Polenta Squares With Pomegranite Chipotle Chicken And Manchego Cheese Recipes

SPANISH CHICKEN STEW WITH MANCHEGO POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a cast iron skillet or large pan over medium heat. Season the chicken thighs with salt, pepper, to taste, and the paprika. Brown the chicken for a couple minutes on each side, then add the chorizo and brown for a couple minutes. Add the onions and garlic and cook for 5 minutes more. Stir in the wine to deglaze the pan, then add the tomatoes, peppers and parsley. Reduce the heat to a simmer.
• In a medium pot, bring the stock to a boil over high heat. Slowly add the polenta and whisk until thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the butter and cheese, then spoon the polenta into shallow bowls and make a well in the center. Fill the polenta-lined bowls with the stew and serve.

CRISPY SEASONED POLENTA SQUARES

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, bring the water, tomatoes, salt, onion and garlic to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle boil; slowly whisk in cornmeal. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon for 15-20 minutes or until polenta is thickened and pulls away cleanly from the sides of the pan. Stir in cheese and oregano. Spread into a 9-in. square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes., Cut polenta into nine squares. In a shallow bowl, whisk egg and milk. In another shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs and cilantro. Dip polenta in the egg mixture, then bread crumb mixture. , In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook polenta in oil in batches for 1-2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Serve with sour cream.

POLENTA SQUARES WITH POMEGRANITE CHIPOTLE CHICKEN AND MANCHEGO CHEESE

Steps:

• Butter 9 x 12 -inch-diameter glass baking dish. Bring broth to boil in heavy medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in corn meal. Reduce heat to medium and whisk constantly until mixture thickens, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Add cheese, baking mix and butter; stir until cheese melt. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer polenta to prepared dish; using buttered knife, spread evenly. Cool until polenta is firm, at least 1 hour. Line baking sheet with foil. Cut polenta into squares. Transfer squares, bottom side up, to prepared sheet, fitting closely together. (Can be made 1 day ahead by cutting, covering and chilling.) Preheat oven to 350 F. Bake polenta squares until golden, about 15 minutes. Cool on sheet. Next, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 13×9 inch pan with cooking spray. Add olive oil and onions to skillet and cook over medium for 3 minutes. Add chicken and cook with onions for 4 minutes or until chicken is just-opaque. Remove from heat and stir in chopped bacon. Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded cheese evenly over baked polenta squares; spoon chicken mixture evenly over cheese. Drizzle pomegranate chipotle sauce over cheese, then top with remaining 1 cup of cheese. Sprinkle pecans over top. Bake for 6-8 minutes or until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbly; sprinkle top with cilantro. Pomegranite Chipotle BBQ Sauce (submitted as separate entry as well) ½ cup organic tomato paste 4 T. organic balsamic vinegar 2 T. organic blackstrap molasses ½ cup organic brown sugar 2 T. organic gluten free Tamari ½ c. dark agave nectar ½ c. pomegranate juice ½ t. chipotle chile powder 1 T. cornstarch Mix all ingredients, except cornstarch, in a medium size bowl with whisk. Whisk in cornstarch. Transfer to medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat while whisking for 2-3 minutes. Turn off heat and let cool.

GRILLED POLENTA SQUARES

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium low heat. Add the red onion and saute, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes, or until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the chicken stock, water, and salt and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce the heat and, when the liquid is simmering, gradually sprinkle the pollinate over in a very slow, thin stream, whisking constantly in the same direction until all the grains have been incorporated and no lumps remain. Reduce the heat to very low.
• Switch to a wooden paddle and stir thoroughly every 1 or 2 minutes for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan and the grains of pollinate have softened. Stir in the black pepper, cotija, and butter. The mixture will be quite thick.
• Rinse an 8 x 12 inch roasting pan with water and shake dry. Mound the pollinate into the pan and, using a rubber spatula repeatedly dipped in very hot water, spread the pollinate evenly in the pan until it is just under 1/2-inch thick. Cover with a tea towel and allow to rest for 1 hour at room temperature or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
• When ready to serve, preheat a broiler to high heat. Brush the broiler pan with oil. Cut the pollinate into 8 equal squares and brush them with olive oil. Transfer the squares to the broiler pan and grill for about 8 minutes on each side, or until deep golden brown. Serve immediately.

