Food & Drink

How To Make Polenta

This quick recipe for polenta, an Italian ground corn meal dish, makes a great alternative to potatoes or pasta as a side-dish. Try our Polenta recipe. Enlarge

How To Make Polenta

This quick recipe for polenta, an Italian ground corn meal dish, makes a great alternative to potatoes or pasta as a side-dish. Try our Polenta recipe.

Prep:
5m
Cook:
20m
Total:
25m
Serves:
4

Step 1: You will need:

  • 1 ltr water
  • 240 g cornmeal
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 4 tbsp grated parmesan
  • 15 g butter
  • 1 saucepan
  • 1 whisk
  • 1 wooden spoon

Step 2: Heat the water

Pour all the water into the saucepan. Add the salt and bring to a boil.

Step 3: Cook the corn meal

Once boiling, slowly add the corn meal, in a slow steady stream, whilst constantly whisking to avoid any lumps forming. Continue to whisk into a smooth, thick paste. Lower the heat and keep stirring occasionally with a spoon, during the ten minute cooking period.

Step 4: Add cheese and butter

When the polenta has finished cooking add the parmesan cheese and the butter. Then with your wooden spoon, mix them in well. You can add any type of cheese or herbs at this point. Polenta is a great base for experimenting.

Step 5: Serve hot

Serve it immediately. It goes very well with Osso Buco, which are braised veal shanks. The recipe can be found on our website.