Polenta French Toast Recipes

GLUTEN-FREE POLENTA "FRENCH TOAST"

Steps:

• Make the polenta: Bring water and salt to a boil in a 2-quart pot. Add cornmeal in a slow, steady stream, stirring constantly. Cook, stirring often, until mixture begins to thicken, about 4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring often, for 1 hour.
• Stir in syrup, raisins, cinnamon, zest, nutmeg, and milk. Cook for 30 minutes. Spread polenta onto a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet, and let cool. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.
• Make the "French toast": Cut cold polenta into 4-inch squares; cut each square into 2 triangles. Heat a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Toss polenta triangles with corn flour, dusting off excess. Add to pan; cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Serve with maple syrup and raspberries.

POLENTA FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Bring water and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add cornmeal in a slow steady stream, whisking constantly. Cook until beginning to thicken, stirring frequently, about 4 minutes. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring often, 30 minutes.
• Add syrup, cinnamon, orange zest, nutmeg, and milk; stir well. Cook another 30 minutes on low. Pour into parchment-lined 13x9 baking dish and cool to room temperature. Cover with plastic and refrigerate overnight.
• Cut polenta into squares, then cut each square diagonally into triangles. Melt butter (2 tbsp per 4 triangles) in a large skillet. Dip both sides of each triangle in flour, patting off excess, then fry until crisp and brown on both sides. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with maple syrup and fruit.

TOASTED HERBED POLENTA

Steps:

• Combine the milk, water, salt and cornmeal in a 2 or 3 quart heavy bottomed saucepan. Stir with a fork to eliminate lumps. Heat just to a boil (but without scorching). Reduce heat to low and simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. If, near the end of cooking, the polenta is becoming to thick and heavy to stir, add 1 or more tablespoons cold water to loosen the mixture enough to be able to stir it and maintain a creamy consistency..
• Remove from the heat. Add butter, 1/4 cup Parmesan, and the herbs, and stir quickly to incorporate. Pour the still-hot polenta into a buttered cake pan and smooth evenly with a spatula. Cool thoroughly until firm before cutting into serving portions. If prepared ahead of time, the polenta can be covered and refrigerated, uncut, for several hours or overnight.
• To toast the polenta, turn it out of the pan and cut into the desired serving size and shape. Place the pieces on a sheet pan, sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and place in a 375 degree oven for 10 minutes. If the top has not browned sufficiently, toast under the broiler briefly before serving.

POLENTA FRENCH FRIES

Steps:

• Prepare the instant polenta according to directions on box. Mix all other ingredients above the instant polenta. Smooth onto a pan (a cookie sheet will work), use a spatula, spread out 1 to 1 1/2-inch layer of polenta. Cool in refrigerator overnight. Cut into 1/2 to 3/4-inch strips, 3 inches in length. Deep fry until golden, remove, then serve with your choice of hot sauce. To serve: place 4 polenta fries, on 6-inch plate, to form a square. Continue to build 4 layers directly on top of each other. In center of square you built (with polenta fries) place small bowl, fill with Diablo sauce.

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.

POLENTA TOASTS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND FRESH THYME

Steps:

• Lightly oil 2 baking sheets. Combine 6 cups water and salt in heavy large saucepan. Bring to boil. Gradually add cornmeal, whisking until smooth. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook until polenta is thick and creamy, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Cool 5 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spoon warm polenta out onto wet work surface. Roll out polenta with wet rolling pin to 1/3-inch thickness. Cool completely. Using wet 1 3/4- to- 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out polenta rounds. Discard polenta scraps. Transfer rounds to baking sheets.
• Lightly brush polenta with oil. Bake polenta 15 minutes. Turn polenta rounds over. Lightly brush with oil and bake until polenta is slightly puffed and pale golden, about 10 minutes longer.
• Spoon goat cheese into pastry bag fitted with large star tip. Transfer polenta rounds to platter. Pipe 1 small rosette in center of each polenta round. Sprinkle with thyme and serve.