cheesecloth into a small bowl, and set aside. Finely chop porcini mushrooms, and set aside.
• Melt butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add garlic and shallot, and saute until tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Raise heat to medium high, and add button mushrooms; cook for 2 minutes. Add remaining mushrooms, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in flour, and cook 1 minute. Stir in red wine, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any cooked-on bits on bottom of pan. Allow the liquid to reduce for 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste and the reserved porcini liquid, and simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in heavy cream, parsley, and thyme; season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Combine 2 cups milk with 2 cups water in a large saucepan, and bring to a simmer. Add polenta, and cook, stirring, until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, and stir in Parmesan, remaining 1 1/2 cups milk, and 1 teaspoon salt. Place egg yolks in a medium mixing bowl, and stir in 1 cup of the polenta mixture. Stir the egg-and-polenta mixture back into the polenta, and adjust seasoning with salt, if necessary.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Stir half of the egg whites into the polenta, then gently fold in the remaining whites until completely incorporated. Set aside.
• Place the mushroom mixture in a shallow 2-quart casserole; heap polenta on top. Sprinkle with Parmesan, and place on a baking sheet. Bake until polenta is golden and mushroom filling bubbles, about 25 minutes.

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 TAMALE PIE

Steps:

• Sauté beef in heavy large pot over medium-high heat until no longer pink, breaking up meat with back of fork, about 3 minutes. Add chili powder and cumin; stir 1 minute. Add salsa, beans and broth. Simmer until mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Mix in 1/4 cup cilantro; season with salt and pepper.
• Oil 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Place half of polenta in dish. Top with sauce and 1 1/2 cups cheese, then remaining polenta, cheese and cilantro. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with foil; chill.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake freshly assembled pie, uncovered, until heated through and sauce bubbles, about 35 minutes, or bake refrigerated pie, covered, 20 minutes, then uncover and bake until heated through, about 35 minutes.

MEXICAN POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375.
• Mix cornmeal, water, chicken broth and salt in medium saucepan. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly, over medium-high heat.
• Reduce heat to medium, continue cooking, stirring frequently, until mixture is very thick and stiff (2 to 5 minutes). Remove from heat; let stand 5 minutes.
• Stir in egg and half-n-half.
• Spread cornmeal mixture into buttered 9" pie plate. (*I find that using a lightly buttered sandwich-baggie over my hand works great for this, to push the cornmeal mixture evenly into the pie plate and up the sides.) Bake uncovered 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix salsa, jalapenos (if using)and beans in medium bowl; mash a little with a potato masher to incorporate.
• When cornmeal crust is done, spread bean mixture over evenly.
• Sprinkle with cheese and tortilla chips.
• Bake uncovered 20 minutes.
• Let stand a few minutes before slicing.
• Top individual servings with sour cream.

GREEK-STYLE SPINACH, FETA & POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Grease a 1.5-qt baking dish (mine is an oval that measures about 9 x 7 inches) or 9-inch pie pan with 1 tablespoon of the oil.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the spinach and cook, tossing frequently, until wilted, 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the eggs, yogurt, polenta, garlic, salt and pepper; whisk until smooth. Add the feta, pecorino Romano, and dill, and whisk until evenly combined. Stir in the wilted spinach.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish or pie pan, and bake until just set and puffed, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

BAKED POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• In large pot or dutch oven bring water to full boil. Add salt. Slowly add polenta. Whisk for 5 minutes until slighly combined. Some water will remain. Cover with lid slightly askew so some steam escapes. Continue to simmer stirring every few minutes for about 25 minutes or until polenta is smooth ans soft.
• Remove polenta from heat. Add butter and parmesan.
• While polenta is cooking, start sausage ragu
• In a large skillet, brown the sausage. Drain any exccess grease. Add onion and pepper and cook until soft. Add garlic and saute for a few minutes. Add tomato paste and crushed tomatoes. Simmer for a few minutes. Add herbs, salt and pepper. Simmer about 10 minutes until thick. Taste. More salt?
• Pour the polenta over the ragu and smooth with the back of a spoon
• Bake for 30 minutes or until puffy and hot in the middles. Top with mozzarella and bake for additional 5 minutes.
• Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. The longer you allow to cool the firmer the polenta will become.
• Store leftovers in fridge for up to 3 days.

VEGETARIAN POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion, bell pepper, garlic, and oregano in the hot oil until softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.
• Pour water into a pot and bring to a boil; add polenta and a pinch of salt. Whisk and cook polenta until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Spread and flatten polenta into a 9-inch pie plate, forming a crust. Cool to room temperature.
• Layer diced tomatoes into the cooled crust; top with onion mixture. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over filling.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 10 minutes.

VEGETARIAN BAKED POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• To make the tomato sauce, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large pan. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes, or until tender. Stir in garlic, tomatoes, fennel seed, basil, oregano, and red pepper. Season with salt and black pepper and let simmer for about 30 minutes over low heat.
• While the sauce is simmering, roast the vegetables. Place zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, and red pepper on a large baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss. Roast for 25-30 minutes, or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. When the vegetables are done roasting, set aside to cool and reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F.
• In a large pot, bring the milk, butter, sugar and salt to a light simmer. Slowly add the polenta to the pot, whisking constantly. Once it starts to thicken, trade the whisk out for a spoon and stir until the polenta pulls away from the sides of the pot. Add half of the Parmesan cheese to the polenta and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into a 2 quart casserole dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Top with the other half of the parmesan.
• Evenly spread the roasted vegetables on top of the polenta. Spread the tomato sauce over the vegetables and top with grated mozzarella cheese. Place the pie in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until bubbly and the cheese is melted and slightly browned. Let rest for about 10 minutes. Cut into squares and serve warm.

