Polenta Pudding Recipes

POLENTA PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Heat milk in top of double boiler. Slowly whisk in cornmeal. Cook; stirring constantly, until milk boils and the polenta thickens. Stir in the salt.
• Reduce heat under boiling water to very low and cook, covered, WITHOUT disturbing, for 30 minutes. Replenish water in boiler as needed.
• In a large bowl, whisk eggs and sugar until light in color.
• When polents is ready, remove from heat, stir in mascarpone until blended. Pour small amount of polenta into eggs. Whisk in remaining polenta.
• Add lemon zest and vanilla, stir.
• Butter a shallow 2-quart baking dish. Add pudding.
• Bake for about 45 minutes until edges are golden brown.
• Serve with one of the suggested toppings.

POLENTA WITH CORN

Steps:

• In a medium-size saucepan, bring the milk, 2 cups water and bay leaf to a boil. Season generously with salt, almost to the point of over seasoning. How do you know that you are there? TASTE IT! When it has reached a boil, slowly whisk in the polenta in small sprinkles. Once all of the polenta has been incorporated, reduce the heat to medium and immediately switch over to stirring with a wooden spoon. Cook the polenta until it begins to pull away from the pan, adding water to loosen it up if it becomes too thick. Add the corn and stir to combine. When the polenta is thoroughly cooked, it should look creamy and not feel gritty on your tongue. Remove it from the heat and stir in the Parmesan and mascarpone.

BASIC POLENTA

Steps:

• 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.

POLENTA PUDDING WITH BLACKBERRY COMPOTE AND MASCARPONE CREAM

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Preheat oven to 325° F. and butter and flour a 12-inch round cake pan.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat together butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Split vanilla bean lengthwise. Scrape seeds from pod and add to butter mixture. Beat in whole eggs and egg yolks 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, and fold in flour and cornmeal. Pour batter into pan and bake cake in middle of oven 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until golden. Invert cake onto a rack and cool completely. Transfer cake to a large platter.
• Make compote:
• In a saucepan cook blackberries, granulated sugar, and grappa over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes, or until sugar is dissolved.
• Pour compote over cake. Let pudding stand, loosely covered, at room temperature at least 6 hours and up to 1 day.
• Make mascarpone cream:
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat mascarpone until light and fluffy. Add cream and granulated sugar and beat mixture until it holds soft peaks.
• Garnish pudding with blackberries and serve with mascarpone cream.

CHOCOLATE POLENTA PUDDING

Steps:

• Whisk cornmeal and cocoa in a bowl with water.
• Microwave on high for 3 minutes stirring every minute.
• Let cool for five minutes.
• Enjoy!

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.