Best Mexican Polenta Recipes

MEXICAN POLENTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 3-quart glass casserole. Break up 1 tube polenta in the casserole and press evenly so it covers the bottom of the dish.
• Slice remaining 1 tube polenta into enough thin slices to cover the top of the casserole; set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until glistening. Add onion and bell pepper and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds.
• Lower heat to medium and stir in turkey, chili powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Cook and stir until turkey is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add black beans, drained tomatoes, and salsa and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes.
• While turkey mixture is simmering, bake polenta crust in the preheated oven until firm, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Remove polenta crust from the oven and sprinkle with 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese. Top with turkey mixture and lay sliced polenta on top.
• Return to the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 2 cups Monterey Jack and bake until bubbly, about 10 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with chopped tomato and cilantro.

MEXICAN POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• preheat oven to 375°F.
• In a skillet cook onion, sweet pepper,and garlic in 1 tablespoon hot oil until tender.
• Add turkey, chili powder, cumin and cayenne.
• Cook until turkey is no longer pink, stirring to break up meat.
• Add beans, undrained tomatoes and salsa.
• Bring to boiling; reduce heat.
• Simmer gently 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, grease a 3-quart rectangular baking dish with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil.
• Cut 1 tube polenta into 1/2-inch cubes; press evenly into prepared baking dish.
• Halve remaining polenta lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices; set aside.
• Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese over polenta in dish.
• Top with meat mixture.
• Arrange sliced polenta over meat; sprinkle with remaining cheese and fresh tomato.
• Bake, uncovered, for 35 minutes or until bubbly.
• Sprinkle with cilantro.
• Let stand 15 to 20 minutes before serving.
• Makes 12 servings.

MEXICAN POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Grease pie plate, 9x1 1/4 inches. Mix cornmeal, water and salt in 2-quart saucepan. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; reduce heat to medium. Cook about 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture is very thick; remove from heat. Quickly stir in egg. Let stand 5 minutes.
• Spread cornmeal mixture in pie plate. Bake uncovered 15 minutes. Spread beans over cornmeal mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and corn chips.
• Bake uncovered about 20 minutes or until center is set. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

MEXICAN POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375.
• Mix cornmeal, water, chicken broth and salt in medium saucepan. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly, over medium-high heat.
• Reduce heat to medium, continue cooking, stirring frequently, until mixture is very thick and stiff (2 to 5 minutes). Remove from heat; let stand 5 minutes.
• Stir in egg and half-n-half.
• Spread cornmeal mixture into buttered 9" pie plate. (*I find that using a lightly buttered sandwich-baggie over my hand works great for this, to push the cornmeal mixture evenly into the pie plate and up the sides.) Bake uncovered 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix salsa, jalapenos (if using)and beans in medium bowl; mash a little with a potato masher to incorporate.
• When cornmeal crust is done, spread bean mixture over evenly.
• Sprinkle with cheese and tortilla chips.
• Bake uncovered 20 minutes.
• Let stand a few minutes before slicing.
• Top individual servings with sour cream.

MEXICAN POLENTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Cook onions in nonstick pan until they start to soften, then add shredded chicken, spices, and tomato sauce. Simmer about 10 minutes.
• Spread polenta in bottom of 13 x 9 pan.
• Spread refried beans over polenta.
• Spread meat mixture over beans.
• Top with shredded cheese.
• Bake for 30-45 minutes. (Until all hot and bubbly and cheese is melted to your liking).

MEXICAN CHICKEN AND POLENTA

Steps:

