polenta question

[mightyh]

I'm making the parmesan polenta with sausage and mushrooms from October (not sure if that's the right name) and my polenta doesn't seem to go with the directions.

This is my first time using polenta and it's packaged in a plastic coating. I found it on the shelf near dry pasta with no other options.... The package says to slice it and cook it for about a minute, but the recipe says to cook it for about five (after mixing it with some other ingredients--which seems like it might be impossible).

I'm thinking I bought the wrong kind... Will still try it anyhow and just improvise. Where do I get the "right" kind?

[kwormann]

I love polenta! I usually find it in the produce section, refrigerated, with "gourmet" things like tofu and fancy mushrooms. I have never seen it on a shelf! Would you send me that recipe??? I didnt get the Oct issue and it sounds great!!

Kim

[bijoux22]

How funny, I just made polenta for the first time tonight. Not that there was much to make, I bought the wild mushroom polenta in a plastic roll in the produce section. I was not very creative - just followed the directions, sliced and baked for 10 minutes. My DH wasn't crazy about it but my 2yr old loved it. I am somewhere in the middle. Not much flavor, however I put no effort into it either. I think I will try it again but dress it up a little.

[mightyh]

Here's the recipe!

Parmesan Polenta with Sausage and Mushrooms

3 (3oz) links hot Italian turkey sausage
1 tsp. olive oil
1/3 c. dry white wine
2 8 oz. pkgs. presliced mushrooms
2 Tb. chopped fresh or 2 tsp. dried basil
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
4 cups water
1 c. instant polenta (such as Contadina)
3/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 grated parmesan

1. Pierce sausages; cut each diagonally into 1 inch pieces. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over med-high heat. Add the sausage; cook 3 minutes or until browned. Add the wine and mushrooms; cover, reduce heat, and cook 10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Remove sausage from pan. Cook the mushroom mixture over med-high heat 5 minutes or until liquid almost evaporates. Stir in the basil and tomatoes; cook 1 minute or until heated. Return sausage to pan; keep warm.

2. While sauve is simmering, prepare polenta. Bring water to a boil in a medium suacepan; stir in polenta, garlic powder, sugar and salt. Reduce heat to low; cook until thick (about 5 minutes), stirring frequently. Stir in cheese. Serve with sausage mixture. Yield: 5 servings

[Liz K]

Mightyh,

It sounds like the polenta you bought is the already cooked kind and the recipe calls for the dry kind. I have seen the instant polenta in the pasta/rice section. It's boxed like rice.

[Luiza]

From the recipe, it sounds like you don't want already cooked polenta (which is what you got) but the raw stuff (cornmeal). I have never seen the instant polenta, but I would think it would be packaged like couscous or falafel mix (in boxes). However, you don't really need instant polenta for this recipe-- just get some regular cornmeal and cook it for a bit longer.

Hope this helps.

Luiza

[Ralph]

Originally posted by Luiza:
From the recipe, it sounds like you don't want already cooked polenta (which is what you got) but the raw stuff (cornmeal). I have never seen the instant polenta, but I would think it would be packaged like couscous or falafel mix (in boxes). However, you don't really need instant polenta for this recipe-- just get some regular cornmeal and cook it for a bit longer.

Hope this helps.

Luiza


I agree; it looks like you got pre-cooked polenta. What the recipe calls for is uncooked. I've found it usually in the pasta section, or the gourmet Italian section (i.e. Dell'Alpe) where you'd find capers, pine nuts, giardinera, etc.
If all else fails, ask the store manager.

[Joyce]

Luiza is correct. I searched all over for the boxed instant polenta. When I finally found it, the only ingredient listed was cornmeal. In North Carolina,regular corn meal is a STAPLE OF LIFE. You just cook it longer than "instant" polenta. I think of this as "italian grits".

[mightyh]

So I need to look for cornmeal, huh? Thanks for all the help!