Polenta With Caramelized Onions And Peppers Recipes

POLENTA WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND PEPPERS

Steps:

• Mix cornmeal, 3 cups water, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tbsp oil in a medium-size saucepan. Bring to a light boil over medium-low heat, whisking occasionally. When polenta starts to bubble, lower the temperature to low and constantly whisk, keeping the cornmeal from lumping up and sticking to the bottom of your pan, until desired consistency is reached, about 10-20 minutes. You want to be able to lift it with the fork, so it should be pretty thick.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp of oil in a large skillet. Add sliced onion and bell pepper(s) and sauté over medium heat until vegetables are softened, about 5-10 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon of each salt, pepper, and sugar and cook 5 more minutes.
• To serve, scoop the caramelized vegetables over polenta and sprinkle with parsley if desired.

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 ROUNDS WITH CARAMELIZED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place polenta rounds on parchment-lined cookie sheet. Brush each with salad dressing. Set aside.
• Melt butter in small skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell peppers, brown sugar, oregano and salt. Cook about 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Top each polenta round with rounded 1/2 teaspoon vegetable mixture.
• Bake at 400°F. for 10 to 15 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Immediately sprinkle each with Cheddar cheese. Remove from cookie sheet. Serve warm.

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.

CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, peppers, salt and pepper.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are caramelized and the peppers are tender and slightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes. If a brown coating forms on the bottom of the pan during the cooking process, add a few tablespoons of water and stir; repeat as necessary.
• Add balsamic vinegar and thyme and turn the heat down to low. Cook for a few more minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Serve hot or at room temperature.

POLENTA WITH PEPPER-ONION SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in skillet large enough to hold all the vegetables and saute onions over medium heat until soft and brown.
• Add peppers and cook until they begin to soften. Stir in tomatoes, wine and pepper. (Break up canned tomatoes with fingers as they are added). Cover and cook over medium-low heat until peppers are soft and mixture is medium thick.
• Meanwhile, cook the polenta according to package directions and season with salt, if desired. To serve, spoon polenta onto dinner plates and top with sauce.

SOFT POLENTA WITH ROASTED RED PEPPERS

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and saute, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes, or until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes more, until its aroma is released.
• Add the chicken stock, water, and salt to the pan and increase the heat to medium high. When the liquid is simmering, gradually sprinkle the polenta over in a very slow, thin stream, whisking constantly in the same direction until all the grains are incorporated and no lumps remain. Reduce the heat to very low. Switch to a wooden paddle and stir thoroughly every few minutes for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan and the grains of polenta have softened. Stir in the butter, thyme, pepper, and grated Manchego and remove from the heat. Spoon some polenta into each of 6 warmed shallow soup bowls and top with some of the roasted peppers and chopped cilantro.

BASIC POLENTA

Steps:

• For firm polenta use 4 cups water; for soft polenta use 5 cups water. Bring water to a boil in a medium-size heavy sauce pan over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Pour cornmeal slowly into water, stirring with a wire whisk or wooden spoon. Continue stirring as mixture thickens, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Turn heat to low. Cook for at least 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so. If 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 polenta soft enough to stir. Put a spoonful on a plate, let it cool, then taste. Grains should be swollen and taste cooked, not raw. Adjust salt and add pepper if you wish.
• For firm polenta, lightly butter a baking sheet or shallow dish, approximately 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Carefully pour polenta into pan. Using a spatula, spread polenta to a thickness of 3/4 inch. Cool to room temperature to allow polenta to solidify. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. For soft polenta, add 6 tablespoons butter to pot and stir well. Serve immediately or transfer to a double boiler set over low heat, cover and keep warm for up to an hour or so. (Or set the saucepan in a pot of barely simmering water.) Stir well before spooning into low soup bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan, if desired.