• Place chicken in a large skillet and cover with water; add chopped cilantro, oregano, onion and peeled clove of garlic.
• Cook chicken breasts over medium heat about 10 to 15 minutes; chicken should no longer be pink in center; remove chicken from pan and let cool; reserve liquid.
• Add ancho peppers to the reserved liquid in pan; cover and soak about 10 minutes (no heat on pan); drain liquid into a bowl.
• (Sometimes, I add the whole ancho to the pand and seed after they are softened.) Shred cooled chicken and set aside.
• Place peppers, garlic, tomato sauce and cumin in blender and blend on high until smooth, about 2 minutes; if you have an immersion blender you can add everything to the pan and blend.
• Pour mixture into a saucepan, add chicken and heat through about 3 or 4 minutes; use drained poaching liquid to thin a bit if it seems too dry.
• To make polenta, bring water to a boil; add salt.
• Add about 1/2 cup of the water to the cornmeal to make a paste or slurry; Slowly add cornmeal slurry to the boiling water, stirring until smooth; after 10 minutes add Splenda and corn kernels; cook another 3 to 5 minutes.
• Spoon 1/4 of the cooked polenta onto the serving plate; top with 1/4 of chicken and chili mixture; garnish with additional cilantro (optional) or chopped scallions (optional).
• OR If you prefer polenta wedges, coat a 9 x 9-inch pan with cooking spray and pour polenta into pan; smooth with a spatula; let polenta to firm up, about 3 minutes; cut into quarters and remove from pan.
• Place polenta slices in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray; cook on both sides until crispy, about 2 to 4 minutes per side.
• Place polenta wedge onto the serving plate; top with 1/4 of chicken and chili mixture; garnish with additional cilantro (optional) or chopped scallions (optional).

MEXICAN POLENTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375ºF.
• Spread half the salsa onto bottom of 9-inch square baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; cover with layers of half each of the polenta, chicken, beans and cheese. Repeat layers; cover.
• Bake 30 min. or until heated through. Let stand 10 min. before cutting to serve.
• Sprinkle with onions.

MEXICAN-STYLE CHILI WITH POLENTA SQUARES

Steps:

• Coat a 9" square baking pan with cooking spray. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil with salt. In a small bowl, whisk together remaining 1 cup water and cornmeal. Gradually stir into boiling water until mixture has thickened, about 1 minute. Pour into prepared pan and spread evenly. Place in refrigerator to firm up, at least 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and slightly golden, about 5 minutes.
• Add beans with their liquid, tomato sauce, chili powder, and cumin; stir to combine. Bring slowly to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Remove polenta from the refrigerator and cut into 16 squares. Coat a large griddle or frying pan with cooking spray and heat over medium heat until hot. Add polenta squares, in batches if necessary, and cook, turning, until lightly browned on both sides, about 6 minutes total.
• To serve, spoon chili into 8 individual bowls. Top each bowl with 2 polenta squares and sprinkle each with 2 tablespoons cheese.

MEXICAN POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a 12-inch skillet cook onion, sweet pepper, and garlic in 1 tablespoon hot oil until tender. Add turkey, chili powder, cumin, and cayenne. Cook until turkey is no longer pink, stirring to break up meat. Simmer gently 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, grease a 3-quart rectangular baking dish with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Cut 1 tube of polenta into 1/2-inch cubes; press evenly into prepared baking dish. Halve remaining polenta lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices; set aside.
• Sprinkle 1 cup of the cheese over polenta in dish. Top with meat mixture. Arrange sliced polenta over meat; sprinkle with remaining cheese and fresh tomato.
• Bake, uncovered, for 35 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with cilantro. Let stand 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

MEXICAN POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°. Grease pie plate, 9x1 1/4 inches. Mix cornmeal, water and salt in 2-quart saucepan. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly reduce heat to medium. Cook about 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture is very thick remove from heat. Quickly stir in egg. Let stand 5 minutes. Spread cornmeal mixture in pie plate. Bake uncovered 15 minutes. Spread beans over cornmeal mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and corn chips. Bake uncovered about 20 minutes or until center is set. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.1 Serving: Calories 185 (Calories from Fat 65) Fat 7g (Saturated 3g) Cholesterol 50mg Sodium 470mg Carbohydrate 25g (Dietary Fiber 3g) Protein 8g.From "Betty Crocker's Best of Healthy & Hearty Cooking." Text Copyright 1998 General Mills, Inc. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

MEXICAN POLENTA PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Grease pie plate, 9x1 1/4 inches. Mix cornmeal, water and salt in 2-quart saucepan. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; reduce heat to medium. Cook about 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture is very thick; remove from heat. Quickly stir in egg. Let stand 5 minutes.
• Spread cornmeal mixture in pie plate. Bake uncovered 15 minutes. Spread beans over cornmeal mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and corn chips.
• Bake uncovered about 20 minutes or until center is set. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

