Best Polenta For Venetian Codfish Recipes

VENETIAN CODFISH

Steps:

• In a large bowl filled with cold water, soak cod for 4 days, changing the water twice per day. Remove cod from water. Pull off any skin, and discard. Using kitchen pliers or tweezers, remove any bones from the spine.
• In a large saucepan, combine milk and 6 cups water. Add onion, celery, and garlic; season with salt. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and transfer cod to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
• Add just enough of the cooking liquid to moisten the fish, 1/4 to 1/2 cup. Be sure not to add the garlic clove. Beat cod on low speed. When it breaks into small pieces, increase the speed, and begin adding olive oil in a thin, steady stream. The quantity of oil used depends on the quality and fat content of the cod; stop adding oil when the mixture is very creamy and emulsified. Stir in parsley, and season with salt and pepper.
• Using an oval ice cream scoop, neatly place 3 mounds of the cod mixture on each of 6 plates. Garnish with a handful of radicchio and Boston lettuce. Drizzle with oil and vinegar. Serve with polenta on the side.

POLENTA WITH SALT CODFISH

Steps:

• Soak the codfish in cold water to cover for 8 hours, changing the water once during the soaking. Drain and cover with fresh water, bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer until the fish is tender.
• Heat the olive oil and sauté the garlic and onion. Add the tomatoes and basil and simmer for 30-40 minutes. Add the tomato paste and simmer for 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. The sauce should be quite thick. If it is not, reduce it over a brisk flame, stirring constantly.
• Pour polenta into an oiled casserole or baking dish and top with codfish. Cover with the tomato sauce, sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and put under the broiler flame for a minute or two, until the top is glazed.
• For a Mexican version, chop 2 canned peeled green chilis and add them to the polenta with 1/2 cup grated Gruyère cheese. Add 1 tablespoon chili powder to the tomato sauce, simmer until thick.

POLENTA FOR VENETIAN CODFISH

Steps:

• In a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add salt and oil. Add cornmeal in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly; the water should stay at a moderate boil. When all of the cornmeal has been added, cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon, for 40 minutes. The polenta should thicken and pull away from the sides of the pan as you stir. Transfer to an 8-inch square baking pan. Let cool completely. Slice into long rectangles or triangles, and grill or saute.

HOW TO MAKE PERFECT POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring water and salt to a boil in a large saucepan; pour polenta slowly into boiling water, whisking constantly until all polenta is stirred in and there are no lumps.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer, whisking often, until polenta starts to thicken, about 5 minutes. Polenta mixture should still be slightly loose. Cover and cook for 30 minutes, whisking every 5 to 6 minutes. When polenta is too thick to whisk, stir with a wooden spoon. Polenta is done when texture is creamy and the individual grains are tender.
• Turn off heat and gently stir 2 tablespoons butter into polenta until butter partially melts; mix 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese into polenta until cheese has melted. Cover and let stand 5 minutes to thicken; stir and taste for salt before transferring to a serving bowl. Top polenta with remaining 1 tablespoon butter and about 1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for garnish.

POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Pour in polenta steadily, stirring constantly. Continue to stir until polenta is thickened. It should come away from sides of the pan, and be able to support a spoon. This can take anywhere from 20 to 50 minutes. Pour polenta onto a wooden cutting board, let stand for a few minutes.