Creamy Polenta With Raisins And Pine Nuts Recipes

POLENTA CHEESECAKE WITH PINE NUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• In an 8- by 3-inch springform pan stir together flour, sugar, and salt and with your fingertips blend in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in ice water until incorporated and press mixture evenly onto bottom of pan. Bake pastry in middle of oven until golden, about 12 minutes.
• In a small saucepan bring grappa or rum with raisins to a boil, stirring occasionally, and remove pan from heat. With back of a spoon force polenta through a coarse sieve into a bowl to break up lumps. Stir in cream cheese until smooth and whisk in remaining ingredients until combined well.
• Reduce temperature to 350°F. Drain any liquid from raisins. Pour filling over pastry and gently stir in raisins. Bake cheesecake in middle of oven 1 hour, or until edges are golden but middle trembles slightly. Turn off oven and cool cheesecake in oven 1 hour. Remove cheesecake from oven and chill, covered, until cold. Cheesecake may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered.
• In a heavy saucepan cook sugar over moderate heat, without stirring, until it begins to melt. Continue to cook sugar, stirring with a fork, until melted and swirl pan until a deep caramel. Add water (mixture will bubble up) and cook, stirring until caramelized sugar dissolves. Cool sauce slightly and stir in pine nuts and vanilla until combined.
• Serve cheesecake drizzled with sauce.
• In a heavy saucepan bring water and salt to a boil and gradually whisk in cornmeal in a thin stream. Cook polenta over moderately low heat (it should be barely boiling), stirring constantly, until very thick and pulls away from side of pan, about 40 minutes for cornmeal and about 15 minutes for instant polenta. Remove pan from heat and cover to keep warm. Stir polenta just before using. Polenta will keep warm, covered, about 20 minutes. Makes about 3 cups.
• In a heavy saucepan bring water and salt to a boil and gradually whisk in cornmeal in a thin stream. Cook polenta over moderately low heat (it should be barely boiling), stirring constantly, until very thick and pulls away from side of pan, about 40 minutes for cornmeal and about 15 minutes for instant polenta. Remove pan from heat and cover to keep warm. Stir polenta just before using. Polenta will keep warm, covered, about 20 minutes. Makes about 3 cups.
• Note: In the traditional method of cooking polenta, forty minutes of constant stirring is required to achieve a lumpless texture and fragrant flavor. However, Italian-food expert Marcella Hazan has developed a method that involves very little stirring during this time. We believe it produces a very good polenta, one nearly as flavorful and smooth as the traditional procedure. To make satisfactory polenta in a real hurry, an imported instant polenta (precooked cornmeal) is available. This cooks in a mere fifteen minutes.

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.

POLENTA AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• In a heavy 2 quart sauce pan, melt butter over low heat.
• Add water, turn up heat, and bring to a boil.
• Slowly add cornmeal while whisking constantly.
• Lower heat slightly and continue to boil and stir until polenta becomes thick and pulls away from sides of pan. (about 30 minutes).
• Remove from heat and add parmesan cheese and pine nuts.
• Cool slightly (until able to handle).
• Grease cookie pan with half of the oil and spread evenly in pan.
• Rub top with remaining oil.
• Chill.
• If grilling, cut into squares (3 to 4 inches).
• Grill on hot grill until crisp on outside and soft and creamy on inside -- or.
• If baking, sprinkle with a little more cheese, and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then cut into squares.

CREAMY POLENTA WITH ROASTED CORN AND FRESH SAGE

Steps:

• Grill corn in the husks, or roast in the oven; cut kernels from cob.
• In a heavy 4-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Stir in garlic and onions; reduce heat to low and cook until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in water and milk and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Slowly stir in cornmeal, whisking thoroughly. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking and burning. Season with salt and pepper; simmer 15 minutes more.
• When mixture is thick and the cornmeal is tender, stir in corn, sage and Parmesan cheese. Transfer to a large bowl to serve.

POLENTA WITH GARLICKY GREENS-

Steps:

• Cut off and discard bottom 3 inches of Swiss-chard stems.
• Cut remaining stems into 1/2-inch slices; coarsely chop leaves.
• Rinse and dry stems and leaves separately; place in separate bowls.
• In nonstick 12-inch skillet, heat oil, garlic, and crushed red pepper over medium heat about 2 minutes or until garlic is lightly golden, stirring constantly.
• Increase heat to medium-high; add sliced chard stems to skillet and cook 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Gradually add chard leaves and 1/2 teaspoons.
• salt, stirring until leaves wilt; stir in 1/3 cup water.
• Cover skillet and simmer 5 minutes or until stems and leaves are tender; stir in raisins and set aside.
• Meanwhile, prepare polenta in microwave oven: In 4-quart microwave-safe bowl or casserole, combine cornmeal, 3/4 teaspoons salt, milk, and 4 1/2 ups water.
• Cover and cook on High 12 to 15 minutes, until thickened, stirring once.
• To serve, stir Parmesan into polenta.
• Spoon polenta on a platter; top with Swiss-chard mixture and sprinkle with pine nuts.
• Serve with additional Parmesan to sprinkle over each serving if you like.
• Makes 4 main dish servings.
• Note: If you like, polenta can be prepared on top of stove: In 4-quart saucepan, stir 1 teaspoons salt with 2 cups cold milk.
• Gradually whisk in cornmeal until blended,then whisk in 4 1/2 cups boiling water.
• Heat to boiling over high heat, stirring occasionally.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, partially covered, 20 minutes, stirring frequently.

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.

LEMONY POLENTA WITH ROASTED CAULIFLOWER, PINE NUTS, RAISINS & CAPERS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Tip the cauliflower, garlic and oil into a large roasting tin, mix well, then transfer to the oven to roast for 25 mins, tossing halfway through with some seasoning.
• Meanwhile, make the dressing by whisking together the parsley, lemon juice, oil and 1 tsp salt in a small bowl, add the raisins and set aside. Add the pine nuts and capers to the cauliflower to toast for the final 5 mins of cooking time.
• Once the cauliflower is cooked, stir through the dressing. Set aside.
• For the lemony polenta, bring the stock up to the boil in a large saucepan, add the polenta and stir for 4 mins until thickened. Add the ricotta and lemon zest and a little of the parsley, then taste and adjust the salt as needed.
• Divide the lemony polenta between four warmed bowls, then top with the dressed cauliflower. Scatter over the remaining parsley, and serve straightaway.