MEXICAN POLENTA - EASY

Steps:

• 1. Position pan 2 " from broiler pan after spraying the pan and placing the sliced polenta on it. Watch carefully and turn after one side has become browned - spraying the tops when you turn sides (approximately 5 minutes per side.
• 2. Heat oil in lartge skillet over medium high heat. Add onions and cook 4 minutes or until softened. Stir in lime juice, spice seasoning, garlic and lime zest. Cook 4 minutes or until onion is lightly browned. Add kidney beans and tomatoes; simmer 5 minutes or until heated through.
• 3. Place 3 polenta slices on each dinner plate. Ladle bean mixture over top, and sprinkle with queso fresco and cilantro. Serve with sour cream, Greek yogurt, or creme fresche.
• 4. open a bottle of Sangria!

MEXICAN POLENTA MEATLOAF

Steps:

• In large bowl, thoroughly mix together the hamburger, onions, pepper, tortilla chips, polenta and egg.
• In a separate bowl combine 1/2 can Ro-Tel, 1/2 can tomato sauce, tomato paste, onion flakes, chili powder, cumin, basil, oregano, garlic powder, salt, pepper and brown sugar.
• Add the seasoned sauce to the hamburger mix and combine well.
• Place 1/2 of the meat mixture into an oven proof baking pan (I use a muffin tin)
• Make a layer of cheese over the meat stopping 1/2 inch away from the outer edge.
• Place the remaining hamburger mix over the cheese, pressing lightly around the edges to keep the cheese from dripping out.
• Mix together the remaining Ro-Tel and tomato sauce and spread evenly over the top of the meatloaf.
• Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
• Remove from oven and place a layer of cheese over the top and dot with jalepeno slices if desired.
• Return to oven for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
• Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes.

MEXICAN CHICKEN AND POLENTA

Steps:

• Place chicken in a large skillet and cover with water; add chopped cilantro, oregano, onion and peeled clove of garlic.
• Cook chicken breasts over medium heat about 10 to 15 minutes; chicken should no longer be pink in center; remove chicken from pan and let cool; reserve liquid.
• Add ancho peppers to the reserved liquid in pan; cover and soak about 10 minutes (no heat on pan); drain liquid into a bowl.
• (Sometimes, I add the whole ancho to the pand and seed after they are softened.) Shred cooled chicken and set aside.
• Place peppers, garlic, tomato sauce and cumin in blender and blend on high until smooth, about 2 minutes; if you have an immersion blender you can add everything to the pan and blend.
• Pour mixture into a saucepan, add chicken and heat through about 3 or 4 minutes; use drained poaching liquid to thin a bit if it seems too dry.
• To make polenta, bring water to a boil; add salt.
• Add about 1/2 cup of the water to the cornmeal to make a paste or slurry; Slowly add cornmeal slurry to the boiling water, stirring until smooth; after 10 minutes add Splenda and corn kernels; cook another 3 to 5 minutes.
• Spoon 1/4 of the cooked polenta onto the serving plate; top with 1/4 of chicken and chili mixture; garnish with additional cilantro (optional) or chopped scallions (optional).
• OR If you prefer polenta wedges, coat a 9 x 9-inch pan with cooking spray and pour polenta into pan; smooth with a spatula; let polenta to firm up, about 3 minutes; cut into quarters and remove from pan.
• Place polenta slices in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray; cook on both sides until crispy, about 2 to 4 minutes per side.
• Place polenta wedge onto the serving plate; top with 1/4 of chicken and chili mixture; garnish with additional cilantro (optional) or chopped scallions (optional).

MEXICAN POLENTA

Steps:

• Position broiling pan, or rack if using electric oven, 3 inches from the heat, and turn broiler to high.
• Spray polenta slices with cooking spray, and place on broiling pan or baking sheet. Broil 5 minutes per side, or until browned.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over med-high heat. Add onion, and cook 4 minutes or until softened. Stir in lime juice,mexican seasoning, garlic, and lime zest. Cook 4 minutes or until onion is lightly browned.
• Add kidney beans and tomatoes; simmer 5 minutes, or until heated through.
• Place 3 polenta slices on each plate, ladle bean mixture over top and sprinkle with cheese and cilantro. Serve with sour cream or yogurt, if desired.