4 Ways to Make Polenta

2025 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-03 04:11

Polenta is a typical dish of northern Italy, prepared using flour, obtained by drying and grinding white or yellow corn. Thanks to its versatile and slightly earthy flavor, it is gaining popularity around the world. Learn to cook polenta, then experiment with three variations: fried polenta, baked polenta, and polenta with cheese.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Simple Cooked Polenta

Step 1. Prepare the ingredients

Here is what you will need to prepare some simple cooked polenta:

• 240 g of polenta flour
• 720 ml of water
• Half a teaspoon of salt

Step 2. Put the water in a large pot

Bring it to a boil and add the salt.

Step 3. Reduce the heat to a medium-low setting

Step 4. Add a third of the flour to the pot

Use a wooden spoon to mix it. After about two minutes, the polenta will begin to thicken as it absorbs the water.

Step 5. Add the remaining flour to the pot

Continue stirring with the spoon for about 10 minutes.

Step 6. The polenta will be ready when it has reached a creamy consistency

• Do not overcook the polenta otherwise the corn grains will tend to flake.

  

• Taste the polenta to check its consistency. Decide if you want it creamier, or grainier, and remove it from the heat at the appropriate time.

  

• You can serve polenta with many preparations: vegetables, braised meats, roasts, fish, cheeses; there are no limits to the possible combinations.

  

Method 2 of 4: Fried Polenta

Step 1. Prepare the ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make some fried polenta:

• 500 g of cooked polenta
• 200 ml of olive oil
• 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper

Step 2. Prepare the polenta following the basic recipe

Boil the water and add the salt, lower the heat and pour in a third of the flour until it thickens, then pour and mix the remaining flour until the polenta becomes creamy.

Step 3. Pour the polenta into a lightly greased baking sheet

The size of the pan will determine the thickness of the fried polenta slices. If you want thinner slices, use a larger pan, for thicker slices, a smaller one will suffice.

• Use a spatula to spread the polenta evenly into the pan.

  

• Cover the pan with a lid or aluminum foil.

  

Step 4. Place the pan in the refrigerator

Let the polenta cool until it becomes compact. Check the polenta after about two hours. If it's still soft and warm, let it cool for another half hour.

Step 5. Cut the polenta into slices

Each slice should be approximately 5cm x 5cm, the size of a serving.

• You can cut the slices into squares, rectangles or triangles, as long as they are the size of a portion.

  

Step 6. Take a cast iron or deep-bottomed skillet and place it over medium heat

Pour the oil into the pan and heat it without letting it reach the smoke point.

Step 7. Put the polenta slices in the pan

Cook them until the first side is browned, about 3 minutes. Rotate them and turn them on the other as well.

• Make sure that the oil has reached the proper temperature before putting the polenta in the pan. Otherwise, the slices may break before browning and crunchy.

  

• If you wish you can grill the polenta instead of frying it, prepare the slices in the same way and then cook them on a hot grill, or on the plate of your hob.

  

Step 8. Place the fried polenta slices on a plate with paper towels

Season with grated Parmesan cheese and with salt and pepper to your taste.

Method 3 of 4: Baked Polenta

Step 1. Prepare the ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make baked polenta:

• 500 g of cooked polenta
• Olive oil
• 100 g of butter
• Half a teaspoon of thyme
• Salt and pepper

Step 2. Prepare the polenta following the basic recipe

Boil the water and add the salt, lower the heat and pour in a third of the flour until it thickens, then pour and mix the remaining flour until the polenta becomes creamy. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 3. Stir the butter into the polenta

Break it up with a wooden spoon and mix until it melts and mixes completely with the polenta. Add the thyme and season with salt and pepper to your taste.

Step 4. Pour the polenta into a lightly greased baking sheet

The size of the pan will determine the thickness of the fried polenta slices. If you want thinner slices, use a larger pan, for thicker slices, a smaller one will suffice.

Step 5. Place the container in the oven

Cook for 20 minutes, or until the polenta becomes compact. It will not turn brown or golden.

Step 6. Remove the pan from the oven

Let the polenta cool for a few minutes, then cut it into slices to serve.

• Try using cake molds to get some nice polenta 'biscuits'.

  

• Accompany the polenta with a tomato or meat sauce.

  

Method 4 of 4: Cheese Polenta

Step 1. Prepare the ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make some cheese polenta:

• 500 g of cooked polenta
• 200 g of grated cheese (Parmesan or a cheese of your choice)
• 1 cup of whole milk
• 100 g of butter
• 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley
• Salt and pepper

Step 2. Prepare the polenta following the basic recipe

Boil the water and add the salt, lower the heat and pour in a third of the flour until it thickens, then pour and mix the remaining flour until the polenta becomes creamy.

Step 3. Mix the butter and cheese

Use a wooden spoon until the butter and cheese are completely melted.

Step 4. Mix the milk, parsley and spices

Step 5. Put the polenta in a bowl and serve it hot

Advice

• You can replace white or yellow cornmeal with polenta mix.
• In Eastern European countries, polenta is traditionally served accompanied by sour cream and feta, although it is a food that goes well with any preparation.