How do I cook Polenta?

[rainbowsprite]

Hi, I tried cooking Polenta for the first time last night and despite following the instructions on the packet very carefully I ended up with what looked like wall-paper paste rather than what I was expecting!!! Can anyone advise me on how to cook Polenta properly and what do you normally serve it with?

Thanks :)

[Ckflew]

It sounds like you may not have cooked it long enough. Polenta takes a LONG time and a LOT of stirring, and consequently it takes a LOT of patience. It will thicken up eventually, but give yourself at least 45 minutes of boiling and stirring.

There are a number of ways you can serve it. I've had it as a substitute for meat in those dishes where a piece of meat is cooked whole in a casserole or with sauce. (This was the compromise dish at a sister's wedding.) If you slice it, you can heat it on a skillet and serve it with syrup for a nice breakfast dish. It tastes good warm with tomato sauce on it, too.

Colleen

[sophie]

Was it traditional polenta or instant polenta? Instant polenta only takes a few minutes to cook, and if it is really thick likeyou describe then it probably needed more water added. I love it with a rich sauce of tomato, eggplant, peppers, olives, capers etc. You can also cook it with diced vegetables then bake in the oven and cool, then slice and serve with a tomato sauce.

[Jenica]

Just to repeat what was said above...if it's not instant polenta you *have* to keep stirring it...constantly. Even with a heavy bottomed pan it can burn pretty easily. I find it takes about the same amount of time as making Risotto and just a little less work but the results are SO worth it.