Creative Uses for Polenta

Polenta is pure Italian comfort food. It's a creamy cornmeal based dish that is perfect served soft and warm with melted cheese, but there's plenty of other ways to cook it up. Cornmeal is a complex carbohydrate, and with a few simple techniques and tips you can keep polenta light yet hearty. It's fast food Italian style.

The basic formula for polenta is 1 cup of dry cornmeal, 4 cups of water and a dash of salt and pepper. You bring the water to a boil and slowly whisk in the cornmeal a little bit at a time. Simmer and keep whisking until it's thickened, about 15-20 minutes. Watch out for the thick bubbles when they pop because they can spray up and burn you. Add the salt and pepper at the end to taste. If you want creamy polenta substitute two cups of the water with lowfat milk, or fat free condensed milk. For a really special finish stir in a couple of tablespoons of light butter and ¼ cup of grated Parmigiano or Romano cheese.

Now that you have the basic recipe for polenta, mix it up a little bit. Add your own mix of chopped fresh or dried herbs, garlic, chopped arugula or spinach, roasted red peppers, olives, etc. You can really dress it up with lots of veggies and pile them on top or mix them in and serve it casserole style with extra grated cheese. Serve polenta instead of mashed potatoes or rice with roasted chicken, shrimp scampi, or seared scallops.

Pour soft polenta into an oiled rectangular casserole pan, about an inch thick. Chill and cut into squares or rectangles. Brush with EV olive oil and place onto a baking sheet. Broil until golden brown, flip over and broil on the other side. Now you have a crispy polenta that you can use for appetizers, on top of salads or soups, or as quick after school snacks. Top them with cheese, pesto, chopped tomatoes, olives, Tapenade, hummus, etc. Use your imagination and whatever you have on hand in the fridge.

Polenta can make a sweet breakfast dish or dessert also. Serve soft polenta with a little bit of warm lowfat milk, fresh berries, a dash of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey. You could also top it with a dollop of thick lowfat yogurt, real maple syrup and sliced bananas and fresh or dried figs or other dried fruit. Broil polenta squares with canola oil, and spread with a mixture of mascarpone and light cream cheese. Sprinkle a few dark chocolate chips and some toasted almond slices for a sweet treat.

No matter how you spoon, slice, or top polenta it's a delicious sweet or savory treat. These ideas are not only fun, tasty, and healthy, but they're fun to make with your children or serve at your most elegant get-togethers. Keep some cornmeal stocked in your pantry so you can create some of these delicious ideas at the spur of the moment.