Friedpolentawithsweetgarlicgreens Recipes

FRIED POLENTA

Steps:

• Lightly oil an 11 by 7-inch baking dish. Transfer the hot polenta to the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly to 3/4-inch thick. Refrigerate until cold and firm, about 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Cut the polenta into 2 by 1-inch pieces. Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, fry the polenta pieces until golden brown on all sides, about 3 minutes per side. Using tongs, transfer the polenta pieces to paper towels and drain. Place the polenta pieces on a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while cooking the remaining batches.
• Transfer the polenta pieces to a serving platter. Sprinkle the polenta with the Parmesan cheese and salt. Serve, passing the marinara sauce alongside.
• Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a heavy large saucepan. Add 2 teaspoons of salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add the butter, and stir until melted.

GREENS WITH POLENTA CROUTONS

Steps:

• For the polenta: Coat a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with a thin coat of olive oil.
• Combine 4 cups water and 2 teaspoons salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Slowly add the polenta, whisking constantly. Reduce the heat to low, bringing the polenta to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until thick, 5 to 8 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the butter, cheese and rosemary. Pour the polenta into the prepared dish and cool completely until firm.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick silicone liner.
• Unmold the polenta, cut into 1-inch squares and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until crisp and golden, about 1 hour.
• For the salad: Meanwhile, whisk together the vinegar and Dijon in a small bowl along with some salt and pepper. Add the oil in a thin stream, whisking constantly. Toss the greens with the dressing in a large salad bowl. Add the tomatoes, cranberries, and Roquefort and toss again. Arrange the salad on a large serving platter or individual plates. Top with half the croutons and serve immediately. Reserve the remaining croutons for another use in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.

NEXT-DAY FRIED GREENS

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring 3 quarts of water to a boil. Add neck bones and pigs' tails, or smoked turkey wings or pork chop or ham hock, plus Savannah seasoning, red pepper, bacon grease and 4 tablespoons of butter. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour or until the meat is tender.
• Meanwhile, remove the collard stems by holding each leaf in one hand and stripping the leaf down with the thumb and index finger of the other hand. Discard the stems.
• Stack 7 or 8 leaves on top of one another, roll them up tight like a cigar and slice into 1/2-inch-wide strands. Repeat until you have cut all the leaves. Then wash the collards twice, shake them and drain in a large colander.
• Add the collards to the stock, cover and simmer until they are tender. In the summer, they will cook in 45 minutes to an hour, but in winter, they will take only 30 to 45 minutes because the first frost will have tenderized them. Keep a close eye on them; you will know they are done when they are tender but not mushy. Near the end of the cooking, check the amount of liquid left in the pot. If there is too much, more than 1 cup, uncover the pot to cook down the liquid a bit.
• Remove the meat from the bones and discard the bones. Return the meat to the greens and transfer to the refrigerator overnight.
• The next day, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet set over medium heat and add the onion. Cook for a few minutes until it just starts to soften, then add the greens, meat and cooked rice. There should be more greens than rice. Sauté over medium-high heat until the dish is heated through.

FRIED POLENTA WITH SWEET GARLIC-GREENS

Steps:

• Prepare greens by rinsing well in water. If using chard, separate stems and leaves and chop stems into ~ 1 inch pieces, leaves can be torn or chopped. If using baby spinach, just chop off bottom to separate leaves.
• Chop onion into thin slices or mince.
• Cut polenta into 1/4-1/2 inch slices.
• In one frying pan with ~1 T oil over medium heat, fry onion, chard stems if using chard, and garlic. After a few minutes, add 1/4 cup water and cover to partially soften stems by steaming.
• Remove cover and add chard leaves (or spinach), cranberries, and pine nuts. Cook until greens reach desired consistency (tender-crisp to soft). Add lemon juice.
• Meanwhile, in second frying pan, fry polenta slices in 1 teaspoons to 3 T olive oil (depending on how crispy or healthy you want it) until browned.
• Top polenta with greens and parmesan cheese and pepper to taste.

PASTA WITH GREENS AND ROASTED GARLIC

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Bring water to a boil for the pasta. While this is coming to a boil, Trim and discard coarse leaves and tough stem roots from broccoli rabe. Peel large stems and cut stems and leaves into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Rinse and drain. Set garlic in a baking pan and broil or roast for 10 minutes or until outside begins to soften and get golden. Add pasta to boiling water. Heat olive oil in a large skillet. When hot add roasted garlic, broccoli rabe, broth, dried red pepper flakes and salt. Partially cover skillet and saute about 3 minutes. Add cannellini beans and cook, stirring occasionally, until broccoli is just tender and beans are heated through.
• Drain pasta, transfer to serving bowl and toss with broccoli rabe and beans. Shave Parmesan slices over the top.

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.

PAN-FRIED COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Wash collard greens in a bowl full of water with vinegar and salt. Drain and repeat if needed, until the water is clear. Roll the leaves up into tight bunches and cut into thin strips. Set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high, and add turkey and ham hock. Boil for 10 minutes, and then rinse and dry the meat. Clean out the pot.
• In a blender or food processor, purée onions and peppers. Return the pot to high heat, and add turkey, ham hock, about three-quarters of the onion and pepper purée, along with broth, chicken seasoning, seasoned salt and Maggi cube if using. Bring to a boil, and cook until the liquid is reduced to 1 cup, about 40 minutes. Add the dried fish, if using.
• Meanwhile, in a large pan, heat oil over medium. Add remaining onion and pepper purée, along with collard greens. Cover and cook, stirring frequently, until greens are wilted and tender, about 30 minutes.
• Once stock is reduced, lower heat to medium, add cooked greens and cook, stirring well, for 5 to 10 minutes to incorporate flavors and thicken the broth. Serve with rice.

BEANS AND GREENS POLENTA BAKE

Steps:

• Pour warm polenta into a large ovenproof skillet or a ceramic baking dish or metal baking pan and spread into an even layer (ideally about 1" thick). Let cool, then cover and chill at least 1 hour and up to 1 week.
• Preheat oven to 500°F. Heat garlic and ¼ cup oil in a large skillet over medium, stirring occasionally, until garlic is fragrant and starting to brown, about 3 minutes. Add beans and red pepper flakes (if using), then, working in batches, add kale, letting it wilt slightly after each addition before adding more, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and evenly darkened in color, about 3 minutes. Stir in vinegar and salt and cook, still stirring occasionally, until liquid evaporates, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in ¼ cup Parmesan.
• Scrape kale mixture over prepared polenta and spread into an even layer. Drizzle with more oil and sprinkle with more Parmesan.
• Transfer skillet to oven and bake until polenta is warmed through and topping is lightly crisped and browned, 8-10 minutes.

EASY BEET GREENS

Steps:

• Wash beet greens and drain. Chop stems and leaves separately.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over low heat and cook garlic until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add stems and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add greens and allow to wilt, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with lemon juice and serve.

SKILLET POTATOES WITH GREENS

Steps:

• Bring potatoes to a boil in a medium saucepan of well-salted water. Reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in kale and cook until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain.
• Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add potatoes and kale. Cook, stirring, until potatoes are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper; serve warm or at room temperature.

GARLIC PARMESAN POTATO WEDGES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place potato wedges in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat. Sprinkle potato wedges with Parmesan cheese and toss again.
• Mix Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, and salt together in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the wedges and toss to coat. Arrange wedges skin-side down on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until fork-tender and golden, about 40 minutes.