Description
Ina Garten’s creamy parmesan polenta brings Italian comfort to kitchen counters with rich, cheesy goodness. Luxurious cornmeal melts into a silky side dish you’ll crave alongside roasted meats or hearty vegetable medleys.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups chicken stock (preferably homemade)
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal (preferably stone-ground)
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for serving)
- 2 tbsps (¼ stick) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup crème fraîche
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tsps minced garlic (2 cloves)
Instructions
- Aromatic Liquid Preparation: Ignite chicken stock with minced garlic in a spacious saucepan, escalating to a robust boil over medium-high heat.
- Cornmeal Integration: Gradually cascade yellow cornmeal into simmering liquid, whisking vigorously to eliminate potential lumps and create a silky foundation.
- Seasoning Infusion: Introduce kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, transitioning to a wooden spoon for continuous stirring and preventing potential scorching.
- Texture Development: Maintain consistent stirring for approximately 10 minutes, ensuring the polenta transforms into a creamy, luxurious consistency while carefully monitoring bottom-of-pan contact.
- Cheese and Cream Enhancement: Extract pan from heat, gently folding in Parmesan cheese, crème fraîche, and unsalted butter until the mixture achieves a glossy, decadent texture.
- Final Refinement: Sample and calibrate seasoning, introducing additional salt and pepper as necessary to balance flavor nuances.
- Presentation: Swiftly transfer to serving vessel, crowning with an elegant Parmesan cheese sprinkle for visual and gustatory sophistication.
Notes
- Prevent Lumps: Whisk cornmeal gradually and consistently to avoid clumping, ensuring a silky smooth texture throughout cooking.
- Constant Stirring Matters: Never leave the polenta unattended; continuous stirring prevents burning and creates even heat distribution.
- Temperature Control: Maintain a gentle simmer after initial boiling to develop rich, creamy consistency without scorching the bottom.
- Quality Ingredients Impact: Use freshly grated Parmesan and high-quality chicken stock for maximum flavor depth and luxurious mouthfeel.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg