Black Beans And Polenta Recipes

POLENTA OR GRITS WITH BEANS AND CHARD

Steps:

• Chop 1/2 of the onion and set aside. To cook dried beans, transfer with their soaking water to a heavy pot. If beans are not covered by 1 1/2 to 2 inches of water, add more water as necessary. Over medium-high heat, bring to a gentle boil and skim away foam. Add unchopped halved onion, crushed garlic cloves and bouquet garni, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 1 hour. Using tongs, removed halved onion and whole garlic cloves.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil over medium heat in a medium skillet and add chopped onion and carrot. Cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes, and add chard stems, garlic and pepper flakes. Continue to cook for another couple of minutes, until onion and chard stems are soft. Stir vegetable mixture into beans. Add tomato paste and salt to taste (I use at least 1 1/2 teaspoons), cover and continue to simmer very gently for 1 hour or until beans are tender all the way through and their texture is plush and velvety. Remove and discard bouquet garni.
• Add chard greens (depending on the size of your pot you may have to add a portion at a time, cover for a minute until the first portion wilts, then add the next portion and so on until all of the greens have been added) and continue to simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, until greens are tender but still have some color and life in them. Taste bean broth; it should taste rich, delicious, a little spicy. Add salt as necessary. Keep warm.
• Meanwhile, toward the end of the cooking time for the beans, cook polenta; or wait until beans are done and start polenta or grits. When done, spoon into wide soup bowls and press down in the middle with the back of a spoon. Spoon beans and greens with broth over polenta or grits. Top with a little Parmesan or feta and serve.

GRILLED POLENTA BITES WITH BLACK BEAN SALSA

Steps:

• Combine black beans, tomato, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, and 1 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Stir to combine. Set aside.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Lay polenta rounds on a clean work surface and brush the tops with olive oil. Flip the rounds over and brush the other side with olive oil. Lightly season one side.
• Grill polenta rounds for 5 minutes. Using a spatula, flip them over and grill for 5 minutes longer. Top with black bean salsa just before serving.

POLENTA AND BLACK BEAN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Position rack in middle of oven and preheat to 450°F. Oil 11x7x2-inch glass baking dish. Mix 1/2 cup cilantro, chilies, salsa verde, garlic, and cumin in medium bowl. Arrange 9 polenta rounds in bottom of dish, spacing evenly. Drizzle 1/4 cup cream over. Top with half of beans, half of hominy, and half of chili mixture. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups cheese. Repeat layering. Cover with foil. Bake 20 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 475°F; uncover casserole and bake until top is golden brown, about 15 minutes longer. Let stand 5 minutes; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cilantro and serve.

BLACK BEANS AND POLENTA

Steps:

• Add the oil to a saucepan and let get heated over medium heat.
• Add in onion; increase heat to high and stir/saute onion for 3 minutes or until tender.
• Add in the wine, garlic, and oregano; stir and cook for 1 minute.
• Drain one can of beans and add to saucepan; add in the other can of beans undrained; stir to combine.
• Cover pan and lower heat to medium; let cook while you are making the polenta; uncover and stir occasionally and season to taste with salt/pepper if needed.
• Add the vegetable broth and rosemary to a soup pot; cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
• Uncover and lower heat to medium.
• While whisking constantly, slowly and gradually add the cornmeal to the boiling broth.
• Continue whisking for 2-3 minuutes or until the mixture is a porridgelike consistency.
• Take polenta off burner and add in the cheese and margarine; stir to combine; season with salt and pepper if needed.
• Spoon polenta into individiual serving bowls; top with beans.
• Serve warm.

SOUTHWESTERN BRAISED RABBIT WITH BLACK BEANS AND FRIED POLENTA

Steps:

• For the black beans: Sauté the onions in some bacon fat or oil in a large pot over medium to medium-high heat until dark golden brown and caramelized, about 15 minutes. Add the red pepper and garlic and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the chili powder and paprika, then add the beans and cover with fresh water by 2 inches. Bring to a simmer and cook until the beans are tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and pepper.
• For the braised rabbit: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Sauté the onions in some bacon fat or oil in a large pot over medium to medium-high heat until dark golden brown and caramelized, about 15 minutes. Add the garlic, paprika, chili powder, tandoori spice, Cajun spice, peppers, celery and jalapeños and sauté until the spices start to stick, about 5 minutes. Deglaze with the beer and reduce. Add the rabbit and brown very slightly. Cover with water and add the brown sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, transfer to the oven and cook until the rabbit is just tender, about 1 hour.
• For the polenta: Add the butter to a saucepan and heat until hot. Add the onions, peppers, garlic and chili powder and sauté until the vegetables are soft. Add the chicken stock, bring to boil, reduce to a simmer and slowly whisk in the polenta. Simmer for 6 to 8 minutes, adding more stock as necessary to get a fairly thick consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into a shallow pan and let set to cut later for frying.
• When ready to fry, cut into pieces and fry in clarified butter until golden brown.

BLACK BEAN AND SWEET POTATO STEW WITH CHILIES AND POLENTA TRIANGLES

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Add ginger, chili powder and cumin and stir 2 minutes. Add sweet potatoes, orange juice and garlic and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until sweet potatoes are almost tender, about 10 minutes.
• Stir beans, poblano chilies and bell pepper into sweet potato mixture. Cover and simmer until chilies are tender, about 15 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over low heat before continuing, stirring occasionally.)
• Divide stew among 4 bowls. Top with sour cream, avocado and orange, if desired. Serve with Polenta Triangles.

POLENTA WITH BLACK BEANS AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Cut the puckered ends off each tube of polenta, then cut each tube into 12 slices about 1/2 inch thick. Heat a wide nonstick griddle that has been generously sprayed with olive oil cooking spray. Arrange the polenta slices on the griddle. Cook both sides over medium-high heat until golden and crisp, about 8 minutes per side.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a wide skillet or stir-fry pan. Add the garlic and sauté over low heat for a minute or so, just until golden.
• Add the beans, sun-dried tomatoes, and cumin. Stir together and cook over medium heat just until heated through.
• Add the spinach, cover, and cook just until it wilts, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir the mixture together, season with pepper to taste, and remove from the heat.
• To serve, arrange 3 or 4 polenta slices on each plate and spoon the bean mixture evenly over each serving.
• This is delicious accompanied by Sautéed Paprika Potatoes (page 207). Add Mixed Greens with Sprouts, Apple, and Daikon (page 179) or the Recipe Not Required green salad containing pickled beets, sliced crisp cucumber, and daikon radish or turnip (page 192).
• Serve this with a light, easy pasta dish. The first three possibilities under Easy Ways to Dress Up Pasta and Noodle Side Dishes (page 121) are all good ones; or combine cooked pasta with your favorite natural marinara sauce. Add a simple green salad to this meal.
• Calories: 339
• Total Fat: 6g
• Protein: 13g
• Carbohydrates: 58g
• Fiber: 10.5g
• Sodium: 1210mg

POLENTA AND BLACK BEAN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Position rack in middle of oven and preheat to 450°F Oil 11x7x2-inch glass baking dish.
• Mix 1/2 cup cilantro, chilies, salsa verde, garlic, and cumin in medium bowl.
• Arrange 9 polenta rounds in bottom of dish, spacing evenly.
• Drizzle 1/4 cup cream over.
• Top with half of beans, half of hominy, and half of chili mixture.
• Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups cheese.
• Repeat layering.
• Cover with foil.
• Bake 20 minutes.
• Increase oven temperature to 475°F; uncover casserole and bake until top is golden brown, about 15 minutes longer.
• Let stand 5 minutes; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cilantro and serve.