Polenta And Pine Nuts Recipes

POLENTA TORTA

Steps:

• Butter a 9-inch springform pan. Line the bottom and sides with parchment paper. For the tomato layer: In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat and cool slightly. Stir in the tomatoes. Return the pan to the heat and add the red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated and the mixture has formed a chunky sauce, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• For the bechamel sauce: In a 1-quart saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Stir in the nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Simmer over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until the sauce is thick and smooth, about 8 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat.
• For the pesto: In a food processor, combine the basil, Parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Pulse until finely chopped. With the machine running, gradually add the olive oil until the mixture forms a smooth paste. Stir the pesto into the bechamel sauce until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool for 15 minutes.
• For the polenta: In a large, heavy saucepan, bring 6 cups water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil over medium-low heat. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and the cornmeal is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter. To assemble the torta: Working quickly, spread half of the warm polenta in an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan. Add the pesto mixture and spread on top of the polenta. Spoon the remaining polenta on top and smooth with a spatula. Spread the tomato mixture on top. Cool the torta at room temperature for 30 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the layers have set, about 4 hours. Remove the outer ring from the pan, then remove the parchment paper. Place the torta on a platter and cut into thin wedges. Serve with grilled bread. Cook's Note: To toast the pine nuts, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a 350 degrees F oven until lightly toasted, 6 to 8 minutes. Cool completely before using.

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.

POLENTA BITES WITH BLUE CHEESE, TOMATOES, AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Lightly butter 24 mini muffin cups (each about 1 3/4 inches in diameter with 1/2-inch-high sides).
• Bring broth to boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium; gradually whisk in cornmeal. Cook until mixture is very thick, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan. Season with salt.
• Spoon 1 1/2 tablespoons hot polenta into each muffin cup. Using back of spoon, pack polenta firmly into cups. Using finger, make indentation in center of each polenta tart for filling. Chill until cold and set, about 3 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; keep chilled.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheet with foil. Using tip of knife, lift polenta tarts from pan. Transfer tarts, indented side up, to prepared baking sheet. Place 1 blue cheese cube in each indentation. Sprinkle green onion and pine nuts over cheese. Top each tart with 2 tomato quarters. Bake until cheese is melted and polenta is warmed through, about 5 minutes. Transfer tarts to platter; sprinkle with basil and serve.

CREAMY POLENTA WITH RAISINS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring the chicken broth and salt to a boil over medium heat. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal in a slow steady stream. The liquid will be absorbed and the cornmeal will lock up; don't freak, just whisk through it. Lower the heat and continue to whisk until the polenta is thick and smooth, about 20 minutes.
• Add the cream and 2 tablespoons of the butter; continue to stir until incorporated and creamy, about 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Remove the polenta from the heat and pour it into a small baking dish.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place a small skillet over medium heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Swirl the pan over the heat and cook the butter until golden and nutty, about 1 minute. Add the raisins and pine nuts, tossing to coat in the brown butter. Pour the raisins and pine nuts over the top of the polenta and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Bake for 25 minutes and serve.

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.

POLENTA BITES WITH BLUE CHEESE, TOMATOES AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Lightly butter 24 mini muffin cups.
• Bring broth to boil in medium saucepan over medium high heat.
• Reduce heat to medium; gradually whisk in cornmeal.
• Cook until mixture is very thick, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in parmesan.
• Season with salt.
• Spoon 1 1/2 TBS hot polenta into each muffin cup.
• Using back of spoon, pack polenta firmly into cups.
• Using finger, make indentation in center of each polenta tart for filling.
• Chill until cold and set, about 3 hours.
• (Can be made 1 day ahead, cover and keep chilled.) Preheat oven to 350*F.
• Line baking sheet with foil.
• Using tip of knife, lift polenta tarts from pan.
• Transfer tarts, indented side up, to prepared baking sheet.
• Place 1 cube blue cheese in each indentation.
• Sprinkle green onion and pine nuts over cheese.
• Top each with 2 tomato quarters.
• Bake until cheese is melted and polenta is warmed through, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer tarts to platter; sprinkle with basil and serve.

PESTO POLENTA LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Oil an 11x7x2 inch baking dish.
• Arrange a single layer of polenta in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spread a thin layer of pesto over the polenta. Spoon half of the sauce over the polenta. Top with another layer of polenta and sauce.
• Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes. Turn on the broiler. Top polenta with cheese and pine nuts, and broil until cheese browns and nuts are toasted.

POLENTA QUICK BREAD WITH LEMON AND THYME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. Dust with flour, and tap out excess; set aside. Put butter and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Add lemon zest; mix 1 minute. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in lemon juice and thyme. Add flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt, and mix until just combined. Stir in chopped pine nuts.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle with pine nuts. Bake until a cake tester inserted into center comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Garnish with thyme.

CORNMEAL AND FIG CAKE WITH PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter 8-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides. Beat egg yolks and sugar in large bowl. Bring milk, grappa, and salt to boil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Gradually whisk hot milk mixture into egg yolk mixture. Return to saucepan. Whisk in polenta. Whisk over medium-high heat until mixture thickens and begins to bubble, about 8 minutes.
• Fold figs, raisins, pine nuts, and fennel seeds into polenta mixture. Pour into prepared cake pan.
• Bake cake until golden brown, set in center, and beginning to pull away from sides of pan, about 40 minutes. Cool in pan 20 minutes. Cut around pan sides and invert cake onto platter. Serve warm or at room temperature.

POLENTA WITH BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Cut off and discard tough stems from rabe. Wash thoroughly and drain on paper towels. Cut into one-inch pieces.
• Heat oil in a nonstick skillet. Saute the garlic for 30 seconds. Stir in rabe and coat with oil. Cook over medium heat until it begins to soften.
• Stir in raisins, pine nuts and red pepper. Cover and cook 5 to 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile bring water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Slowly stir in polenta and stir constantly for several minutes, until mixture begins to thicken. Do not let mixture become so thick that it cannot be stirred.
• Stir in the cheese and salt. Stir in rabe and spoon into a shallow baking dish. Place under broiler for about 2 minutes, just until the top begins to brown. Watch carefully.