Crispy Polenta Medallions Recipes

CRISPY POLENTA MEDALLIONS

Steps:

• Cover a baking sheet with plastic or lightly oil a baking dish. Make polenta and when done, pour onto plastic or into lightly oiled baking dish. Spread to a thickness of about 1/3 inch using an offset spatula. If you are using a baking dish and can't spread the polenta that thin, you can always slice the rounds after they are cut to make thinner medallions. Cover with plastic and allow to stiffen completely, preferably in the refrigerator overnight.
• Cut the stiff polenta into 1 1/2 to 2-inch rounds with a cookie cutter. If the rounds are thick, cut crosswise into 1/3 inch thick rounds.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat in a heavy nonstick or cast iron skillet. The polenta should sizzle as soon as you place the medallion in the oil. Cook the rounds in batches until nicely browned on each side, about 3 minutes per side. Turn them carefully with a spatula, and do not crowd the pan. Drain on paper towels. Transfer to a platter while warm and place a pinch - about 1/4 teaspoon - of blue cheese on each round. It should soften and melt a little bit on the hot surface of the polenta. Or top with small dollops of the other toppings of your choice. Serve warm (they are also good when they cool down).

CRISPY POLENTA MEDALLIONS WITH TURKEY SAUSAGE AND CARAMELIZED ON

Steps:

• Drizzle about the Honey on each side of the Polenta. Season with some salt and pepper.
• Cook the Polenta on a grill pan at medium-high heat with a little olive oil or non-stick cooking spray. It needs about 4-5 minutes per side. Avoid moving around too much as to create pretty grill marks. Cook until crispy on outside and pull off of the pan. Add the sausages and cook until browned, about 2 minutes each side.
• In a separate saute pan, caramelize the onions at medium high heat with a little olive oil. Season. Add Peppers and Tomatoes. Season again and cook until softened. Add the oregano and marinara sauce. Cook until all ingredients are cooked through.
• Place Polenta medallions on 4 plates. Top with sausage slices. Add 1/4 of the onion, pepper, and tomato mixture to each plate. Arrange to look pretty. Top with a sprinkle of fresh chopped Parsley.
• Enjoy!

HERB-CRUSTED POLENTA ROUNDS

Steps:

• Oil grill or saute pan on medium-high heat.
• Season polenta with salt and pepper. Arrange polenta rounds in pan. Cook 7 to 10 minutes, turning once, until polenta rounds are golden brown and heated through.
• Sprinkle with fresh herbs and serve.

CRISPY POLENTA SQUARES

Steps:

• Pour warm polenta into an oiled 8-by-8-inch square pan and smooth out top. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours but up to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Flip polenta onto a cutting board. Brush the top with olive oil. Cut into 16 two-inch squares. Preheat a baking sheet for a few minutes and place the squares on the sheet.
• Place baking sheet in the upper third rack of the oven. Cook 10 minutes. Meanwhile, make the tomato topping by combining all ingredients in a bowl and tossing to coat. Let sit until ready to serve.
• Increase oven setting to broil and cook polenta squares until golden brown on top, about 3 minutes. Transfer squares to a platter and scatter tomato mixture on top.

CRISPY POLENTA

Steps:

• Brush a small rimmed baking sheet with olive oil; set aside. In a large pot, bring 6 cups water to a boil over high heat; season with salt. Slowly whisk in polenta, and cook, partially covered, and stirring every 4 to 5 minutes, over medium-low heat until it begins to thicken, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Carefully pour polenta onto prepared baking sheet, spreading it out to an even thickness. Let cool, and tear into 1-inch pieces; lightly dust with flour.
• Line a baking sheet with paper towels; set aside. Meanwhile, heat sunflower oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot until it registers 350 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Using a slotted spoon, carefully add polenta in batches while maintaining the temperature of the oil. Cook until crispy, about 4 minutes. Transfer to prepared baking sheet to drain. Serve immediately seasoned with sea salt.

