Try Something New Today: Polenta

What is polenta?

Polenta is made with finely ground yellow cornmeal (or maize).

It is a popular staple in northern Italy, where it has been eaten for centuries. When mixed with water polenta has a smooth porridge-like texture. Most of the polenta available in the shops today is an ‘instant’ version and can take as little as 10-15 minutes to cook.

Where can you buy polenta?

Polenta is available in most larger supermarkets or wholefood shops and is sold in packets (like rice or couscous), or in yellow blocks ready for slicing. It usually costs around £1.00 for a 500g packet of polenta. When made up 500g of polenta would serve around eight people. Ready-made blocks usually cost around 70p to £1.00 for 500g and would serve around four people.

How would you make a meal of it?

With wet polenta you need to pack in the flavour, so add butter or cream, wild mushrooms, leeks, spinach or parmesan-style cheese. Or make a colcannon-style mash by mixing in some cabbage.

To use it dry cook until thickened, then shape the wet polenta into balls or pour it into a flat tray and cool it in a fridge to set before cutting into shapes. Fry or griddle the shapes in a little oil until the polenta is golden and crispy on the outside. Use this as a base for tomato sauces or roast vegetables as you would with pasta. Alternatively deep-fry polenta chips or spoonfuls of the polenta mixture and serve as a side dish.

Polenta can also be used as an ingredient when baking cakes or pastry in place of some or all of the flour, or it can make a nice crunchy coating for extra-crisp roast potatoes.