Polentawithleeks Recipes

Steps:

• Blanch green beans 1 minute in boiling water. Add peas and cook until both beans and peas are crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer to bowl of ice water to cool. Drain. Cut beans on diagonal into 1-inch pieces. Set beans and peas aside.
• Bring milk and broth to boil in large saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium. Gradually whisk in polenta. Reduce heat to low. Cook until polenta is very thick, whisking almost constantly, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat; cover to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, combine leeks and vermouth in medium saucepan. Boil over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/3 cup, 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Gradually whisk in butter, allowing each addition to melt before adding next. Add cream and whisk over very low heat to blend. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and sauté until almost tender, 5 minutes. Stir in shallots, 1 tablespoon parsley, and thyme. Sauté until mushrooms are very tender, about 5 minutes. Add beans and peas, tossing to coat.
• Rewarm polenta and spoon into large shallow bowl. Top with green bean mixture and remaining 1 tablespoon parsley. Rewarm leeks over low heat, whisking constantly; spoon evenly over polenta.
• Sold at some supermarkets and at natural foods stores and Italian markets. If unavailable, substitute an equal amount of regular yellow cornmeal and cook about half as long.

Steps:

• Grease a baking sheet with nonstick spray.
• In a medium pot over high heat, add the milk and vegetable broth and bring to a boil.
• Whisk in the polenta and reduce the heat to low, whisking continuously for about 5 minutes, or until all the liquid has been absorbed and the polenta is creamy.
• Add the butter, salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, and rosemary and stir until well-combined.
• Transfer the polenta to the prepared baking sheet and spread out evenly with a spatula. Chill for at least 2 hours or up to 3 days to set.
• If baking, preheat the oven to 425ºF (220ºC).
• Make the aioli: Combine the mayonnaise, garlic, parsley, and lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and mix until well-combined. Chill until ready to use.
• Carefully flip the baking sheet onto a cutting board to release the polenta. Slice in half lengthwise, and then cut into 22 equal-sized fries, each about 4 inches (10 cm) long and 1 inch (2 ½ cm) wide.
• If baking, use a spatula to transfer the fries onto wire racks set over 2 baking sheets. Brush each fry generously with olive oil. Bake for 30 minutes, flipping halfway through and brushing with more oil, until golden brown.
• If frying, heat the canola oil in a large pot until it reaches 375ºF (190ºC). Using a large spider, submerge 2 fries at a time into the oil and fry for 2-4 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Remove from the oil and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to cool for at least 5 minutes.
• Serve the fries with aioli.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Wash leeks well. Thinly slice white and pale green parts only.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add leeks and stir. Cook covered about 10 minutes until leeks are softened, stirring occasionally.
• Add water, broth and bay leaf. Bring to a boil and gradually whisk in the polenta.
• Reduce heat to medium low and cook stirring almost constantly until thick.
• and creamy, about 35 minutes.
• Remove from heat and discard the bay leaf. Stir in the 1 tablespoon remaining butter and the Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add leeks; stir to coat. Cover and cook until leeks soften, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Add 2 1/4 cups water, broth and bay leaf. Bring to boil. Gradually whisk in polenta. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until mixture is thick and creamy, stirring often and thinning with more water if necessary, about 35 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat. Discard bay leaf. Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter and Parmesan cheese. Season polenta to taste with salt and pepper. Divide polenta among plates.

Steps:

• Trim the fennel bulbs, wash them well, cut them in 1/2lengthwise, and then slice them about 1/4 inch thick. Peel the onions and slice them the same way.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large non-stick pan and cook the fennel and onions in it slowly, stirring often, adding a little salt and pepper, to taste, until they are completely soft and golden brown. Stir in the wine, and continue cooking until almost all the liquid is gone, then set the pan aside.
• Clean the leeks thoroughly, cut them in 1/2 lengthwise, then slice them quite thinly crosswise. Heat the remaining olive oil and the butter in a non-stick pan and saute the leeks, stirring them often, until they are soft and beginning to color. Add a little sprinkle of salt¿but not too much.
• Heat 6 cups of broth in a medium-sized saucepan and whisk in the polenta. Lower the heat and simmer the polenta, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, or at least very often, until it is thick and smooth, about 30 minutes. Stir in the sauteed leeks; break the Gorgonzola into chunks and stir it in. Keep stirring until the cheese is all melted into the cornmeal. The polenta should be thick and smooth, but not stiff. If it is holding a shape as you stir it, gradually mix in a bit more vegetable broth.
• Meanwhile, warm up the caramelized fennel and onion mixture. This too could be moistened with a bit of vegetable broth, if needed.
• Ladle the polenta into warm, shallow bowls or onto warm plates, and spoon some of the fennel and onion mixture around the polenta. Scatter some fresh flat-leaf parsley across the top and serve at once with a good red wine.

Steps:

• bring water,salt and pepper, to boil. slowly add cornmeal, stirring constantly until well blended. reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10- 15 minutes, stirring frequently until thickened.
• remove from heat and add parmesan cheese and basil. mix well.
• pour into 8x4 inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. cover and refrigerate for at least three hours until firm.
• when reached desired firmness, slice polenta into 12 slices and set aside.
• in sauce pan coated with cooking spray saute rosemary, thyme, mushrooms, leeks, and garlic for about 5 minutes. add tomatoes, vinegar, wine and sliced polenta. cover and cook 10-15 minutes. uncover and turn polenta slices. cook 5-10 minutes until sauce has thickened and polenta is warmed.