Janet’s Cooking at Home – Lets make Fried Polenta

Janet’s Cooking at Home – Duck Breasts with Green Peppercorn Sauce with Polenta Grilled in Duck Fat  and Root Vegetables

Polenta (Fried)

Easy to prepare (lets be honest, it is time consuming with the stirring every 10 min.) and versatile, polenta can be enjoyed plain and simple or embellished with a wide range of tasty ingredients.

Polenta is a fine yellow cornmeal cooked to a mush with water or stock, and added ingredients such as onions, garlic, cheese, mushrooms, etc., sometimes set, sliced, and served fried. 

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for grilling
• 3/4 cup finely chopped red onion
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 4 cups chicken stock or broth
• 1 cup coarse ground cornmeal
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ½ cup Parmesan

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Janet’s Cooking at Home - Polenta - heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the red onion and salt.

In a large, oven-safe saucepan heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the red onion and salt and sweat until the onions begin to turn translucent, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.

Janet’s Cooking at Home - Polenta - add the garlic and sauté.

Reduce the heat to low, add the garlic and sauté for 2 minutes, making sure the garlic does not burn.

Janet’s Cooking at Home - Polenta - add the chicken stock.

Janet’s Cooking at Home - Polenta - add the chicken stock and bring to a boil.

Turn the heat up to high, add the chicken stock and bring to a boil.

Janet’s Cooking at Home - Polenta - Gradually add the cornmeal while continually whisking.

Janet’s Cooking at Home - Polenta - Once you have added all of the cornmeal cover the pot and place it in the oven.

Gradually add the cornmeal while continually whisking.

Janet’s Cooking at Home - Polenta – once in the oven stir every 10 minutes to prevent lumps.

Once you have added all of the cornmeal cover the pot and place it in the oven. Cook for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes to prevent lumps.

Janet’s Cooking at Home - Polenta – Once the mixture is creamy add the butter.

Once the mixture is creamy, remove from the oven and add the butter, salt, and pepper.

Janet’s Cooking at Home - Polenta – add the Parmesan.

Once they are incorporated, gradually add the Parmesan.

Janet’s Cooking at Home - Polenta – pour the polenta cake pan lined with parchment paper.

Janet’s Cooking at Home - Polenta – pour the polenta cake pan lined with parchment paper.

Janet’s Cooking at Home - Polenta – pour the polenta cake pan lined with parchment paper. Place in the refrigerator to cool completely.

Serve as is, or pour the polenta into 9 by 13-inch cake pan lined with parchment paper.

Place in the refrigerator to cool completely.

Janet’s Cooking at Home - Polenta – Once set, turn the polenta out onto a cutting board and cut into desired shapes.

Janet’s Cooking at Home - Polenta – Once set, turn the polenta out onto a cutting board and cut into desired shapes.

Once set, turn the polenta out onto a cutting board and cut into squares, rounds, or triangles.

Janet’s Cooking at Home - Polenta – sauté in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.

Brush each side with olive oil (if available use Duck fat) and saute in a nonstick skillet over medium heat, or grill.

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