Best Polenta With Autumn Squash And Pancetta Recipes

SOFT POLENTA WITH PANCETTA AND BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Make the polenta and keep it warm. Unwind the pancetta into a long strip and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch wide pieces. Heat together the pancetta and the 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook slowly until well-browned and crisp. Tilt the pan to collect the fat in a little pool against the side and scrape the pancetta into the fat. Cook for another minute to make sure the pancetta is very crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Set the pancetta aside.
• There should be about 2 tablespoons fat remaining in the pan. If not, add a little olive oil. Turn the heat to medium-high and heat until hot. Add the garlic and saute briefly until light brown. Add the thyme, stir, add the stock, and bring to a boil. Cook until reduced by about half. Add the broccoli rabe, season with salt and pepper, toss well, cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Pour the polenta into a warm serving dish or bowl and pour the vegetables over it. Sprinkle with the reserved pancetta.
• Combine the stock and cream in a heavy saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add the nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Whisk in the polenta and semolina, and cook over very low heat, whisking regularly, until the grains are soft, about 8 minutes. Whisk in the cheeses. Serve immediately or reserve. To encourage polenta to come cleanly out of the pan, put the pan over medium heat. Run a spatula or wooden spoon around the sides of the pan to clean off the polenta. Do not stir, but wait and watch for a few seconds until a large bubble begins to form and push the polenta upward. Pour immediately into a warm dish. The polenta can be made ahead and reheated: add 1/4 to 1/2 cup water or stock, cover the dish, and reheat in the microwave or over low heat. Whisk well before serving.

POLENTA WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Arrange squash, cut side up, in large roasting pan. Place garlic cloves in squash cavities. Drizzle oil over. Sprinkle with dried sage, salt and pepper. Cover with foil and bake until squash is tender, about 1 hour 35 minutes. Cool slightly. Peel squash and garlic. Transfer to processor and puree.
• Combine broth, 1 3/4 cups water and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in heavy large saucepan. Bring to boil. Gradually whisk in polenta. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until mixture is very thick and creamy, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Stir in fresh sage and 3 cups squash puree (reserve any remaining puree for another use). Cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Stir in cheese. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Stir over medium-low heat until heated through.)

POLENTA WITH PEAS AND PANCETTA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in sauce pot over medium-high heat. Add pancetta and cook until crisp, 5 minutes then remove to a plate. Add the liquids to the sauce pot and bring to boil. Whisk polenta into the liquid and continue to whisk 2 to 3 minutes to thicken. Season with salt and pepper and stir in peas to heat through 1 minute more. Remove from heat, stir in cheese and adjust seasoning. Garnish with pancetta.

POLENTA WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F Arrange squash, cut side up, in large roasting pan. Place garlic cloves in squash cavities. Drizzle oil over. Sprinkle with dried sage, salt and pepper. Bake until squash is tender, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Cool slightly. Peel squash and garlic. Transfer to processor and puree.
• Combine broth, 1 3/4 cups water and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in heavy large saucepan. Bring to boil. Gradually whisk in polenta. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until mixture is very thick and creamy, stirring often, about 20 minutes.
• Stir in fresh sage and 3 cups squash puree (reserve any remaining puree for another use). Cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Stir in cheese. Season with salt and pepper.

POLENTA WITH AUTUMN SQUASH AND PANCETTA

Steps:

• 1. Bring 7 cups salted water to a boil in a heavy medium saucepan over high heat. Gradually whisk cornmeal into boiling water. Let return to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until very thick and shiny, about 40 minutes. Monitor pot so mixture doesn't boil over, decreasing heat if necessary. Add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if necessary. Season with pepper and then stir in butter, thyme and half of Parmesan. Taste and add salt if necessary. 2. Preheat broiler and set rack about 7 inches below flame. Grease an 18- by 13-inch shallow roasting pan with 1 tablespoon oil. Spread hot polenta out into pan. Let cool 10 minutes. 3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, toss squash, red peppers and scallions with salt, pepper and 2 tablespoons oil. Set aside. 4. Top cooled polenta with pancetta. Place pan under broiler and cook until pancetta starts to crisp, 4-5 minutes. Remove from broiler and evenly distribute squash-red pepper mixture over polenta. Return pan to broiler and cook until vegetables are tender and start to brown, 5-6 minutes more. (The squash will brown the quickest because it has so much sugar in it, but a little char on the edges adds texture and flavor.) 5. Remove polenta from broiler and top with remaining cheese, mint and basil. Drizzle with pomegranate molasses and remaining oil. Serve warm with a green salad.