Polenta Sandwiches Recipes

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.

CREAMY POLENTA WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• For the polenta, bring 4 1/2 cups water and the milk to a high simmer in a medium-size heavy saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add salt. Pour the cornmeal slowly into the liquid, stirring with a wire whisk to prevent clumping. Continue stirring as the mixture thickens, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Turn heat to low. Cook for approximately 40 to 45 minutes, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes. If the polenta becomes quite thick, thin it with 1/2 cup water, stir well and continue cooking. Add up to 1 cup more water as necessary, to keep the polenta soft enough to stir.
• Add the butter to pot, and stir well. Add the Parmesan, if using. Taste for seasoning. Set the covered saucepan in a pot of barely simmering water, and keep warm for up to an hour or so.
• Meanwhile, put the dried mushrooms in a small bowl, and cover with about 1/2 cup boiling water. Allow to steep for 20 minutes. Remove the mushrooms, and pat dry, then chop roughly. Reserve the mushroom stock.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a sauté pan set over high heat until it has melted. Add the garlic and cook until it starts to sizzle, about 30 seconds. Do not let the garlic brown.
• Add the fresh and reconstituted mushrooms and thyme to the pan, and sauté 3 to 4 minutes, turning until browned. Add about 1/4 cup of the mushroom stock to deglaze the surface, using a wooden spoon to scrape at the browned bits. Allow the stock to reduce by half, then turn the heat to medium-low and add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter, whisking to combine, followed by the soy sauce, cream and olive oil. Allow mixture to cook until it thickens a little, then remove from heat. Taste for seasoning, adding black pepper, if desired.
• Put the polenta in a warmed bowl, then top with mushrooms and the sauce. Serve immediately.

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.

GRILLED POLENTA VEGGIE SANDWICH

Steps:

• In a nonstick skillet over medium heat warm 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the eggplant and saute until very soft (8 minutes).
• Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a bowl (keep warm).
• In the same pan add the onion and saute for 2 minutes. Add the bell pepper, zucchini and sun dried tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and saute for 5 minutes.
• Warm a grill pan over medium heat and brush with remaining olive oil and add the polenta slices. Grill for 2-3 minutes on each side.
• Serve the eggplant mixture in between two slices of grilled polenta.

POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Pour in polenta steadily, stirring constantly. Continue to stir until polenta is thickened. It should come away from sides of the pan, and be able to support a spoon. This can take anywhere from 20 to 50 minutes. Pour polenta onto a wooden cutting board, let stand for a few minutes.

MINI POLENTA SANDWICHES (EASY)

Steps:

• Preparation:.
• Preheat oven to 350°F Remove polenta from package and slice about 1/4" thick. Heat oil in heavy nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add polenta slices for about 2-4 minutes per side until crisp and light brown. Remove to paper towel to drain.
• Make sandwiches with polenta, tomato slices, Brie slices, and basil leaves. Secure with wooden toothpicks. Place on baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 7-8 minutes until cheese melts and sandwiches are hot.

POLENTA SANDWICHES

Steps:

• 1 Prepare the polenta. As soon as the polenta is cooked, spread it with a rubber spatula to about a 1/2-inch thickness on a large baking sheet. Cover and chill until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 3 days, before using. 2 Place a rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Butter a large baking sheet. 3 Cut the polenta into 16 squares. Place half the polenta slices on the cookie sheet. Place the gorgonzola slices on top of them. Top with the remaining polenta, pressing down lightly on the sandwiches. 4 Brush the tops with the butter. Sprinkle with the Parmigiano. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese is just melted. Serve hot. From "1,000 Italian Recipes." Copyright 2004 by Michele Scicolone. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

EASY POLENTA WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 inch square baking dish.
• In a large pot, combine the milk and chicken stock. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. When it is at a rolling boil, gradually whisk in the cornmeal, making sure there are no lumps. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring constantly until thick, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese.
• Pour the polenta into the prepared baking dish, and spread spaghetti sauce over the top.
• Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until sauce is bubbling.