Creamy Polenta Bramata Recipes

CREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• Add water and salt to large sauce pan and bring to a soft boil.
• Slowly whisk in polenta. It's important to go slowly and continually whisk so you don't get lumps.
• Turn heat to low and allow polenta to gently simmer while continually whisking.
• When polenta starts to thicken, stop whisking and cover sauce pan.
• Allow polenta to simmer with a lid on for 30 minutes, stirring every 5-6 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, turn off the heat and add butter.
• When butter is halfway melted, stir in the parmesan cheese.
• Replace the lid on the pot and allow to sit off the heat for 5 minutes
• Taste the polenta and adjust seasoning if necessary.

CREAMY POLENTA BRAMATA

Steps:

• Combine the cream, milk and salt in a heavy-bottomed stainless pot. Slowly bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, stirring often with a heat-resistant rubber spatula so the milk/cream doesn't burn the bottom.
• Reduce the heat to medium and slowly rain in the polenta - use a wire whisk to stir the polenta to make sure there are no lumps. Switch out the whisk and stir with a wooden spoon, then reduce the heat to the lowest setting on your stove (barely simmering) and cook, covered, for 1 hour, stirring every 10 or 15 minutes so the bottom doesn't burn. If you don't have time to babysit the polenta, you can at this point transfer the mixture to a slow cooker and place the setting on the lowest temperature for 3 hours.
• If the polenta seems dry, boil 1/2 to 1 cup more milk and stir it into the polenta until it's loose and creamy. Turn off the heat and add the butter and cheese. Mix just before serving and add an extra sprinkle of cheese on the plate if desired.

EASY CREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• In a large, deep saucepan, bring 5 cups of water to a boil. While whisking constantly, add polenta in a slow, steady stream. Reduce heat to medium, cook until thickened, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, about 15 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in cheese, heavy cream, and butter. Season with salt and pepper.

7 MINUTE RICH AND CREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan bring the half-and-half and the water to a boil.
• Add the salt and then gradually add the polenta while stirring.
• Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, stirring constantly.
• The polenta should be smooth and large bubbles will pop on the surface.
• Cook until very thick but not stiff, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add butter, cheese and pepper.
• Serve immediately.

CREAMY PARMESAN POLENTA

Steps:

• Stir polenta and chicken broth together in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir until the polenta is heated through completely, about 5 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat. Stir Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and paprika with the polenta mixture.

HOW TO MAKE PERFECT POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring water and salt to a boil in a large saucepan; pour polenta slowly into boiling water, whisking constantly until all polenta is stirred in and there are no lumps.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer, whisking often, until polenta starts to thicken, about 5 minutes. Polenta mixture should still be slightly loose. Cover and cook for 30 minutes, whisking every 5 to 6 minutes. When polenta is too thick to whisk, stir with a wooden spoon. Polenta is done when texture is creamy and the individual grains are tender.
• Turn off heat and gently stir 2 tablespoons butter into polenta until butter partially melts; mix 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese into polenta until cheese has melted. Cover and let stand 5 minutes to thicken; stir and taste for salt before transferring to a serving bowl. Top polenta with remaining 1 tablespoon butter and about 1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for garnish.

CREAMY POLENTA WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• For the polenta, bring 4 1/2 cups water and the milk to a high simmer in a medium-size heavy saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add salt. Pour the cornmeal slowly into the liquid, stirring with a wire whisk to prevent clumping. Continue stirring as the mixture thickens, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Turn heat to low. Cook for approximately 40 to 45 minutes, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes. If the polenta becomes quite thick, thin it with 1/2 cup water, stir well and continue cooking. Add up to 1 cup more water as necessary, to keep the polenta soft enough to stir.
• Add the butter to pot, and stir well. Add the Parmesan, if using. Taste for seasoning. Set the covered saucepan in a pot of barely simmering water, and keep warm for up to an hour or so.
• Meanwhile, put the dried mushrooms in a small bowl, and cover with about 1/2 cup boiling water. Allow to steep for 20 minutes. Remove the mushrooms, and pat dry, then chop roughly. Reserve the mushroom stock.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a sauté pan set over high heat until it has melted. Add the garlic and cook until it starts to sizzle, about 30 seconds. Do not let the garlic brown.
• Add the fresh and reconstituted mushrooms and thyme to the pan, and sauté 3 to 4 minutes, turning until browned. Add about 1/4 cup of the mushroom stock to deglaze the surface, using a wooden spoon to scrape at the browned bits. Allow the stock to reduce by half, then turn the heat to medium-low and add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter, whisking to combine, followed by the soy sauce, cream and olive oil. Allow mixture to cook until it thickens a little, then remove from heat. Taste for seasoning, adding black pepper, if desired.
• Put the polenta in a warmed bowl, then top with mushrooms and the sauce. Serve immediately.

OVEN-BAKED CREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In an ovenproof saucepan with a lid, whisk together 3 cups water, cornmeal, salt, and pepper. Cover, and bake 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.
• Remove from oven, and add milk, butter, and marjoram; whisk briskly until smooth. Serve immediately.