Polenta has come a long way since its beginnings as a ‘peasant food’ in Europe. Also known as ‘Italian grits’ polenta is a mixture of yellow or white cornmeal and water or soup stock. Perhaps its popularity has skyrocketed recently due to its versatility. Once polenta has been boiled together with the liquid base it becomes similar to a creamy porridge. You can eat it like this, or you can prepare it in a variety of ways according to your taste. Since it doesn’t really have a strong flavor on its own, cooking it with stock increases its flavor power, or you can add your favorite herbs, spices, vegetables or cheese. Get creative!

Polenta is an excellent gluten-free grain substitute and it contains calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, and zinc. Its vitamin content includes B vitamins, Vitamin A and Vitamin E.

If you want to try polenta, you can make it yourself, buy it pre-made from your local grocery store, or try it in our Red Wine Braised Beef & Polenta or Chicken Chile Verde.

Some cool things you can do with polenta:

Boil it: warm and creamy boiled polenta makes an excellent replacement for mashed potatoes.

Bake it: after boiling it on the stove, pour polenta into a baking pan and pop it in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 20 minutes. Then you can cut the solid polenta into any shapes you like and try some savory toppings.

Grill it: after boiling, pour it into a pan and let it set in the fridge overnight. Then, cut it into triangles or circles, brush each side with olive oil or butter, and place it on a medium-hot grill for about three minutes on each side.

Fry it: if you’re going for a little extra indulgence with your polenta, try cutting some set polenta into French-fry shapes, then fry them in a skillet until they’re golden brown. For a healthier version, you can brush your polenta fries lightly with oil and broil them in the oven until they’re crispy.

These are just some basic guidelines. To maximize your polenta enjoyment, experiment with different flavorings during the boiling or baking stage, or get creative with your toppings! You’ll also find plenty of delicious polenta recipes online, so do a bit of searching and you’re sure to reach polenta heaven in no time!