Polenta Pizza With Purple Sprouting Broccoli Mozzarella Recipes

POLENTA PIZZA (WITH VARIOUS TOPPINGS)

Steps:

• Polenta: Start by making a basic polenta. Pour the water into a large pot. Heat the water but don't let it come to a boil (it helps against the formation of lumps). Add the salt. Slowly add the cornmeal while stirring or whisking (with an egg beater, not a mixer) all the time (Note 2).
• Simmer: When all the cornmeal is incorporated, continue stirring or whisking shortly to ensure that there are no lumps. Turn the heat down, place a lid on top but leave a crack open. Stir every 2-3 minutes or so, but there is no need to stir all the time.
• Cooking time: Read the cooking instructions on the polenta packet to know how long the cornmeal needs to be cooked. For example, I cook the polenta made with coarse cornmeal for 40 to 50 minutes and the polenta made with medium cornmeal for about 15 minutes.
• Add cheese: When the polenta is cooked, stir in the freshly grated cheese of choice.
• Let cool: Line a baking tray with baking paper and pour the polenta on the tray. Spread it evenly with a spoon and let it get cold.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
• Top pizza: Mix the tomato sauce with dried oregano and spread it over the polenta. Halve and slice the red onion, cut the tomatoes into small wedges and thinly slice the pepper and the sausage. Spread everything on the pizza and add the olives and the crumbled feta cheese.
• Bake for 20-30 minutes in the hot oven until the cheese on top starts to get golden. Serve immediately with a green salad and Greek yogurt or sour cream dollop.

POLENTA PIZZA WITH PURPLE SPROUTING BROCCOLI & MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Heat the grill to its highest setting. In a medium saucepan, bring the stock to a boil, then slowly pour in the polenta, whisking constantly. Add some salt and 2 tbsp of the Parmesan. Continue to whisk until thick, about 3 mins.
• Grease a large baking tray with 1 tsp of the oil, pour over the polenta and spread it out to a 30cm circle - if you have time, leave it to chill, uncovered, in the fridge for 30 mins.
• Blanch the broccoli in boiling water for 2 mins. Rinse in cold water and drain well. If any stems are thick, halve them lengthways. In a small bowl, mix the cherry tomatoes with the garlic and remaining oil. Season well.
• Layer the mozzarella over the polenta, then add the broccoli, tomatoes, peppers and remaining Parmesan. Pop under the grill for 3-4 mins or until golden at the edges and the cheese has melted.

POLENTA 'PIZZA' WITH PANCETTA AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450 degrees; brush a layer of olive oil on a pizza pan or cookie sheet. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine milk with 2 1/2 cups water and a large pinch of salt. Bring just about to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and add cornmeal in a steady stream, whisking all the while to prevent lumps from forming. Turn heat to low and simmer, whisking frequently, until thick, 10 or 15 minutes. If mixture becomes too thick, whisk in a bit more water; you want a consistency approaching thick oatmeal.
• Stir 1 tablespoon oil into cooked cornmeal (polenta). Spoon it onto prepared pan, working quickly so polenta does not stiffen; spread it evenly to a thickness of about 1/2 inch all over. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, cover baking sheet with plastic wrap and put it in refrigerator until it is firm, an hour or more (you can refrigerate polenta overnight if you prefer).
• Put polenta in oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until it begins to brown and crisp on edges. Meanwhile, put two tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft and pancetta is nicely browned, about 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to take onion and pancetta out of pan; set aside. Add spinach to skillet and sauté until it releases its water and pan becomes dry; sprinkle with salt and lots of pepper.
• Take polenta out of oven, sprinkle with Gorgonzola, then spread onion-pancetta mixture and spinach evenly on top of cheese; drizzle with another tablespoon olive oil. Put pizza back in oven for two minutes, or until cheese begins to melt and pancetta and vegetables are warmed through. Cut into slices and serve hot or at room temperature.

POLENTA PIZZA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. Cut the polenta log into 9 slices.
• Arrange polenta rounds in an even layer in the bottom of the dish. Spoon marinara sauce over the top, then scatter with oregano and garlic salt. Arrange the peppers and pepperoni over the sauce, then top with the cheese and bake until hot throughout and bubbly, about 35 minutes. Serve hot.

BRAISED BROCCOLI AND PORCINI WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• Soak porcini in 2 cups boiling water for at least 10 minutes.
• At the same time, heat olive oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium heat. Add shallot and slowly saute until soft and juices have been released, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove porcini from the water and use a damp paper towel to remove any grit. Reserve soaking water.
• Add porcini to the Dutch oven with miso paste and yeast extract. Stir well and reduce heat to a simmer.
• Add broccoli; put floret heads facing down and stem pieces nestled in so they are touching the bottom of the pot. Layer radicchio slices evenly on top. Pour in wine without disturbing the vegetables. Cover and simmer, occasionally shaking the pan gently, for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring 2 cups water, vegetable broth, and salt to a boil. Sprinkle fistfuls of polenta into the boiling liquid while stirring constantly so clumps don't form. Continue to stir in polenta until completely added. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring often, until polenta is thick and cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Strain the reserved soaking water, twice if necessary, to remove any sediment.
• Pour 1/2 of the soaking water into the Dutch oven with the broccoli. Gently shake the pot and use a wooden spoon to carefully loosen the florets without breaking them apart. Gently fold vegetables over until coated with cooking sauce. Continue to simmer, uncovered, occasionally shaking the pot. Cook until broccoli is tender but still firm to the touch and radicchio is completely wilted. Season with salt and pepper.
• Pour polenta onto a lightly oiled polenta board and spread it evenly over the board. Use a slotted spoon to gently spoon vegetables over the polenta.
• Pour remaining soaking water into the Dutch oven and bring to a boil. Make a slurry with the remaining water and cornstarch; pour into the Dutch oven while whisking constantly. Cook until sauce has thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour sauce over the broccoli and polenta or serve on the side.

POLENTA WITH MOZZARELLA AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Combine milk and cornmeal in large saucepan. Whisk over high heat until mixture comes to boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until polenta thickens, whisking often, about 15 minutes. Add rosemary and cheeses; whisk until cheeses melt. Season with salt and pepper.

POLENTA PIZZA WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Prepare the polenta base. Bring three and one-half cups of water to a boil in a deep saucepan. In a mixing bowl, combine one cup of cold water with the cornmeal and stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture is a thick paste. Whisk the paste into the boiling water and simmer, stirring constantly for 15 to 20 minutes or until the mixture is very thick and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Remove from heat and add the butter and Parmesan cheese.
• Pour the polenta into an oiled 12-inch round pan and flatten into a circle. Cool at room temperature for at least one hour or until the top feels dry.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush the polenta with one tablespoon of oil and bake for 20 minutes. (If it puffs, prick it with a fork.)
• In a large skillet, saute the onion and garlic in two tablespoons of oil until the onion is translucent. Add the mushrooms, raise the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring constantly until all the liquid evaporates and the mushrooms begin to brown. Add the tomatoes, mushroom powder, herbs, salt and pepper, turn the heat down to low and cook for 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add the parsley.
• Spoon the topping onto the polenta and sprinkle with the grated Gruyere, Emmenthaler or Mozzarella cheese. Bake for five to seven minutes or until the cheese has melted and the topping bubbles. Cut into wedges and serve with grated Parmesan cheese on the side.