polenta

[ChowMein]

I tried polenta for the first time a few weeks ago . It must be the most insipid bland tasting dish that i could not finish consuming .
I would like to give it another try though . Does anyone have a recipe ?

[Nef Yoo BlackBeard]

Ummm....

Yoo buys a pakkit off plenta an ye chuks a cup off thee stuff inna pot wiff 0.26417 gallins off boylin wotterrrr .

Yoo has 2 sturrrr rrrrewentlesslee 4 twenny minnits an' den da stuff iss cookt .

Den chopp hup wiff ye cutliss an' chuk it 2 da chooks .

Eet a bole off chips insted , rrrrrrr .

[Rev. Rowan Redbeard]

I've had two types of polenta. One which I found disgusting, and the other which I heartily enjoyed.

The type which was similar to cornbread is presentation and texture (if cornbread were much denser and somewhat moister) just had an extremely unpleasant taste. Earthy, singed, going bad.

The other type, which came in a plastic tube, like a sausage but much thicker, was sweeter and more like a patty than a bread. My mother cooked it in the oven, topped with marinara and mozzarella.

[Nef Yoo BlackBeard]

I've had two types of polenta. One which I found disgusting, and the other which I heartily enjoyed.

The type which was similar to cornbread is presentation and texture (if cornbread were much denser and somewhat moister) just had an extremely unpleasant taste. Earthy, singed, going bad.

The other type, which came in a plastic tube, like a sausage but much thicker, was sweeter and more like a patty than a bread. My mother cooked it in the oven, topped with marinara and mozzarella.

Ye can awlwaise likk off the mossella an' marryara an' chuk thee plenta stuff too thee chooks .

[ChowMein]

I've had two types of polenta. One which I found disgusting, and the other which I heartily enjoyed.

The type which was similar to cornbread is presentation and texture (if cornbread were much denser and somewhat moister) just had an extremely unpleasant taste. Earthy, singed, going bad.

The other type, which came in a plastic tube, like a sausage but much thicker, was sweeter and more like a patty than a bread. My mother cooked it in the oven, topped with marinara and mozzarella.

I am not sure which i have in the fridge , it is in a plastic tube and is very dense , me an me mateys still look at with a combination of fear , loathing ,and discust but i will give it another go , fank ye rev .


edit : oh shite , easy QOOC this one be ... oh well , so be it .

[Rev. Rowan Redbeard]

That's the second kind I was talking about. Much more palatable for my taste buds.

[Nef Yoo BlackBeard]

Rev for fowsind an' sumfing plus too .

[ChowMein]

That's the second kind I was talking about. Much more palatable for my taste buds.

Reely an for troo ?
Blaaargh ! Into thee compost then !

[Nef Yoo BlackBeard]

That's the second kind I was talking about. Much more palatable for my taste buds.

Reely an for troo ?
Blaaargh ! Into thee compost then !

Chikkies ! Do'nt 4get thee chikkies - dey luvs korn .

[Cardinal Fang]

There are 2 ways to eat polenta - loose (as an alternative to mash potato. rice or pasta), or solid. Like a lot of starchy food (e.g. our favourite, pasta), it's not got a lot of flavour in itself, so it's good as base.

Loose polenta

Basic everyday polenta

150ml milk
½ tsp salt
150g coarse cornmeal
50g butter
25g grated parmesan (optional)

Put the milk in a large, heavy-based pan along with 600ml water and the salt, and bring to the boil. Meanwhile, measure out the cornmeal and put it near the hob.

When the pan comes to the boil, add the cornmeal, letting it run in thin streams through your fingers, whisking continuously. Stir for a minute or two until it thickens.

Turn the heat right down and stir well, roughly every 4-5 minutes to prevent it sticking, for about 35-45 minutes, until the polenta begins to come away from the sides of the pan. Stir in the butter and cheese, if using, then put on a serving dish.

Cheesy polenta (serves 4)

600g/1lb 5oz quick-cook polenta, 250g/9oz fontina cheese (or taleggio), freshly grated, 100g/3½oz parmesan, freshly grated, 100g/3½oz unsalted butter (I sometime add some crushed chilli as well)

Cook the polenta in salted boiling water (approx 5 pints), stirring continuously for 5-6 minutes (take care as the mixture may bubble and spit). Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheeses and butter.