CRISPY SEASONED POLENTA SQUARES

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, bring the water, tomatoes, salt, onion and garlic to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle boil; slowly whisk in cornmeal. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon for 15-20 minutes or until polenta is thickened and pulls away cleanly from the sides of the pan. Stir in cheese and oregano. Spread into a 9-in. square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes., Cut polenta into nine squares. In a shallow bowl, whisk egg and milk. In another shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs and cilantro. Dip polenta in the egg mixture, then bread crumb mixture. , In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook polenta in oil in batches for 1-2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Serve with sour cream.

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.

ROASTED GARLIC BEEF TENDERLOIN MEDALLIONS ON SOFT POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F '.
• In a deep saucepan, bring 1 cup of the cream and 2 1/2 cups water to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Meanwhile, in an ovenproof skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic, reduce heat to medium-low and sauté for about 5 minutes or until golden; transfer half to a bowl, set skillet aside.
• Mash reserved garlic with 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoons pepper in bowl; stir into boiling cream mixture.
• Gradually pour in cornmeal, while stirring. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, for about15 minutes or until polenta is thick.
• Meanwhile, return skillet, with garlic, to high heat; heat until sizzling. Season beef medallions with salt and pepper; add to skillet and sear each side for 1 minute.
• Transfer to oven and roast for about 15 minutes for medium-rare or until desired doneness.
• Transfer beef to a warmed plate; tent with foil.
• Return skillet to medium-high heat and pour in wine; boil, scraping up brown bits for 1 minute.
• Whisk flour into remaining cream, gradually whisk into skillet. Simmer, whisking for about 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Stir Parmesan and basil into polenta and divide among serving plates; place beef on top and spoon sauce over top.

WILD MUSHROOM RAGOûT ON CRISPY POLENTA WITH COMTE CHEESE

Steps:

• For polenta:
• Generously butter 13x9x1- inch baking sheet. Bring milk, broth, and bay leaf to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove saucepan from heat; cover and let steep 20 minutes to allow flavors to develop. Discard bay leaf. Bring liquid to boil. Gradually add polenta, whisking constantly until smooth. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until polenta is very thick, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Stir in Comté cheese and butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer polenta to prepared 13x9x1-inch baking sheet. Using wet hands, press polenta evenly over sheet to edges. Chill until firm, at least 3 hours. Cut polenta into 20 squares. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• For mushroom ragout:
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter with 2 tablespoons oil in large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add all mushrooms and sauté until tender and browned, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Add shallots and balsamic vinegar; sauté until tender, about 2 minutes. Season lightly to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• Rewarm mushrooms in large skillet over medium-high heat until heated through. Add broth and simmer 1 minute. Stir in crème fraîche and half of parsley. Season mushroom ragout to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat; cover to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 300°F. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add polenta squares to skillet and cook until browned, about 2 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer to rimmed baking sheet and keep warm in oven while cooking remaining polenta squares.
• Arrange 2 polenta squares on each plate. Top each with warm mushroom ragout; sprinkle with grated Comté cheese and remaining parsley and serve.
• MORE INFO:
• Comté is a semi-firm, Gruyère-style cow's-milk cheese made primarily in France's Franche-Comté region. It adds great flavor to this recipe and would also be delicious on a cheese platter. Comté is available at some supermarkets, cheese shops, and specialty foods stores.
• *Polenta can be found at some supermarkets, as well as at natural foods stores and Italian markets. If polenta is unavailable, substitute an equal amount of regular yellow cornmeal and cook it about half as long.

PORK MEDALLIONS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan and fry the pork on each side for 2-3 mins until golden brown. Set aside on a plate.
• Melt the butter in the pan and, when foaming, fry the shallots and mushrooms over a medium heat for 10 mins. Add the garlic and cook for another 1 min. Stir through the flour and cook for another 2 mins. Whisk through the madeira and boil for 2 mins. Gradually stir through the stock until the sauce is lump free. Add the thyme and mustard and season to taste.
• Return the pork to the pan and simmer uncovered for 5-7 mins or until the pork is cooked through. Stir through the cream and heat again until simmering. Serve with creamy mashed potatoes and wilted greens.