Soft Polenta With Roasted Red Peppers Recipes

ROASTED RED PEPPER POLENTA

Steps:

• To fire-roast the red peppers, place them over a high flame on a stove-top burner and roast, turning occasionally, until the skins turn black on all sides. Place the peppers in a medium bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow to steam for 10 minutes. Peel away the blackened skins from the peppers. Cut away the stems and then seed, core and coarsely chop the peppers. Place them in a food processor and puree until smooth; reserve to the side.
• In a heavy-bottom medium pot, bring 8 cups water, thesalt and the roasted red pepper puree to a boil. Add the stone-ground cornmeal in a gentle stream, whisking or stirring vigorously in the same direction as you pour it in. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring continuously for 2 to 3 minutes. Cook the polenta for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring every few minutes and scraping the bottom of the pan to prevent it from sticking. When the polenta is thick, glossy and pulling away from the side of the pan, add the Pecorino Romano and butter, stirring quickly to incorporate. Pour the polenta into a medium serving dish and serve immediately.

POLENTA SHAPES WITH ROASTED RED BELL PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large pot over medium-high heat, bring stock to a boil.
• Slowly pour in polenta, stirring with a whisk as you add it. After all polenta is added it will take about 2 minutes for it to begin to thicken. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking and stirring occasionally for approximately 40 minutes, or until polenta is smooth, and no longer gritty on the tongue. Just before finishing, stir in Parmigiano-Reggiano and thyme.
• In a 9 by 12-inch baking dish, add 1 tablespoon water. Transfer polenta to baking dish and spread until it is of uniform thickness. Refrigerate for 1 hour, or until it solidifies.
• To make roasted red bell pepper sauce, roast the red and poblano peppers whole over a gas flame, a charcoal flame or under a broiler, turning 1/4 rotation every few minutes, until entirely blackened. Immediately place in a paper bag, seal, and let sit for 3 minutes. Peel off the charred skin and discard. Slice the peeled peppers open and discard the membranes and seeds
• In a saute pan over medium heat, heat the butter and add the shallots. Cook for about 6 minutes, stirring frequently, or until the shallots just begin to show signs of browning.
• Add the stock, 2 roasted bell peppers, poblano chili, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes. (Adjust heat as required to simmer.)
• Remove from heat and let cool. In a food processor or blender, add pan contents along with the remaining red peppers, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth. Reserve.
• Use a cookie cutter or a pairing knife to cut out desired polenta shapes. In a saute pan over medium high heat, add oil and saute polenta shapes for approximately 5 minutes per side, or until a golden brown crispy crust has formed on each side.
• Just before serving, re-heat sauce in a saucepan and stir in cream. Ladle 2/3 cup of roasted red bell pepper sauce into a shallow bowl. Top with one piece of polenta. Serve immediately.
• Recommended beverage: Italian Chianti (red)

POLENTA AND GRILLED VEGETABLES WITH ROASTED RED PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a medium-sized heavy saucepan. Add polenta, whisking quickly to combine. Reduce heat to a medium-low and simmer, stirring frequently, until thick- about 3-5 minutes. Whisk in 1/3 cup Parmesan and season with the cayenne pepper and salt. Coat a 9" pie plate with cooking spray and pour the polenta into the prepared pie plate and smooth out the surface and let sit for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat grill (or broiler). Whisk together garlic, thyme, lemon juice, and oil in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Toss vegetables with the dressing. Coat a grill basket (or cooking tray) with cooking spray and arrange vegetables. Grill vegetables until tender and slightly charred- about 3-5 minutes on each side. Transfer to a platter.
• Combine all sauce ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
• Heat broiler, sprinkle polenta with remaining Parmesan cheese. Broil polenta until golden brown- about 2-3 minutes, then slice into 8 pieces. Divide polenta among 4 plates. Top with vegetable, drizzle with sauce and sprinkle with fresh basil.

POLENTA WITH SALAMI AND ROASTED RED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Place chicken stock or broth and butter into a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the polenta and cook, stirring constantly, for 15 minutes. Add remaining ingredients; cook and stir for 5 more minutes. Check the seasoning, then add salt & pepper to taste.
• Pour equal amounts of mixture into two 8" square cake pans and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Unmold polenta from pans and slice into 1/2" thick slices. Heat slices in a 400 degree oven on a cookie sheet for 10 minutes before serving.

POLENTA AND VEGETABLES WITH ROASTED RED PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a medium-sized heavy saucepan. Add polenta in a stream, whisking to combine. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring frequently, until thick, 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk in 1/3 cup Parmesan and season with cayenne and salt. Coat a 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray. Transfer polenta to pie plate, smooth into an even layer and let cool 15 minutes. Heat broiler. Whisk garlic, thyme, lemon juice and oil in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Toss vegetables with dressing. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and arrange vegetables in 1 layer (or in 1 layer in a grill basket). Broil vegetables about 4 inches from heat until tender and slightly charred, 3 to 5 minutes on each side. Transfer to a platter. Combine all sauce ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Sprinkle polenta with remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan. Broil polenta in pie plate until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes, then cut polenta into 8 triangles. Divide polenta among 4 plates. Top with vegetables, drizzle with sauce and sprinkle with chives. Serve any remaining sauce on the side.

POLENTA TRIANGLES WITH ROASTED RED BELL PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• RED PEPPER SAUCE:.
• Roast the red and poblano peppers whole over a gas flame, a charcoal flame or under a broiler, turning 1/4 rotation every few minutes, until entirely blackened.
• Immediately place in a paper bag, seal, and let sit for 3 minutes.
• Peel off the charred skin and discard.
• Slice the peeled peppers open and discard the membranes and seeds.
• Thinly slice two of the red peppers and set aside.
• In a saute pan over medium heat, heat the butter and olive oil and add the shallots.
• Cook for about 6 minutes, stirring frequently, or until the shallots just begin to show signs of browning.
• Add the stock, 2 roasted bell peppers, poblano chili, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes. (Adjust heat as required to simmer.).
• Remove from heat and let cool.
• In a food processor or blender (I use my kitchen 'motorboat'), add pan contents along with the lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
• Blend until smooth.
• Return to sauce pan and add remaining thinly sliced red pepper.
• Set aside.
• POLENTA:.
• In a large pot over medium-high heat, bring stock to a boil.
• Slowly pour in polenta, stirring constantly with a whisk as you add it.
• Reduce heat to moderately low and cook, stirring constantly, until polenta is smooth.
• Reduce to low heat, cover and cook until polenta is smooth, and no longer gritty on the tongue, about 30 minutes. Just before finishing, stir in Parmigiano-Reggiano and thyme.
• Pour creamy polenta into lightly oiled round cake or pie pan using a rubber spatula to smooth the surface.
• Refrigerate polenta until completely cold and firm.
• Cut polenta into wedges and remove from pan with a spatula.
• To Bake:.
• Bake at 450 degrees for until lightly browned, approximately 10-12 minutes.
• Pan Fried:.
• Add enough olive oil to completely coat the bottom of a large, heavy skillet and heat to medium.
• Add as many polenta triangles as you can without crowding the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden. Sprinkle lightly with grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese.
• To Serve:.
• Just before serving, re-heat sauce in a saucepan and stir in cream.
• Ladle 1/2 cup of roasted red bell pepper sauce over each wedge. Top with Parmigiano-Reggiano and serve immediately.