Polenta is a great versatile carbohydrate, especially if you’re catering to those with allergies or intolerance to gluten. Whether you choose to stir some fresh pesto or cheese through it as it cooks, fry it to accompany some fish and greens, or bake it in the oven with cheese and tomato sauce, it is sure to be a hit with adults and little ones alike. Check out these simple recipes which really show what polenta can do.
Pesto Polenta
Measure out one-third of a cup of polenta and one cup of water for each person you’re serving. Put the water in a pan and bring to boiling, adding a sprinkle of salt if you wish. Whisk the polenta in, and then keep stirring until the polenta absorbs the water (this should take between seven and ten minutes). Just before serving, stir some pesto through the polenta, to add a depth of flavor and texture.
Polenta Fries
To make some delicious polenta fries, follow the recipe above, skipping out the pesto and placing the cooked polenta into the fridge to set. Once it’s set, slice it into narrow strips, dust it with flour (or cornflour if you want to keep it gluten-free), and then fry in oil for three minutes on each side. Sprinkle over some seasoning and serve alongside some baked fish and greens for a healthy treat.
Baked Polenta
To make a delicious baked polenta dish, simply follow the steps for cooking pesto polenta. You can keep the pesto in if you wish, or add different flavorings to the polenta as it cooks, such as cheese, garlic paste, soy sauce, or tomato puree. Pour the cooked polenta into an oven dish, add a little oil or butter, as well as plenty of seasoning and a sprinkle of cheese. Bake in an oven heated to 400 °F for 35 to 40 minutes, and then serve alongside a vegetable stew or some roasted meat.