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Polenta with Tomatoes and Mozzarella

March 14, 2010 by 5 Comments

I was pretty sure I knew everything there was to know about making polenta (or as the Southern husband calls it, fancy grits). Some coarse cornmeal, some boiling water, some salt, a little butter and you are in business, right?

It turns out there is a better way. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

I learned that the secret to really amazing, creamy polenta is…baking soda. It has something to do with the cell walls of the cornmeal and breaking them down faster, and pectin, and starch granules…I am a little fuzzy on the whole thing. But Cooks Illustrated told me to make it this way, and since they are basically the Holy Grail when it comes to cooking just about anything, I tried it…and they were (as usual) absolutely right. The polenta cooked up faster and was incredibly smooth and creamy. I mixed in a little butter and Parmesan cheese, and topped the whole thing with a quick saute of garlic, cherry tomatoes, basil and chopped fresh mozzarella. It was speedy and comforting and wonderful. Old dog. New tricks. Woof.

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Polenta with Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Polenta with Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Ingredients

7 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Pinch of baking soda
1 1/2 cups coarse cornmeal
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced thin
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Pinch of sugar
2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup cubed fresh mozzarella
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Directions

1. Bring water to boil, stir in salt and baking soda. Slowly pour in cornmeal in steady stream, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cover.
2. After 5 minutes, whisk polenta to smooth out lumps, cover and cook without stirring until polenta is tender, about 20-25 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and stir in butter and Parmesan, season to taste with salt and pepper.
4. Meanwhile, make sauce by heating oil, garlic, pepper flakes and sugar in skillet over medium high heat for one minute. Stir in tomatoes and cook until they soften, about one more minute.
5. Season to taste and remove from heat.
6. Spoon tomato mixture with any accumulated juices over polenta, top with mozzarella and sprinkle with basil before serving.

Recipe adapted from Cooks Illustrated

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Comments

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  1. Candice says:
    March 15, 2010 at 1:39 am

    So many of your photos make me screech to a halt and go back and slowly read the recipe.. "can I make this ? " …
    Not only is this a pretty dish but it is easy and I have no doubt it will be delicious.
    I love polenta and cheese and well, tomatoes.. perfection.
    Thank you !
    Candice

    Reply
  2. Cindy Kilkenny says:
    March 15, 2010 at 2:03 am

    Not to sound unappreciative, but anything swimming in olive oil like that is going to go down very easily.

    Planted tiny basil seeds today. Only three more months and I'll be tossing my own leaves into things. (I love Wisconsin, I love Wisconsin…)

    Reply
  3. JuLo says:
    March 15, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    Oh wow, I've never heard of that trick before! I may just have to try that. I haven't been able to get my husband on board with polenta yet. I may just have an edge now! :)

    Reply
  4. Notes from a Broad says:
    March 16, 2010 at 11:10 pm

    I made this tonight! I had to stop myself from just eating and eating and … Thank you, it was delicious.

    Reply
  5. viagra online says:
    June 4, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    Hey guys!!!
    I honestly like the polenta with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese is the recipe that you have here today. my Italian ex-boyfriend was always preparing these recipes so I like this. thanks for sharing the information I really liked.

    Reply

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