although the past few days have been rainy here it doesn't mean my mornings have to get off to a dreary start. a little sunshine can be prepared to combat those depressing skies with nothing more then some corn meal, water, and a bit of salt. i'm talking about polenta or as we call it in the states grits. the ingredients are pretty much the same, its is the preparation that results in the name difference.
the corn meal i buy is called polenta meal, so this is how i describe it. depending on the market place the product could be labeled in either fashion, or simply "corn meal". it should be course ground not corn flour or what would be used to make corn bread. sometimes polenta will be sold precooked in a log form, this can be tasty, but not appropriate for this recipe.
these measurements are for a single serving. for a group just increase the quantities by multiplying by the number of people to be served.
what you'll need:
1/4c polenta/corn meal
1 1/4c water
salt to taste
toppings:
whatever your crazy mind can think up!
1. in a sauce pan combine cornmeal, water, and salt.
2. bring mixture to a boil and reduce heat, so that its barely simmering. (sometimes i just start with the burner low and allow it to gradually reach a simmer. i find this reduces the need for adding more water while cooking.)
3. allow cornmeal to cook for 15-20min stirring every so often to prevent sticking. if the mixture begins to dry out too much, just add in some more water. (5-10min before the cornmeal is fully cooked is a great time to incorporate dried fruits allowing them to rehydrate)
4. when done the cornmeal will be cream and soft.
5. mix in or sprinkle on any toppings and serve immediately
i added a tbsp of heavy cream to mine and topped it all off with some marionberries i had in the freezer left over from summer. i highly recommend adding a bit of fat in the form of butter, cream, olive oil, etc. even a small amount really helps heighten the dish.
so tasty!
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