Grilled Polenta Rounds Recipes

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, over high heat, bring the water to a boil.
• Add the salt and in a steady stream, add the cornmeal, stirring vigorously.
• Cook and stir for 10 minutes, until the polenta is smooth and leaves the side of the pan.
• Transfer the hot polenta into a clean empty orange juice cans.
• Let cool and then refrigerate until firm.
• Open the end of the cans with a can opener and shake polenta out or push it out.
• Cut into 1/2" slices.
• Grill or saute polenta rounds in olive oil or butter.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the polenta, 1 1/2 quarts water and salt in a 2-quart baking dish, and stir together. Place the baking dish on top of a sheet pan (so that if water sloshes when you put it in the oven, it will just go onto the sheet pan), and place in the oven. Bake one hour. Remove from the oven, stir in the butter and return to the oven for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, and stir again. Return to the oven for 10 to 20 minutes, until stiff. Remove from the oven and allow to cool, then chill for one hour or more.
• Prepare a medium grill or heat an electric griddle on medium. Cut the polenta into squares, and brush the squares on both sides with olive oil. Place on the grill or griddle. When grill marks appear or when nicely browned, usually in about two to three minutes, turn and brown the other side. Serve hot.

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium high. Toss the tomatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, the garlic, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper on a large piece of foil. Add the thyme sprigs and bring up the edges of the foil slightly. Pour in the wine and fold the edges together to form a packet; set aside.
• Brush both sides of the polenta rounds with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Season the salmon with the chopped thyme, salt and pepper.
• Oil the grill grates. Grill the foil packet until the tomatoes are soft, 10 to 12 minutes. Meanwhile, grill the polenta and the salmon skin-side down, 3 to 4 minutes; flip and grill until well marked and the salmon is just cooked through, 3 to 4 more minutes.
• Divide the salmon and polenta among plates. Spoon the tomatoes and juices over the top. Sprinkle with the chives.

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, over medium-high heat, bring the water and the salt to just a boil. Reduce the heat, slowly whisk in the polenta and season with pepper. Continue to whisk until the mixture starts to tighten up, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the fresh chopped herbs, 2 tablespoons of the butter and the Parmesan. Continue to stir until well combined and very thick, taste for seasoning adjustment.
• Liberally butter a 10-inch springform pan on the bottom and about 2-inches up the side. Pour in the hot polenta and with a rubber spatula, rubbed with butter, smooth out the top. Set aside to cool to room temperature, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours to set. (This can also be done up to 1 day ahead.)
• Preheat a grill to medium.
• When ready to grill, or pan fry, remove the polenta from the pan and cut it into equal pie shapes or cut circles with a biscuit cutter. Lightly oil a grill, brush each side of the polenta with olive oil and grill or pan sear until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side. Arrange the polenta on a serving platter and serve hot.

Steps:

• Make polenta:
• Whisk together water, cornmeal, and salt in a 1-quart heavy saucepan and bring to a boil over moderate heat, whisking constantly. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until very thick, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Spread polenta into a 10- by 5-inch rectangle on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Chill, uncovered, until firm, about 1 hour.
• Prepare grill for cooking.
• Drain tomatoes while polenta is chilling:
• Cut 4 (1/4-inch-thick) crosswise slices from middle of each tomato. Sandwich slices between triple thicknesses of paper towel and press gently to absorb excess moisture.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Grill polenta:
• Cut out 8 (2 1/2-inch) rounds from polenta with cookie cutter. When fire is medium-hot (you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds), grill polenta rounds in a grill basket until crusty, about 5 minutes on each side. Transfer to an ungreased baking sheet.
• Assemble and bake stacks:
• Season tomato slices with salt and pepper and sprinkle with cheese. Assemble 4 stacks by placing a tomato slice on top of each of 4 polenta rounds (use a spatula to transfer tomato slices), then top each with another polenta round and tomato slice.
• Bake in middle of oven until hot and cheese is melted, about 15 minutes.
• Make sauce while stacks bake:
• Purée basil, water, garlic, lemon juice, oil, and sugar in a blender, scraping down sides frequently, until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve stacks with basil sauce.

Steps:

• Cover a baking sheet with plastic or lightly oil a baking dish. Make polenta and when done, pour onto plastic or into lightly oiled baking dish. Spread to a thickness of about 1/3 inch using an offset spatula. If you are using a baking dish and can't spread the polenta that thin, you can always slice the rounds after they are cut to make thinner medallions. Cover with plastic and allow to stiffen completely, preferably in the refrigerator overnight.
• Cut the stiff polenta into 1 1/2 to 2-inch rounds with a cookie cutter. If the rounds are thick, cut crosswise into 1/3 inch thick rounds.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat in a heavy nonstick or cast iron skillet. The polenta should sizzle as soon as you place the medallion in the oil. Cook the rounds in batches until nicely browned on each side, about 3 minutes per side. Turn them carefully with a spatula, and do not crowd the pan. Drain on paper towels. Transfer to a platter while warm and place a pinch - about 1/4 teaspoon - of blue cheese on each round. It should soften and melt a little bit on the hot surface of the polenta. Or top with small dollops of the other toppings of your choice. Serve warm (they are also good when they cool down).

Steps:

• Lightly grease and line an 18 x 28cm slice pan with baking paper.
• In a large saucepan, bring stock and water to boil. Gradually add polenta, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and cook, stirring 5-10 minutes until polenta thickens.
• Stir in cheese and season to taste.
• Spoon the polenta mixture into prepared pan, smoothing top. Cool, then chill for 3 hours or overnight.
• Once chilled, transfer polenta to a board. Using a 5cm round cutter, cut into 18 rounds.
• Preheat char-grill or barbecue on high. Grease lightly with oil. Char-grill rounds for 3-4 minutes each side, until polenta is crisp and browned.
• Meanwhile, to make the salsa, combine all the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl and season to taste.
• Serve polenta topped with avocado salsa.

Steps:

• Combine black beans, tomato, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, and 1 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Stir to combine. Set aside.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Lay polenta rounds on a clean work surface and brush the tops with olive oil. Flip the rounds over and brush the other side with olive oil. Lightly season one side.
• Grill polenta rounds for 5 minutes. Using a spatula, flip them over and grill for 5 minutes longer. Top with black bean salsa just before serving.