Moroccan Polenta 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.

PORK MARSALA WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Lay the polenta slices on a baking sheet and brush the tops with 1 tablespoon olive oil; season generously with salt and pepper. Broil until browned around the edges and crisp, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Meanwhile, season the pork with salt and pepper. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the pork and cook until browned, about 2 minutes per side; remove to a plate. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the mushrooms, sliced garlic, shallot and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms brown in spots, 6 to 8 minutes. Sprinkle with the flour and cook, stirring, about 30 seconds. Add the chicken broth and wine; bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
• Return the pork and any juices to the skillet. Cook over low heat until the pork is cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the orange juice and season with salt and pepper.
• Combine the orange zest, parsley and minced garlic in a small bowl. Divide the polenta among plates. Top with the pork, mushroom sauce and parsley mixture.

MOROCCAN MOUFLETA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Make a well in the center, and slowly add 3 to 3 1/2 cups warm water, mixing and kneading gently, at first with a wooden spoon and then with your hands, until a light and elastic dough is formed. (Add a little extra water if dough seems too dry; it should be pretty wet.) Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rest for about 30 minutes.
• Generously coat a baking sheet with oil and set aside. Coat your hands with oil and divide the dough into about 20 balls, each slightly smaller than a tennis ball. Dip each ball in the oil and set on the baking sheet. (Don't worry if the balls lose their shape). Let rest for another 15 minutes.
• Lightly oil your work surface. Place 1 ball at time on the surface and flatten with your palm. Using your fingers, stretch the dough out, as thin as possible, into a 7- or 8-inch disc. Keep dipping your fingers in the oil as needed to help get the moufleta as thin as possible and to keep it from sticking to the work surface or your hands.
• Place a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. When the pan is hot, carefully pick up the first moufleta (it will be stretchy and have a hard time holding its shape) and place it on the hot skillet. Cook on one side, about 1 to 2 minutes, until the underside has golden-brown patches. Flip the pancake over, roll out the next ball of dough and place it on top of the first one. When the bottom side has golden-brown patches, flip both pancakes together to cook the new one. Roll out another moufleta and place on top of the moufleta pack in the skillet. Flip to cook. Repeat for all moufletas, starting over again when you have a pack of 7 or 8. Except for the first one, they are all getting cooked only on one side. (Alternatively, the moufletas can be cooked one at a time for about 1 to 2 minutes per side and removed to a plate, each one going underneath the one cooked before it to help keep them from drying out. Cover the plate with a towel as you work.)
• Serve immediately, while warm, with butter and honey.

MOROCCAN POLENTA

Steps:

• In A small to med Sized Sauce Pan.
• Heat Oil over Med - Med High Heat and Saute Onions for about 5 min (Till Soft).
• Place in a Double Boiler, careful not to add to much water.
• Add Corn Meal and Stock and Stir.
• Let cook in Double Boiler for about 15-20 minutes (Until Polenta is soft and Creamy)
• Salt to Taste.
• Serve Hot.