Basic Polenta

This is a simple recipe for Polenta which can be served in place of mashed potato or pasta. Since I've started cooking with this corn based ingredient, I've heart lots of negative comments about 'hating the texture'. I can understand, just like tofu, why someone would dislike polenta if it was cooked for them badly ... but with the right dish, polenta is delicious - and a great option for healthy eaters and those with gluten or wheat intolerance.

Ingredients

• 500ml water
• 1 cup of polenta
• 50 grams butter
• 50 grams parmesan cheese
• Salt, pepper or spices to taste

Method

• Bring water to boil in saucepan
• Stir in polenta and reduce heat to simmer for about 5 minutes
• Whisk, beat or blend (for best results use a blender wand while cooking) for a few minutes
• Add butter and parmesan, mix until smooth
• Add salt, pepper and spices
• Turn off heat and serve immediately

Serving Suggestions

• Pour the batter straight from the saucepan into a baking dish, allow to set then top with a casserole mixture
• Pour the batter straight from the saucepan into a baking dish, cool in fridge, then cut into squares, rectangles or other shapes to be served under a steak or vegetarian stir fry.
• As above, but use a melon baller to create round shapes which can be used in stir fry's or baked

For more ideas, search for polenta in the search box in the top right corner of the website.