Sauteed Polenta Triangles Food

FRIED POLENTA

Steps:

• Lightly oil an 11 by 7-inch baking dish. Transfer the hot polenta to the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly to 3/4-inch thick. Refrigerate until cold and firm, about 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Cut the polenta into 2 by 1-inch pieces. Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, fry the polenta pieces until golden brown on all sides, about 3 minutes per side. Using tongs, transfer the polenta pieces to paper towels and drain. Place the polenta pieces on a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while cooking the remaining batches.
• Transfer the polenta pieces to a serving platter. Sprinkle the polenta with the Parmesan cheese and salt. Serve, passing the marinara sauce alongside.
• 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.

PANCETTA & BOURSIN POLENTA WITH SAUTEED MIXED MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Bring the vegetable stock to a boil in a large saucepan. Season with salt and pepper and add several larger mushrooms to the stock to fortify it. Lower heat and cook mushrooms and stock for 6 - 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile in another pan, render the Pancetta at a low heat until thoroughly cooked then remove the meat from the pan and squeeze all oil out with paper towels. You can also use regular bacon or turkey bacon or none at all, depends upon your taste and if you're vegetarian or not.
• Ensure you still have 4 1/2 cups of liquid, if not add water and a bouillon cube to the stock. Remove all the mushrooms with a slotted spoon, draining the liquid and reserve off to the side with the rest of your smaller mushrooms.
• Ensure you have a whisk and a wooden spoon or equivalent at the ready and a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper! Bring the stock back to a boil and add the polenta to the fortified stock in a thin stream, whisking continuously into the boiling liquid. As soon as it re-boils, reduce the heat immediately and swap your whisk for the wooden spoon. Stir in the pancetta, boursin, parmesan cheese and sun-dried tomatoes (optional) and simmer the polenta until thick and porridge-like. WARNING the polenta may start to splatter volcanically, if this happens, remove from the burner and keep stirring until it calms down.
• Spread the polenta evenly over the lined cookie sheet to about ½ to ¾ inch thick. Use the wooden spoon to spread evenly and smooth the top of the polenta. Leave this to cool for the next 20 - 30 minutes while you prep and cook the remaining items. If necessary, the polenta can be prepared up to a couple days in advance.
• Cut the polenta into long triangles and re-warm or pan-fry until lightly golden and crispy. I've tried it both ways, and prefer leaving the polenta as-is and foregoing the extra calories added to the dish by pan-frying. In either case you'll be serving each guest a couple triangles, so arrange a couple on each plate and prepare them for the delicious mushroom stir-fry!
• Have some long matches or a BBQ lighter and the marsala wine open and at the ready. Put a 60/40 mix of vegetable oil to olive oil in a frying pan and heat on medium heat to the smoke point. Add all the mushrooms and stir briskly for about 1 minute salting them with some kosher or sea salt. Add the shallots (or pearl onions), garlic, wild garlic shoots (or green onion) and chopped thyme and stir in to the mix. Pour in the marsala wine and immediately light the wine with a long match or lighter to quickly burn off the alcohol. Add the butter and stir into the marsala to create a creamy sauce. Season with more sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Stir-fry until mushrooms appear golden and cooked.
• Divide the mushroom stir-fry evenly amongst the plates, placing the mushrooms on top of the polenta and serve immediately.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S ROSEMARY POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat the butter and olive oil in a large saucepan.
• Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, rosemary, salt, and pepper and sauté for 1 minute.
• Add the chicken stock, half-and-half, and milk and bring to a boil.
• Remove from the heat and slowly sprinkle the cornmeal into the hot milk while stirring constantly with a whisk.
• Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for a few minutes, until thickened and bubbly.
• Off the heat, stir in the Parmesan.
• Pour into a 9 X 13 X 2-inch pan, smooth the top, and refrigerate until firm and cold.
• Cut the chilled polenta into 12 squares, as you would with brownies.
• Lift each one out with a spatula and cut diagonally into triangles.
• Dust each triangle lightly in flour.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large sauté pan and cook the triangles in batches over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, turning once, until browned on the outside and heated inside.
• Add more butter and oil, as needed.
• Serve immediately.
• **Cook time does not include refrigeration time.

POLENTA TRIANGLES

Steps:

• Combine grits and 1/2 cup broth; mix well and set aside.
• Pour remaining 1 cup broth into heavy, large saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Add garlic and moistened grits; mix well and return to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat; add feta cheese. Stir until cheese is completely melted.
• Add red pepper; mix well.
• Spray 8-inch square pan with cooking spray. Spoon grits mixture into prepared pan. Press grits evenly into pan with wet fingertips.
• Refrigerate until cold.
• Preheat broiler. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Turn polenta out onto cutting board and cut into 2-inch squares. Cut each square diagonally into 2 triangles.
• Place polenta triangles on prepared baking sheet and spray tops lightly with cooking spray. Place under broiler until lightly browned and crisp.
• Serve warm or at room temperature. Garnish with fresh oregano and chives if desired.
• Exchanges 1 starch/bread.

POLENTA TRIANGLES

Steps:

• Bring stock or water, milk, and herbs, if using, to a boil in a small, deep saucepan over medium heat. Lower heat, and slowly sprinkle in cornmeal, stirring constantly. Cook, stirring constantly, for 20 minutes over low heat. If polenta becomes too thick, add as much as 1 more cup of boiling liquid. Polenta should resemble a thick porridge. Add salt to taste. Stir in butter.
• Pour polenta onto a 9-by-13-by-1/2-inch baking sheet, and smooth out. Cover with plastic, and refrigerate until firm or overnight.
• Cut polenta into 8 triangles, and saute in butter in a nonstick skillet, or grill until heated and brown on both sides.