ENCHILADA POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a small skillet and cook the onion until browned, about five minutes.
• Transfer the onion to a lightly oiled slow cooker (at least 3.5 quarts). Add the cornmeal, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder. Stir in boiling water. Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours, stirring often.
• In a large bowl, combine the salsa, beans, corn, chiles, red onion, olives, and remaining 1 tablespoon chili powder. Set aside.
• About half an hour before ready to serve, spread the bean mixture over the top of the polenta. Cover and continue to cook on Low until warmed through.
• Serve garnished with cheddar cheese or monterey jack cheese, and crumbled tortilla chips.

MEXICAN POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• preheat oven to 375°F.
• In a skillet cook onion, sweet pepper,and garlic in 1 tablespoon hot oil until tender.
• Add turkey, chili powder, cumin and cayenne.
• Cook until turkey is no longer pink, stirring to break up meat.
• Add beans, undrained tomatoes and salsa.
• Bring to boiling; reduce heat.
• Simmer gently 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, grease a 3-quart rectangular baking dish with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil.
• Cut 1 tube polenta into 1/2-inch cubes; press evenly into prepared baking dish.
• Halve remaining polenta lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices; set aside.
• Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese over polenta in dish.
• Top with meat mixture.
• Arrange sliced polenta over meat; sprinkle with remaining cheese and fresh tomato.
• Bake, uncovered, for 35 minutes or until bubbly.
• Sprinkle with cilantro.
• Let stand 15 to 20 minutes before serving.
• Makes 12 servings.

POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• Combine mushrooms and 1/2 cup hot water in a small bowl; set aside.
• Lightly coat bottom and sides of a 10-inch deep-dish pie pan with cooking spray.
• Place broccoli in colander and squeeze out excess water; set aside.
• Heat oven to 400F.
• In a large heavy-bottomed pot, combine remaining 1 1/2 cups hot water, milk and salt; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and slowly drizzle in cornmeal, whisking constantly.
• Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until polenta is as thick as mashed potatoes, about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Stir in broccoli, mushrooms and their liquid, 3 tablespoons Parmesan and butter.
• Spread polenta mixture evenly in prepared pan.
• Sprinkle on tomato and remaining Parmesan.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until edges begin to brown.
• Cool at least 30 minutes, or serve at room temperature.

MEXICAN POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• Place the pork, beans, beer, water, tomatoes, salsa, seasoning, and garlic in the slow cooker. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-7 hours. When pork is cooked through and beans are tender, shred the pork in the slow cooker with two forks.
• Bring water to a boil in a large non-stick pan; add a pinch of salt. Add polenta and cook over medium low heat. It will splatter, so be careful! After a while the polenta should stop bubbling - stir in the corn. Continue stirring every once in a while to prevent it from sticking all over the bottom. It will thicken as it cooks - cook for about 20-25 minutes for a soft polenta, adding more water if necessary and seasoning it with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the broiler. Arrange the meat and bean mixture in the bottom of a large pie, casserole, or baking dish and spread the polenta over the top. Cover with cheese (I used about a cup of shredded Mozzarella). Place under a broiler for a few minutes until cheese is melted.

POLENTA PIE WITH CHEESE AND TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 450°F. Oil a 9-inch pie plate or a 4-cup gratin dish with 1 teaspoon oil. 3Cut polenta roll crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and line pie plate with half of slices, overlapping slices slightly to completely cover bottom of pie plate. Stir 1 tablespoon basil into 1 1/2 cups pasta sauce and spread over polenta, then sprinkle with half of mozzarella. Top with remaining half of polenta slices, then sprinkle with Parmigiano-Reggiano and remaining half of mozzarella.
• Bake until bubbling and golden, about 20 minutes. While pie bakes, heat remaining pasta sauce, basil, and oil in a small saucepan, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Let pie stand 5 minutes to firm up and cool, then serve with extra sauce on the side.
• *Found at many supermarkets and lucini.com.

POLENTA PIE WITH SWEET POTATO & CARROT CAPONATA

Steps:

• Rub springform pan with small amount of oil and set aside. Preheat oven to 350˚F. Prepare crust: Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a 2 1/2-qt saucepan. Add cornmeal and salt, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 25 minutes or until cornmeal is soft and creamy, adding more water if desired or if cornmeal begins to look dry. Remove from heat and stir in dried herbs. Prepare filling: In a large skillet on medium heat, sauté onion in oil for 3 minutes or until onion just begins to turn translucent. Gently fold in chard and cook for another 2 minutes, then stir in peas and remove from heat. Add half of herbed cornmeal to springform pan, using a spatula to smooth it across the bottom. Spoon chard filling onto cornmeal, then finish with another layer of remaining herbed cornmeal over chard filling. (Don't worry if crust doesn't come all the way out to the edges.) Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until top begins to turn golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool for at least 5 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare caponata: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Simmer sweet potatoes for 5 minutes, then promptly drain. Heat oil in a large skillet on medium for 1 minute. Add onion, carrots and celery and cook for 5 minutes. Add sweet potatoes and cook for 5 more minutes. Stir in maple syrup, vinegar and spices and reduce heat to lowest setting. Cover caponata and let simmer for 20 minutes. Unlock sides of springform pan and use a flat spatula to serve portions of pie. Accompany each portion with a spoonful of caponata.