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It has been a loooonnggg time since I have updated my blog so I figured I should get on it.
Last year I was introduced to polenta by a good friend of mine and I was hooked. A few weeks ago I attempted my try at polenta fries. I love the texture of the fries- crispy and crunchy on the outside and warm and gooey in the middle. It’s a pretty easy dish. It is a “pop it in the oven and sit and study/watch TV/craft something crafty” kind of dish.
Serves- 2 Cook time- 1 hr
1/4 cup of cornmeal/polenta/grits (whatever you prefer to call it)
3/4 cup of water
1 tablespoon of butter
Sriracha sauce to taste
Salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
2/3 cup of cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 tablespoon of oil
1. Boil the water in a saucepan.
2. Add the cornmeal/polenta/grits…and stir…a lot…make sure there are no clumps!
3. Stir every 2-3 minutes on medium, if you don’t stir often it turns into hot yellow lava and the mixture decides to erupt and spew super heated bits of polenta all over the place; so for the love of God- stir! If it get to thick before the polenta is cooked (always taste test! do it often!) just add a tablespoon of water at a time until it is cooked and at the consistency you want it. (Not too watery but not so thick like cookie dough)
4. In low heat, add the Sriracha sauce and garlic powder and stir. Next add the cheese and stir some more. Make sure you taste it now so that you don’t over salt it- the cheese and hot sauce does add a good amount of saltiness to it. Add salt and pepper
5. Now scoop the yummy goodness into a small square Tupperware container. Let it cool down and then put it in the fridge overnight.
6. The next day, preheat the oven at 400 F.
7. Slide a thin knife around the edges of the polenta square to release the seal that has formed. Now jiggle the square out onto a cutting board. Slice the polenta into thick or thin slices of fries (up to you really) and place them on a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet.
7. Now brush oil over each fry and put into the oven and go do something to occupy your time. Check on the fries in 30 minutes and flip each fry and cook for 30 more minutes or until golden brown.
8. Enjoy! I ate these with wasabi mayo and ketchup! But their great alone or with any sauce!
