Skip to main content

Side Dish Sundays: Southwest-style Baked Polenta

Okay -- bored and stuck in the hotel room in Austin (and not really in the mood to go out to the bars) -- so, resuming "normal" recipe blogging...

Southwest-style Baked Polenta

Start with the basic polenta recipe:
  • 6 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 3/4 cups yellow cornmeal
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a heavy large saucepan. Add 2 teaspoons of salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add the butter, and stir until melted.

When the polenta is thickened, remove from heat. Add:

  • 1 cup shredded pepper-jack cheese
  • 1/2 cup diced sun-dried tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro

Mix well. Pour polenta mixture into individual lightly oiled ramekins or single baking dish.

Bake @ 425°F for about 10 minutes (individual portions) or 15-20 minutes (baking dish). Remove from heat when top is light golden brown.

Serve hot with a sprinkle of cheese, cilantro and finely diced tomatoes.

If serving with breakfast, then crumble bacon over the top as a garnish... and if you want a little extra-kick, then 1/4 cup of diced jalepeno peppers mixed in with the cheese will spice it up nicely.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

  Lemon Coolers Similar to Mexican Wedding Cookies, these lemony shortbread cookies (which used to be a staple of Girl Scout Cookies) are a light and airy treat. Ingredients: For the cookies 1 cup butter (1 stick), unsalted 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cup confectioner’s sugar  4 teaspoons fresh lemon zest 2 tablespoon lemon juice 2 cup all-purpose f lour Powdered sugar coating 2 cup confectioner's sugar 2 tablespoons lemonade mix (Koolaid) Directions Preheat oven to 350 ℉ Cream butter & sugar until fluffy. Add lemon zest, vanilla & lemon juice. Mix well. Mix in flour and beat until combined into a thick dough. (Optional) Chill dough in refrigerator for about 20 minutes. In a separate bowl, combine sugar & lemonade mix. Using a cookie scoop, make 1" balls. Roll cookies in sugar mix and place on parchment-lined cookie sheet about 1-1/2" apart. Bake for about 12-14 minutes or until bottoms are starting to turn golden brown.  Remove from oven & cool on a cool...
Post a Comment
Read more

Just Desserts: Double Peanut Butter Bars

This recipe takes the simple peanut butter cookie and "raises the bar"... with three layers: Peanut Butter Cookie on the bottom Rich peanut butter icing in the middle Topped with a chocolate shell Delicious and decadent! For the cookie base: Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease a 9x13 glass baking dish. 1 1/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon dark molasses 1/2 cup creamy peanut buter 1/4 cup shortening 1/4 cup butter, softened 1 egg 1 1/4 cups flour 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt Prepare peanut butter cookie dough (per normal recipe)  but do not refrigerate.  Instead, spread dough evenly on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Bake for about 15-18 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.  For the middle layer: 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1 tablespoon milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups powdered sugar In a small bowl, beat the butter, peanut butter, milk, vanilla...
5 comments
Read more

Recipe Friday: Pecan-crusted Chicken with Gorgonzola Sauce

3 tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning 1 teaspoon garlic powder Egg whites from 2 large eggs 1 cup crushed pecans 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts halves (about 6 oz. each) Salt and pepper 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon butter 1 cup whole milk 1/2 cup Gorgonzola cheese 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage leaves, plus extra for garnish Preheat oven to 325°F. Use three shallow bowls or pie pans. In the first, mix flour, poultry seasoning and garlic powder. In the second, beat egg whites until frothy. Place pecans in the third. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Turn in flour to dust the breasts, then turn in egg whites, then press breasts into nuts on both sides. Add olive oil to an oven-safe skillet, over medium-high heat. When the oil has coated the pan, add the tablespoon of butter. When the butter is melted & golden brown, add the chicken. Brown on each side for about 2 minutes,then transfer the pan to the oven and finish cooking through (about...
3 comments
Read more