POLENTA TRIANGLES

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a medium saute pan over medium heat; add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the wine and water; increase the heat to high and bring to a boil; gradually add the cornmeal, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
• Reduce the heat to low and cook, continuing to stir constantly, until the mixture is a smooth creamy paste, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the Parmesan cheese, salt,and pepper; evenly spread the mixture in a lightly oiled 9-inch pie plate; Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours,(when polenta is cool, cover with plastic wrap.).
• When ready to serve, lightly brush the surface of the polenta with olive oil, halve the polenta and cut each halve into 3 triangles.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; arrange the triangles in a single layer; lightly brush tops with olive oil, cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes per side.
• Note: If you prefer, the triangles can be cooked on a stove-top grill pan over medium heat or can be broiled on a baking sheet under the oven broiler; the time remains about 2 minutes per side.

POLENTA TRIANGLES

Steps:

• Oil large baking sheet. Bring 2 cups water and salt to boil in heavy medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in cornmeal. Reduce heat to medium. Stir constantly with wooden spoon until mixture is very thick, about 6 minutes.
• Divide hot polenta into 2 equal mounds on prepared baking sheet. Using back of spoon, flatten each mound into 6-inch circle, about 1/2 inch thick. Let stand until cool. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover with plastic and refrigerate.)
• Cut each polenta circle into 6 wedges. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add polenta to skillet; cook until slightly crisp at edges and heated through, adding more oil to skillet as necessary, about 3 minutes per side. Serve warm.

ROSEMARY POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat the butter and olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, rosemary, salt, and pepper and saute for 1 minute. Add the chicken stock, half-and-half, and milk and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and slowly sprinkle the cornmeal into the hot milk while stirring constantly with a whisk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for a few minutes, until thickened and bubbly. Off the heat, stir in the Parmesan. Pour into a 9 by 13 by 2-inch pan, smooth the top, and refrigerate until firm and cold.
• Cut the chilled polenta into 12 squares, as you would with brownies. Lift each one out with a spatula and cut diagonally into triangles. Dust each triangle lightly in flour. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large saute pan and cook the triangles in batches over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, turning once, until browned on the outside and heated inside. Add more butter and oil, as needed. Serve immediately.

CHICKEN AND VEGETABLE SAUTé OVER HERBED POLENTA TRIANGLES

Steps:

• Boil broth in small saucepan until reduced to 1 cup, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat. Combine fennel seeds and crushed red pepper in small bowl. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and bell pepper and sauté until golden and almost tender, about 4 minutes. Add squash and sauté until barely tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in half of fennel seed mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to large bowl.
• Place 3 tablespoons flour in medium bowl. Add chicken and toss to coat with flour; shake off excess. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in same skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; stir just until cooked through, about 3 minutes. Stir in remaining fennel seed mixture. Return vegetables to skillet. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover and chill.) Toss chicken and vegetables over medium-high heat until heated through. Season with salt and pepper. Mix in 1/4 cup basil.
• Mix vinegar and brown sugar in small skillet. Mix butter with remaining 1 tablespoon flour in small bowl. Bring vinegar mixture to boil. Add reduced broth and bring to boil. Whisk in butter mixture. Boil until sauce thickens slightly, whisking constantly, about 1 minute. Season sauce with salt and pepper.
• Arrange 2 polenta triangles on each of 4 plates. Spoon chicken mixture over polenta. Drizzle each with sauce. Garnish with remaining 1/4 cup basil and serve.

SAUTEED POLENTA WITH ROASTED TOMATOES

Steps:

• For the polenta: Bring 6 cups water and the salt to a boil over high heat in a medium (6-quart) heavy-bottom pot. Bring remaining 4 cups water to a simmer over medium heat in a small saucepan.
• Gradually add polenta to the large pot while whisking constantly. Switch to a wooden spoon once mixed in with no lumps. Cook until cornmeal has absorbed all of the water, about 3 minutes. Lower heat until only one or two large bubbles break the surface at a time (over medium-low or low, adjusting heat as necessary).
• Stir 2 ladles of simmering water into polenta and cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until water has been absorbed, about 5 minutes. Continue to add 2 ladles of water every 5 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent polenta from scorching and waiting for it to be absorbed before adding more, until polenta is creamy and just pulls away from sides of pot, about 45 minutes. (It may be necessary to adjust heat.)
• Stir in butter and season with pepper. Use a damp spoon or ladle to transfer polenta to a parchment-lined small rimmed baking sheet and chill until firm.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees for the tomatoes.
• Make the tomatoes: In a shallow baking dish, combine garlic, tarragon, sugar, vinegar, and oil. Add tomatoes and toss to combine; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to oven and bake until soft, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• To finish: Invert chilled polenta onto work surface and remove parchment paper. Trim edges and cut polenta into 4 inch squares. Cut squares in half on the diagonal to form triangles. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium saute pan. Sear triangles on each side until light golden, about 2 minutes per side. Serve polenta with roasted tomatoes and fresh ricotta. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and sprinkle with fleur de sel.

BLACK BEAN AND SWEET POTATO STEW WITH CHILIES AND POLENTA TRIANGLES

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Add ginger, chili powder and cumin and stir 2 minutes. Add sweet potatoes, orange juice and garlic and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until sweet potatoes are almost tender, about 10 minutes.
• Stir beans, poblano chilies and bell pepper into sweet potato mixture. Cover and simmer until chilies are tender, about 15 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over low heat before continuing, stirring occasionally.)
• Divide stew among 4 bowls. Top with sour cream, avocado and orange, if desired. Serve with Polenta Triangles.