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Lidia Matticchio Bastianich

Basic Polenta

Basic Polenta

Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 4 cups Water 1/2 milk, 1/2 water could be used for a richer taste
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • 2 tablespoons sea salt
  • 1½ cups yellow Polenta

Method

  1. In a medium cast-iron saucepan or other heavy pot, bring all ingredients except the cormeal to simmer over medium heat.
  2. Very slowly, begin to sift the cornmeal into the pan through the fingers of one hand, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or whisk. Gradually sift all the meal into the pan, continue to stir and reduce the heat to medium low.
  3. Continue to stir constantly until the polenta is smooth and thick and pulls away from the sides of the pan as it is stirred, about 30 minutes.
  4. Discard the bay leaf, pour the polenta into a serving bowl or onto a wooden board, and allow it to rest 10 minutes.
  5. To serve from the bowl, dip a large spoon into a hot water and scoop the polenta onto individual dishes, dipping the spoon in the water between scoops.
  6. To serve from the board, cut the polenta into segments with a thin, taut string or a knife and transfer to plates with spatula or cake server.

Comments

  • Keith Emms
    Keith Emms April 2009

    why use water? you wouldn't use water in your champagne. You must use vegetable stock or fruit juice such as apple. I hate it when people cook with water!! Keith Emms

    • Hilda
      Hilda July 2009

      Keith Emms you use water because this is a traditional polenta recipe, the basis of many beautiful arrangements on a plate. Why do some people try so hard to bastardise traditional dishes??!!!

    • Kimberly
      Kimberly 3 months ago

      Do you even know what traditional Italian cooking is? I bet you would also use cream and eggs in gelato. *Shakes head*

  • Jill Rosenthal

    I just used the recipe, accept substituted oil for the butter and used curry leaves instead of bay leaves. It is lovely - thanks!

  • Mark
    Mark July 2009

    Mark I used beef stock as water component gives more flavour also use parmasen cheese and some mixed dried herbs allow to set slice and fry in some good extra virgin olive oil until crispy you have to try it

  • sharito
    sharito 10 months ago

    I followed this measurements in this recipe exactly, and thought 2 tablespoons of salt seemed like too much but added it anyway. And it came out horribly salty! Is this possibly a typo; should it be 2 teaspoons not tablespoons?

    • amanda
      amanda 6 months ago

      look at what kind of salt is called for in the recipe. sea salt has a coarser grain than table salt, so you would use a larger measure to get the same amount. you should salt accordingly to what kind of salt you are using and your tastes; unless you are baking, then follow the directions.

  • Mericas
    Mericas 8 months ago

    I've been cooking and eating southern grits for 15 years and can't wait to add a bit of bacon bits and a fried egg to the finished Polenta!!!

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