Garlic Italian Polenta…. I’m sensing a theme this week…. The other day I posted a recipe for Garlic Sauteed Cauliflower and now polenta. We do eat a lot of garlic here and I can almost guarantee our home is vampire free. Hubby says he’s never had polenta but I know I have made it once before.  Either way, this time I added garlic (yay) and Italian Seasoning to give it some great flavor.

What is polenta you ask? If you’ve never had it, the best description is corn meal and water, chilled into shape.  I’ve also heard it called “Italian Grits.”  You can purchase it at the grocery store in the deli area pre-made and sometimes it comes in specialty flavors such as sun dried tomato.  My favorite store bought brand is from San Gennaro. They are all polenta and grits and I find their products excellent for a super quick polenta. Just slice, heat and serve.

My recipe starts with cornmeal and water, simmered on the stove until thickened. Then it’s chilled then cut into squares and grilled.

_______________________________

Garlic Italian Polenta

Print recipe

• Print with all photos
• Print with main photo
• Print text only

Serves	6
Prep time	20 minutes
Cook time	15 minutes
Total time	35 minutes
Dietary	Vegetarian
Meal type	Side Dish

Polenta is so versatile and can pair with any main dish

Ingredients

• 5 cups water
• 1 cup corn meal
• 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 heaped tablespoon garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon salt

Note

Add jalapeño for some heat

Directions

Step 1

Bring the water to a boil. Add the remaining ingredients and stir.

Step 2

Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring frequently until thickened, about 15-20 minutes

Step 3

Spray a lasagna pan with oil and line it with plastic wrap. Spread the polenta on top of the plastic and cover with another piece of plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.

Step 4

To prepare, heat a griddle with olive oil. Slice the polenta into 2x3 inch slices and place them on the grill. Cook for 5 minutes on medium high heat then flip and cook an additional 5 minutes.

Step 5

Serve immediately with your favorite meat or veggies.

_______________________________

This was wonderful. The garlic and italian seasoning gave this polenta so much flavor. I topped it with a bit of feta and some slivered fresh basil and it was wonderful with the evening’s chicken dish.  It’s lovely yellow color also is appealing since we eat with our eyes first.  Plus, what’s really nice is that you can change the seasonings to fit the meal you are making. If I were going for more of a Mexican flair, I would add chopped jalapeños and maybe some cumin. If I were serving this with a burger, I would use some steak seasoning and maybe drizzle some A-1 steak sauce on top. The possibilities are endless.

My garlic italian polenta was very simple to make. Yes, you need to allow time for the polenta to set before you can grill it otherwise you’re in for quite a mess.  But, polenta’s ease of preparation and versatility make this a great side dish.

If you are looking for that perfect side dish, check out the selections on my Veggies and Sides board on Pinterest.
Follow Lori’s Culinary’s board Veggies & Sides on Pinterest.

Get 25% off your entire purchase at Flirty Aprons for the month of March. Just enter LUCKY25 at checkout.