CHICKEN MANCHEGO

Steps:

• Dice cheese and red peppers into small bite-size pieces.
• Zest/grate lemon peel (no white).
• Combine cheese, red peppers, lemon zest, almonds, 3 tablespoons olive oil, oregano, salt, pepper, and red pepper; let stand 15-20 minutes for flavors to blend.
• Preheat grill pan on medium-high 2-3 minutes. Coat chicken with 1 tablespoon olive oil; sprinkle with lemon pepper (wash hands). Place chicken in pan; grill 4-5 minutes on each side or until 165 degrees.
• Slice chicken; top with cheese mixture and serve.

FRIED POLENTA SQUARES WITH CREAMY MUSHROOM RAGU

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Whisk in the polenta. Once it begins to thicken, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes until creamy and thick, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Stir in the Parmesan and a 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Stir until melted and cheese is no longer visible. Remove from heat.
• Line an 8x11 inch baking dish with Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil and carefully pour the polenta into the baking dish, using a spatula to smooth it to an even thickness, about 3/4 inch. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours and up to two days until firm.
• While the polenta chills, make your ragu. In a large heavy skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and garlic and saute until fragrant and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir often to prevent browning. Add mushrooms and thyme and cook over medium-high heat until the mushrooms start to release their liquid. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and continue to cook another 5 minutes until they begin to soften more.
• Add flour, stirring, until it is no longer visible, about 1 minute. Add in the wine, cream and sugar, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Taste and adjust salt if desired. Simmer until thick and creamy and the mushrooms are nicely coated, about 15 minutes. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and 1/2 cup minced parsley. Set aside and cover to keep warm.
• Slice your polenta into squares -- whatever size you desire. Wipe down your skillet, coat it with nonstick cooking spray, and heat it over medium-high. Fry the squares in the pan until golden brown and warmed through. To serve, top the squares with warm mushroom ragu.

CRISPY POLENTA SQUARES

Steps:

• Pour warm polenta into an oiled 8-by-8-inch square pan and smooth out top. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours but up to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Flip polenta onto a cutting board. Brush the top with olive oil. Cut into 16 two-inch squares. Preheat a baking sheet for a few minutes and place the squares on the sheet.
• Place baking sheet in the upper third rack of the oven. Cook 10 minutes. Meanwhile, make the tomato topping by combining all ingredients in a bowl and tossing to coat. Let sit until ready to serve.
• Increase oven setting to broil and cook polenta squares until golden brown on top, about 3 minutes. Transfer squares to a platter and scatter tomato mixture on top.

POLENTA SQUARES WITH PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Bring 7 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan; add 4 teaspoons salt. Whisking constantly, add cornmeal a little at a time. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until polenta pulls away from sides of pan and is very thick, about 25 minutes.
• Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat until hot but not smoking. Add prosciutto and garlic. Cook, stirring, until prosciutto is slightly crisp, about 5 minutes; stir into polenta. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
• Pour polenta mixture into a 9-by-13-inch baking pan; smooth with a dampened spatula. Let cool at least 1 hour.
• If not serving polenta immediately, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to use (or overnight).
• Trim 1/4 inch from all sides of polenta. Cut polenta into 48 squares. Preheat broiler with rack 5 inches from heat. Lightly brush a metal baking pan with oil; heat under broiler 30 seconds. In batches, broil squares in pan, 2 minutes. Place cheese on each square; season with pepper. Broil until cheese is melted, about 1 1/2 minutes. Garnish with herb sprigs.

CHEESY POLENTA WITH CHIPOTLE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Chicken -- mix all the marinade ingredients in a large baggie, add the chicken and just let it marinade all day. At least 4 or more, up to 24 hours.
• Make the Cilantro Sour Cream Sauce -- Add the sour cream, mayo, lime, garlic, cilantro, scallion, salt and pepper. Mix well and transfer to a small bowl, cover and chill. This can be made several hours in advance.
• Make sure you let the chicken come to room temperature before grilling. You can grill them either outside or even on a grill pan. They should take (depending on the size) 5 minutes approximately per side. Remove to a plate and cover to let set before slicing to let the juices re distribute.
• Polenta -- as the chicken cooks, make this great side dish. I follow the recipe on the box. But for the most part, bring the water and milk to a light boil, medium high heat add the polenta. Reduce to medium low and cook 15-20 minutes until creamy stirring every few minutes. Add the cheese a little cilantro as a garnish if you want and it is done. If you want, purchase quick cooking polenta, just use 1/2 water and milk according to directions and at the end add the cheese and cilantro if desired. Any brand you pick will work just fine.
• Plate the polenta and top with a chicken breast thin sliced and a dollop of the Cilantro cream. It is perfect.
• A nice green salad or you can make market vegetables. Use what is fresh. Corn on the cob is great, so are local beans.