Goat Cheese Polenta Recipe - Chisel & Fork (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between quick cooking polenta and regular polenta? ›

The difference between them comes down to the grain itself. Instant or quick-cooking polenta will be finely ground, resembling regular cornmeal, so that it can absorb the cooking liquid in just a matter of minutes. Traditional-style polenta grains will be medium- or coarse-ground for the best texture.

If polenta forms lumps, beat vigorously with a stiff whisk to remove. If polenta becomes too firm or begins to set, add a small amount of water, stock, or milk and beat in with a whisk until liquid is fully incorporated and no lumps remain.

The 45 minutes of cooking time is crucial. I always thought my polenta looked done after 15 or 20 minutes of cooking, but just because it's thickened doesn't mean the cornmeal has cooked through. Keep on cooking until it tastes creamy, corny, and a little bit sweet. That extra time makes all the difference.

"Most people, including chefs we know and love, say any version of medium or coarsely ground corn works for polenta," says Roberts. "Ultimately, yes, a cook can prepare a porridge from medium or coarsely ground corn. Fine-grind can be a bit too pasty if prepared this way.

Polenta can be the star of the meal or side dish. Like a blank slate, make your own masterpiece with Yellow Corn Polenta: your next meal is ready in just 5 minutes!

In Italian cooking, polenta is made with water. Some more Americanized recipes will prompt you to start with milk or stock, but (in my opinion) they are wrong. Hydrating your polenta with water will allow the flavor of the corn to shine, and it will allow each individual grain to absorb salt more readily.

Instead of constant stirring, a quick, vigorous initial stir—always with a whisk, not a spoon—quickly releases enough starch from the corn that little stirring is needed after that. Then the grains should cook low and slow—no supervision needed.

The black/dark specks you see in your grits are the particles of germ that are left in the product. The germ of the corn kernel is naturally darker in color and it is absolutely normal to see grey/black/dark flecks throughout your corn grits. How do I prepare grits? Grits can be prepared in a variety of ways.

Cover the pot and let the polenta cook while you go about making the rest of dinner. Every 10 minutes or so, uncover the pot and give it a good stir to make sure it's cooking evenly and the sides aren't drying out. Thirty to forty minutes later, your polenta is ready for the table.

In a large, deep saucepan, bring 5 cups of water to a boil. While whisking constantly, add polenta in a slow, steady stream. Reduce heat to medium, cook until thickened, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, about 15 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in cheese, heavy cream, and butter.

How do you make polenta taste better? ›

Cooked veggies are the perfect way to add hearty texture, richness, and flavor to creamy polenta. Try pairing it with roasted broccoli, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, butternut squash, or cauliflower, with grilled mixed vegetables or zucchini, or with sautéed mushrooms.

Polenta is basically cornmeal mush, and it can be made with any kind of cornmeal, ground coarse, medium or fine.

What Is the Difference Between Polenta and Semolina? As polenta is made from corn, it's gluten-free. Semolina, on the other hand, is coarsely ground, high-gluten durum wheat used to make pasta, cakes, and breads. Photo by Getty Images.

Can I use regular polenta instead of instant? Yes, you can substitute regular cornmeal for instant polenta. However, regular cornmeal is coarser, so it's a good idea to pulse it in a food processor to achieve a finer texture similar to instant polenta.

In a pinch, quick-cooking dry polenta, which takes five minutes or less to prepare, is also available. It lacks the substantive texture and full flavor of longer-cooking polenta. Regular cornmeal can be used as a substitute, but will need to be cooked about half as long.

Packages labeled polenta mean that the grind of the corn is appropriate to make the polenta dish, but you can substitute regular medium or coarsely-ground cornmeal instead. Don't use finely ground cornmeal or corn flour which have too fine of a consistency and will give the finished dish a pasty texture.

Instant polenta usually takes around five minutes to cook, as it just needs to be stirred into boiling water. On the other hand, quick-cooking polenta is nonetheless coarser and requires longer cooking, typically around 15–20 minutes.