Thursday, July 19

Wicked Polenta

I have a confession to make.
I, The Gourmand am guilty of using polenta of the “instant” variety.
I admit also, that I enjoy preparing it this it this way, and I take pleasure in eating it too. Yes. I am guilty as a kitchen rat. I am not the gastronomic puritan you thought I was.
Making polenta the traditional way is not for me. I have decided after years of enduring burns from stirring boiling mush and scorched saucepans to wash afterwards, that from now on I will leave that method to the Italian nonnas. May God bless their blistered hands and burnt pots.

Here is how I do it the easy, wicked way:

For two people weigh out 200g instant polenta. In a saucepan bring 800ml of water to the boil. You can use milk instead of water for a richer dish. Add salt, or small stock cube if you like (another kitchen sin!).
Sprinkle the polenta into the boiling water, give it a quick stir, pop a lid on and turn the heat to low. Allow it to simmer for 3 minutes.
Remove from the heat and beat in 100g of grated fontina cheese and 50g unsalted cultured butter. You can substitute blue cheese or a swiss style cheese if it suits the dish to which the polenta is to accompany.
Serve immediately with what you will. I like polenta with tomato braised sausages, like they do in Italy.
It reheats successfully in the microwave. Another sin! Some one get a priest before I commit yet another culinary offense!

4 comments:

Truffle said...

I am guilty of the same crime but your looks restaurant quality. Looks like a perfect comforting Winter dish!

Julia said...

(Instant) polenta is the best = FACT. Have you then tried baking it for an hour in the oven with the lid on (after the stovetop method)? It's even more amazing, if you can believe.

neil said...

I tried the instant polenta and threw it out, traditional has a better texture and flavour. If you try Marcela Hazan's method and pop it on a simmer mat, you won't have to stand there stirring the stuff either. Okay, you actually do have to remember start it thirty or so minutes before you want to eat, but it is worth the effort.

Paul said...

Neil- Thankyou for your suggestion. I agree with you on "authenticity". Its not that I haven't cooked polenta the traditional way, its more of the case- can I be bothered?
I prefer white polenta and that I haven't seen in the instant variety.
I will try Signora Hazans method. Next winter...