Empty on on a large dish/ board, with a well in the middle. Use this to serve your favourite rich meat stew or ragu, instead of rice/ pasta/ potatoes. Put in the middle of the table and let everyone dig in.

Recipe 2

Soft polenta with mushroom ragoût - recipe from BBC food website. Nice for a quick and easy meal. I sometimes make this using reconstituted dried mushrooms if I can't get a nice mix of fresh ones.

---------------------------------

Solid polenta

Crispy polenta cake (serves 1)

Cook 100g/3½oz polenta according to packet instructions. Pour on to a baking tray lined with greasproof paper and leave to cool, until the polenta becomes a solid block.

Heat some oil in a pan, transfer the polenta block to the pan. Fry on both sides until crisp and golden brown

Whip together 100 ml double cream and 1 tbsp icing sugar until stiff peaks form.

Sprinkle polenta with cinnamon, top with cream, then top with fruit (original recipe specified fresh orange segments, but I also like it with cooked apple).

Polenta "fries"

Make the block of polenta as in the recipe above, and leave to cool. Slice into french fry sized strips. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper. Put the fries on this. Sprinkle with lots of parmesan cheese. Bake in the oven for 30 mins at220oC/ 425oF/ gas mark 7, turning once. Serve instead of fries, or with a nice dippy sauce (e.g. ketchup)

CF

[ChowMein]

There are 2 ways to eat polenta - loose (as an alternative to mash potato. rice or pasta), or solid. Like a lot of starchy food (e.g. our favourite, pasta), it's not got a lot of flavour in itself, so it's good as base.

Loose polenta

Basic everyday polenta

150ml milk
½ tsp salt
150g coarse cornmeal
50g butter
25g grated parmesan (optional)

Put the milk in a large, heavy-based pan along with 600ml water and the salt, and bring to the boil. Meanwhile, measure out the cornmeal and put it near the hob.

When the pan comes to the boil, add the cornmeal, letting it run in thin streams through your fingers, whisking continuously. Stir for a minute or two until it thickens.

Turn the heat right down and stir well, roughly every 4-5 minutes to prevent it sticking, for about 35-45 minutes, until the polenta begins to come away from the sides of the pan. Stir in the butter and cheese, if using, then put on a serving dish.

Cheesy polenta (serves 4)

600g/1lb 5oz quick-cook polenta, 250g/9oz fontina cheese (or taleggio), freshly grated, 100g/3½oz parmesan, freshly grated, 100g/3½oz unsalted butter (I sometime add some crushed chilli as well)

Cook the polenta in salted boiling water (approx 5 pints), stirring continuously for 5-6 minutes (take care as the mixture may bubble and spit). Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheeses and butter.

Empty on on a large dish/ board, with a well in the middle. Use this to serve your favourite rich meat stew or ragu, instead of rice/ pasta/ potatoes. Put in the middle of the table and let everyone dig in.

Recipe 2

Soft polenta with mushroom ragoût - recipe from BBC food website. Nice for a quick and easy meal. I sometimes make this using reconstituted dried mushrooms if I can't get a nice mix of fresh ones.

---------------------------------

Solid polenta

Crispy polenta cake (serves 1)

Cook 100g/3½oz polenta according to packet instructions. Pour on to a baking tray lined with greasproof paper and leave to cool, until the polenta becomes a solid block.

Heat some oil in a pan, transfer the polenta block to the pan. Fry on both sides until crisp and golden brown

Whip together 100 ml double cream and 1 tbsp icing sugar until stiff peaks form.

Sprinkle polenta with cinnamon, top with cream, then top with fruit (original recipe specified fresh orange segments, but I also like it with cooked apple).

Polenta "fries"

Make the block of polenta as in the recipe above, and leave to cool. Slice into french fry sized strips. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper. Put the fries on this. Sprinkle with lots of parmesan cheese. Bake in the oven for 30 mins at220oC/ 425oF/ gas mark 7, turning once. Serve instead of fries, or with a nice dippy sauce (e.g. ketchup)

CF

Ooooooo them sownds loike a try , i'll see if the blob is still in thee compost heep .