Polenta Stuffed Peppers Food

STUFFED RED PEPPERS WITH CHEESY POLENTA AND GREEN CHILES

Steps:

• Cut the bell peppers in half and remove and discard the seeds and membranes. Place the bell pepper cups in a lightly greased 13" x 9" baking dish.
• Whisk together the polenta and the next 5 ingredients in a large saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Cook, whisking constantly, for 5-7 minutes or until the polenta thickens. Stir in the cream and the next 4 ingredients, blending well.
• Spoon the mixture into pepper cups and bake at 400F for 25-30 minutes or until the peppers are tender. Garnish with fresh cilantro sprigs, if desired.

POLENTA-STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove the seeds and ribs. Slice each chile in 1/2 from stem end to blossom end. Arrange in a shallow, buttered baking dish.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion softens, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the cornmeal and stir to mix. Slowly pour in the chicken broth, stirring to combine. Add the cream, corn, basil, cilantro, salt, and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan. Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the polenta becomes as thick, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Fill the bell peppers with the polenta. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan and the Gruyere. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden and bubbling. Serve hot. (The peppers can be stuffed and baked the preceding day. To serve, bring to room temperature and reheat at 350 degrees F, for about 12 minutes).

SOFT POLENTA WITH ROASTED RED PEPPERS

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and saute, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes, or until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes more, until its aroma is released.
• Add the chicken stock, water, and salt to the pan and increase the heat to medium high. When the liquid is simmering, gradually sprinkle the polenta over in a very slow, thin stream, whisking constantly in the same direction until all the grains are incorporated and no lumps remain. Reduce the heat to very low. Switch to a wooden paddle and stir thoroughly every few minutes for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan and the grains of polenta have softened. Stir in the butter, thyme, pepper, and grated Manchego and remove from the heat. Spoon some polenta into each of 6 warmed shallow soup bowls and top with some of the roasted peppers and chopped cilantro.

BAKED STUFFED POLENTA (POLENTA AL FORNO)

Steps:

• In a lrg saucepan, bring chicken stock to a boil & gradually whisk in the polenta. Reduce heat to simmer & cook 15 min or till very thick (while continuing to stir).
• Remove pan from heat & stir in butter, 1st measure of Parmesan cheese + parsley.
• Allow to cool slightly. Then press polenta mixture into an oiled 8 x 12-in lamington pan (See notes). Cool to rm temp & refrigerate several hrs (or overnite) till firm.
• Turn polenta out of pan, slice horizontally in half, return bottom half to pan & set top half aside.
• Evenly distribute sliced salami over the half in the pan, overlapping as necessary. Then evenly distribute the chopped tomatoes & black olives over the salami slices.
• Combine Mozzarella cheese, 2nd measure of Parmesan cheese & fresh basil. Spread half of this mixture over the layered salami, tomatoes & black olives.
• Gentle place top half of polenta over the layered ingredients & sprinkle it w/the 2nd half of the cheese & basil mixture.
• Bake in a hot oven (400°F) about 30 min or till heated thru. The top should be lightly browned & crisp, so place under broiler as needed. Allow to cool slightly & serve immediately.
• NOTES RE PAN SIZE: I do not have a lamington pan or a pan 8 x 12-in size. If made in one, the dish would be cut into 6 4x4-in square servings. I do have a 10-in rd glass baking dish that would be equal in size to the pan suggested. In this event, the dish would be cut in 6 wedge-shaped servings.
• 2nd STUFFING OPTION: As an 2nd option if you prefer, use thinly sliced prosciutto as a sub for the salami & keep all else the same.

POLENTA-STUFFED POBLANO PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat broiler. On a rimmed broiler-proof baking sheet, toss the tomatoes, onion, and oil; turn the tomatoes cut-side down. Place the peppers on the sheet, cut-side down. Broil until tender and charred, stirring the onions and turning the tomatoes and peppers halfway through, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Heat oven to 400°F In a food processor, puree the tomatoes, onion, cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until smooth. Spread half the sauce in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange the peppers in the dish, cut-side up.
• In a medium saucepan, bring 2 1/4 cups water to a boil. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Gradually whisk in the polenta. Cook, whisking constantly, until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the corn, cheese, and all but 2 tablespoons of the scallions.
• Divide the polenta among the peppers. Top with the remaining sauce and bake until heated through, 5 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining scallions before serving.

POLENTA STUFFED SWEET BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut the tops off the peppers and remove the seeds and membranes from the inside; set aside.
• Saute the garlic, green onion, and zucchini in the oil over medium heat until the zucchini starts to soften; add the tomatoes, basil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper, and heat for 5 minutes.
• While that's cooking, if you're using commercially packaged cooked polenta remove it from the packaging and briefly microwave for 2 to 3 minutes to soften.
• Stir the cooked polenta and cumin into the vegetable mixture until well incorporated, then removed from the heat and stir in the mozzarella.
• Fill the peppers with the polenta mixture and sprinkle each with a tablespoon of Parmesan and a dash paprika.
• Bake on a lightly sprayed cookie sheet at 350 degrees F for 30-40 minutes or until pepper has reached desired texture.
• Makes 4-6 servings (if you cut'em in half).