Things You'll Need:
- microwave
- microwave-safe bowl, about 2 qt. size
- yellow cornmeal
- wire wisk
- wooden spoon for stirring
- water or broth
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- plastic wrap or a plate to cover your bowl
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Step 1
Polenta is a dish that is so satisfying. You can serve it so many ways. For breakfast we sometimes add dried raisins, currants, etc., and put it in a bowl, warm with milk and maple syrup. Suppertime polenta is great with a Bolognese sauce, or just mounded on a plate, topped with sauted onions, pepper, garlic and a few strips of the leftover steak from last night. However you serve it, you can make it quickly and easily in your microwave.
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Step 2
Your first step is to grab your microwave-safe bowl. I like a heavy crockery type bowl for this, I am not crazy about plastic, but if that's what you have it will work. Put 3/4 cup of your yellow cornmeal in the bowl and top it with 2 1/2 cups of water or broth. I like to use chicken broth for supper, but obviously if you are making this a sweet breakfast dish you want to use water. I have not tried milk but I think it would work. Stir this mixture up with a whisk.
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Step 3
Cover your bowl with plastic wrap (or for a greener idea, use a dinner plate), and pop it in the microwave on high for 12 to 14 minutes. As it's cooking, open the microwave every 3 minutes or so and give it a stir. It gets very steamy towards the end so be careful.
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Step 4
Your polenta will get thick and creamy as it cooks, when it is about the consistency of oatmeal (without the lumps), it is done. It should be kind of like loose mashed potatoes.
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Step 5
You can also reheat any leftover polenta so don't be afraid of making too much. It will get harder as it sits in the bowl but just scoop out what you need, take these clumps and add a few tablespoons of whatever liquid you have cooked it with, microwave for a minute, stir it up and repeat if necessary to get the creamy consistency you started with.
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Step 6
Polenta is nutritious, inexpensive and delicious! I hope you enjoy it soon!
Comments
jamiekucharski said
on 4/5/2009 Thanks for the Polenta recipe. It is very yummy.
JasneJ said
on 2/25/2009 Polenta is such a satisfying dish.Thanks for the easy directions. It is one of my favorite comfort foods.