Polenta Soup Food

POLENTA AND SPINACH SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup oil and the garlic in a medium saucepan over medium heat until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add 6 cups water; bring to a boil. Whisking constantly, add cornmeal in a slow, steady stream. Reduce heat to medium; cook, stirring occasionally, until soup has thickened slightly, about 8 minutes. Add cheese and 1/4 cup oil; cook, stirring, until oil is incorporated, about 1 minute. Stir in spinach and salt; cook, stirring, until spinach is bright green and wilted, about 1 minute more.
• Divide soup among four bowls; drizzle each serving with 1 teaspoon oil. Season soup with pepper, and serve with lemon wedges.

RUSTIC VEGETABLE AND POLENTA SOUP

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, onions, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion begins to brown, about 6 minutes.
• Add the parsley, thyme, garlic, tomatoes and zucchini, and cook for 3 minutes. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Slowly stir in the polenta and cook until the soup thickens and the vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes.
• Stir in the butter and season with salt and pepper.
• Ladle into soup bowls and serve.

POLENTA WITH MUSHROOM RAGOUT

Steps:

• FOR THE POLENTA
• Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Sprinkle the cornmeal on top while mixing it in with a whisk, and stir in the salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid to prevent splattering, and cook gently for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the polenta is cooked and has the consistency of a creamy puree. Set aside, covered.
• FOR THE RAGOUT
• Heat the butter and oil in a large saucepan. When they are hot, add the onion and sauté for 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms and sauté over high heat for about 2 minutes, until the liquid emerges from them and evaporates. Add the garlic, tomatoes, corn, chicken stock, salt, and pepper and bring to a strong boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
• To serve, ladle the polenta into the center of four soup plates and pour the mushroom ragout on top of and around it. Sprinkle with the chives and 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.

CREAMY POLENTA SOUP WITH SPINACH (PAPAROT)

Steps:

• 1. Tip: For a smooth and velvety soup like Lydia's, I pulsed my cornmeal in my food processor for about 20 seconds before starting the recipe. First, whisk the polenta and flour in a saucepan.
• 2. Starting with 1 cup of broth, whisk the broth and polenta-flour mixture and remove any lumps. Add the butter and salt and stir.
• 3. Continue adding broth while whisking and place on medium-high heat to bring to a boil. Lower to medium heat and simmer soup for 25 minutes. Stir gently.
• 4. Add spinach to soup and stir. Continue cooking on medium-low heat for 10 minutes. If using, serve with grated parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil. Enjoy.

POLENTA SOUP

Steps:

• Chop the onion and mince the garlic. Core and finely chop the tomatoes, reserving the juices.
• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and saute 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the garlic, tomatoes, reserved juices, stock, corn and chiles. Bring liquid to a simmer, then cover the pot and cook gently over low heat for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile rinse and mince the cilantro (or parsley).
• While whisking constantly, slowly drizzle the cornmeal into the simmering soup. Simmer gently, uncovered, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Make sure you occasionally stir the bottom of the pot to prevent the cornmeal from sticking.
• Season soup to taste.
• Right before serving, add lemon or lime juice, cilantro, and cheese (if you are using it.

POLENTA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for about 3 minutes. Add the garlic, tomatoes, broth, corn and chilies. Bring the liquid to a simmer then cover the pan and cook gently over low heat for 15 minutes. Meanwhile rinse and mince the cilantro.
• While whisking constantly, slowly drizzle the cornmeal into the simmering soup, Simmer gently uncovered until thickened, about 10 minutes. Stir the bottom on occasion to make sure the cornmeal isn't sticking.
• Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper. Right before serving stir in the lime juice. Portion out and garnish if you wish with cheddar cheese, cilantro and chopped green bell pepper.
• VARIATION -You can enrich it with cubed smoked ham or roasted pork

WHITE BEAN AND ESCAROLE SOUP WITH SPICY POLENTA

Steps:

• Place beans in heavy medium saucepan and add enough cold water to cover by 3 inches. Soak overnight. Drain. Return beans to pan. Add 8 cups water and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer gently until beans are tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool beans completely in liquid.
• Place remaining 4 cups water, prosciutto, 1/2 garlic head, and 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds in heavy large saucepan. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Strain prosciutto broth into large measuring cup, reserving solids in strainer for soup. Add enough water to prosciutto broth to measure 4 cups. Return broth mixture to same saucepan. Add dried crushed red pepper, 2 tablespoons oil, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds. Gradually whisk in polenta. Bring to boil, whisking constantly. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease large baking sheet. Spread polenta on prepared baking sheet, pressing with wet hands into 1-inch-thick round. Make 2-inch hole in center to allow steam to escape during baking. Brush with 1 tablespoon oil. Bake until crisp at edges, about 35 minutes.
• Meanwhile, drain beans, reserving 3 cups cooking liquid. Heat remaining 1/2 cup oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add remaining 1/2 garlic head, cut side down, and sauté 2 minutes. Add escarole and sauté until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add beans with 3 cups cooking liquid. Remove skins from garlic in reserved solids from prosciutto broth; add solids to soup. Simmer soup 10 minutes to blend flavors. Season soup generously with salt and pepper. Discard remaining halved garlic from soup.
• Ladle soup into shallow soup bowls. Cut polenta into wedges. Serve alongside soup.