Thursday, January 30, 2014

Microwave Polenta

Winter of 2014 has been one for the records.  Brutal cold, piles of snow, thick ice.  We need easy comfort food here in the Northwoods.  So tonight I made polenta, aka corn meal mush.   EASY polenta. Not the kind that has you standing at the stove stirring until your arm falls off.  Start warming up!

MICROWAVE POLENTA
4 cups water
1 1/4 cups corn meal
2t. kosher salt
3 T. butter
Pepper

In a 2 qt microwave safe bowl, stir the water, corn meal and salt.  Microwave on full power for 12 minutes, stirring well at the 6 minute mark.  When it's done, add the butter & pepper and stir.  You can eat it right away, or spoon it into a loaf pan, let it cool, slice it, let it dry a bit, then fry in butter or olive oil.

We like it mushy, right away, covered with a bit of marinara and parmesan cheese.
It would be great with any savory topping - chili, pesto, cheese alone, salsa, etc
It's also great fried as slices, then covered with maple syrup.  mmmmmmmmmmmmm