Polenta With Sun Dried Tomatoes Garlic Corn And Onions Food

HERB AND TOMATO POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and tomatoes. Cook the tomatoes, stirring occasionally, until they start to blister and release some of their juices, 8 to 10 minutes. Toss in the garlic and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook another 1 minute, then remove from the heat.
• In a saucepan over low heat, stir the Parmesan and butter into the Cooked Polenta, thinning with milk as desired. Turn off the heat, stir in the lemon zest, taste for seasoning and add salt if necessary.
• Transfer the polenta to a serving bowl. Use a spoon to create a shallow well and top with the tomatoes, torn basil, some black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.
• Bring 6 cups of water to a rolling boil in a heavy-bottomed 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting, add the baking soda and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and pour the cornmeal into the water in a very slow stream from a measuring cup, all the while whisking in a circular motion to prevent lumps.
• Cook, vigorously stirring the polenta with a wooden spoon for about 10 seconds once every 5 minutes and making sure to scrape clean the bottom and corners of the pot, until the polenta has lost its raw cornmeal taste and becomes soft and smooth, about 30 minutes. If the polenta looks like it's drying out too quickly, continue cooking with the lid on. Cooked Polenta recipe courtesy of Jeff Mauro.

CHARRED CORN POLENTA WITH GRILLED TOMATO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Grilled Tomato Vinaigrette: Preheat the grill. Toss the tomatoes with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Grill the tomatoes, until the skins are blackened. Remove and chop coarsely. Place the tomatoes in a blender and add the garlic, onion, balsamic vinegar and basil and blend until smooth. Slowly add the olive oil until emulsified and season with salt and pepper to taste. Reserve.
• Polenta: Butter a large shallow baking dish generously with butter, set aside. Place the chicken stock in large saucepan and bring to a boil. Slowly add the polenta, whisking constantly with a wire whisk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until thickened and smooth. Fold in the corn, Parmesan cheese and parsley and pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the grill. Cut the chilled polenta into 2-inch circles, brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill on both sides until golden brown. Drizzle with vinaigrette.

GRILLED POLENTA WITH TOMATO-CORN SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare a grill or grill pan for medium-high heat. Clean and oil the grill grates.
• Wrap each ear of corn in damp paper towels and microwave the wrapped corn on high for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the paper towels and let the corn cool slightly.
• Brush the corn with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until lightly charred in spots, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, cut the polenta crosswise into 10 or 12 rounds. Brush the rounds on both sides with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill over medium-high heat, turning once or twice, until nicely marked and slightly softened, about 6 minutes total.
• Whisk the 1/4 cup oil with the vinegar and garlic in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Invert a small bowl and place it in a large bowl. Hold one ear of corn vertically on the smaller bowl and, using a knife, cut the kernels off the cob. Repeat with the remaining ears of corn. Remove the small bowl.
• Add the tomatoes and dressing to the corn; toss well. Fold in the basil and arugula, then season the salad with salt and pepper. Serve the salad with the grilled polenta, topped with jalapeño slices if desired.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO TAPENADE ON POLENTA TRIANGLES

Steps:

• For Tapenade:
• Combine all ingredients in processor. Using on/of turns, process until finely chopped. Transfer to small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• For Polenta:
• Combine whipping cream, water and salt in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to boil. Gradually whisk in cornmeal. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir until polenta is thick, about 10 minutes. Mix in hot sauce. Season with pepper. Pour into 8-inch square glass baking dish. Chill until cold, about 1 hour. (Tapenade and polenta can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately and chill.)
• Cut polenta into 12 squares. Cut each square in half diagonally, forming 24 triangles. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large nonstick skillet over high heat. Working in batches, add polenta triangles and sauté until golden, adding remaining 2 tablespoons oil as necessary, about 2 minutes per side for each batch. Transfer polenta to paper towels; drain.
• Divide tapenade among triangles. Arrange on platter. Garnish with parsley. Serve at room temperature.

CRISPY SEASONED POLENTA SQUARES

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, bring the water, tomatoes, salt, onion and garlic to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle boil; slowly whisk in cornmeal. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon for 15-20 minutes or until polenta is thickened and pulls away cleanly from the sides of the pan. Stir in cheese and oregano. Spread into a 9-in. square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes., Cut polenta into nine squares. In a shallow bowl, whisk egg and milk. In another shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs and cilantro. Dip polenta in the egg mixture, then bread crumb mixture. , In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook polenta in oil in batches for 1-2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Serve with sour cream.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO POLENTA CUTLETS

Steps:

• Cover the sun dried tomatoes with the boiling water in a non-reactive heatproof bowl and set aside.
• In a small saucepan, warm the olive oil and saute the onions, 1/3 of the garlic, and 1/4 teaspoons salt for about 5 minutes, until the onions soften.
• Add 1/3 cup of the basil and the mushrooms, cover, and cook on low heat, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms release their juices, about 10 minutes.
• Drain and mince the sun dried tomatoes, add them to the mushroom mixture, and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, bring 3 cups water, 3/4 teaspoons salt, and another 1/3 of the garlic to a boil.
• Whisk in the cornmeal in a slow, steady stream, stirring rapidly to prevent lumps.
• Lower the heat and cook, uncovered, gently, for about 10 minutes, stirring often, until the polenta is quite thick.
• Add the mushroom mixture to the polenta and mix well.
• Prepare an 8x12 inch glass or porcelain baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray.
• Spread the polenta mixture evenly in the baking dish and chill in the freezer for 1/2 hour or in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• When the polenta mixture has chilled enough to hold its shape when cut, it will be very easy to handle.
• While the polenta is chilling, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan, the parsley, and the remaining garlic and basil in a food processor or blender and whirl together until well mixed.
• Pour out into a large deep platter.
• In a separate large shallow bowl, lightly beat the egg whites and remainging 1/4 teaspoon salt until slightly frothy.
• Preheat the oven to 400*F.
• Cut the chilled polenta in half lengthwise, in thirds crosswise, and then cut each rectangular sixth in half on the diagonal.
• This mathmatical wizardry makes 12 triangular cutlets (they say trust us).
• Using a spatula, remove each triangle from the baking dish, dip it in the egg whites, and then thoroughly coat it with the bread crumb mixture.
• Place the breaded cutlets on a large very lightly oiled or sprayed baking tray and bake for 20 minutes.
• With a metal spatula, carefully turn each cutlet over and bake for 10 minutes more, until golden brown.
• Enjoy!
• Note:.
• You may top each serving of cutlets with a tomato-wine sauce, savory onion marmalade, pesto, or sauce of your choice.