Best Spicy Polenta Recipes

PAN-SEARED POLENTA WITH SPICY TOMATO-BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Place 15x10x2-inch glass baking dish on rimmed baking sheet. Combine 8 cups water, 3 tablespoons olive oil, and 2 teaspoons salt in dish. Gradually mix in polenta.
• Place baking sheet with polenta in oven. Bake polenta 1 hour. Add pepper and stir to blend. Bake 20 minutes. Stir again and spread evenly. Bake until polenta is very thick, about 20 minutes longer. Cool polenta to room temperature, 1 to 2 hours (polenta will become firm). Using metal spatula, press polenta all over to even thickness. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover with plastic wrap; chill.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Cut polenta lengthwise into 4 strips. Cut each strip crosswise into 6 squares. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add polenta squares. Sauté until crisp and beginning to color, about 8 minutes per side. Transfer polenta to small baking sheet; place in oven to keep warm. Repeat with remaining polenta, adding oil to skillet as needed.
• Divide polenta among plates. Top with warm Spicy Tomato-Basil Sauce. Garnish with fresh basil sprigs, if desired.
• Sold at some supermarkets and at natural foods stores and Italian markets. If unavailable, substitute an equal amount of regular yellow cornmeal.
• What to drink:
• A medium-bodied red Italian wine is great with the spicy sauce. One to try: Montresor NV "Il Veronese" Valpolicella ($14), a lovely red blend with dried fruit flavors and vanilla notes.

SPICY BRAISED SHORT RIBS WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• For the short ribs: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the short ribs generously with salt and pepper, then add them to the pot and brown on all sides until golden, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Add the mushrooms to the drippings in the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and all the water has cooked out, about 8 minutes. Add half the garlic and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms are crisp and golden and the garlic is softened, about 3 minutes more. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the mushroom mixture to a bowl; set aside.
• Reduce the heat to medium, add the carrot, onion, rosemary and remaining garlic to the pot and cook, stirring often and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom, until the onions and carrots are softened, about 5 minutes. Pour in the wine and bring to a boil. Cook until slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Stir in the arrabbiata sauce and 2 cups water and return the short ribs to the pot. Bring to a boil, cover with a tight-fitting lid and transfer to the oven. Cook until the meat is fork-tender, about 2 1/2 hours.
• Remove the meat from the sauce and transfer to a plate. Set the sauce aside to let the braising liquid and fat separate, about 10 minutes, then skim off and discard the fat. Discard the rosemary sprig, stir in the reserved mushrooms and add salt and pepper to taste. If you prefer it spicier, add crushed red pepper as well. Return the short ribs to the sauce and keep warm over low heat.
• For the polenta: Meanwhile, bring the chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. While whisking constantly, slowly pour the cornmeal into the hot liquid. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring frequently, until the cornmeal is creamy and no longer grainy, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the Parmesan and butter.
• Divide the polenta among 6 shallow bowls and top each with a short rib and some sauce. Sprinkle with the parsley.

SPICY POLENTA CAKES

Steps:

• Combine the milk, salt and 2 cups water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat and slowly whisk in the polenta. Cook, whisking constantly, until the polenta tightens and there are no lumps, about 4 minutes. Stir in the queso blanco, butter, cilantro, pepper and jalapeno. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
• Generously butter a 9-by-9-inch baking pan. Pour the polenta into the pan and set aside to cool to room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours, until firm.
• Preheat a griddle pan over medium heat. Invert the polenta onto a clean cutting board and slice it into nine 3-inch squares. Brush the squares on both sides with the olive oil, then griddle them until golden brown and warmed through, about 3 minutes per side. While warm, drizzle the polenta cakes with the honey and squeeze lime juice over the top. Serve.

SOFT POLENTA WITH SPICY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small bowl whisk together 2 cups water with the cornmeal, quinoa and salt. Bring the remaining 2 cups water to a boil in a heavy saucepan. Stir the cornmeal mixture into the boiling water, and continue stirring. Be careful! The polenta may spit and sputter and the hot bits of polenta can burn. Turn the heat to very low and cook the polenta for 40 minutes; stirring with a wooden spoon every 10 minutes.
• Make the tomato sauce while the polenta cooks: Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, add the onions. Cook the onions for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until they have softened. Stir in the chopped mushrooms and the garlic, saute for 5 minutes. Then add the tomatoes, sherry, chili flakes and oregano. When the sauce comes to a boil turn the heat to low. Simmer the sauce for 30 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
• When the polenta has cooked for 40 minutes, sprinkle the green onions and grated cheese into the polenta. Stir well. Mound the polenta on plates, make a well in the center of each mound and ladle in the tomato sauce. Garnish with the shaved cheese.

GRILLED POLENTA WITH SPICY TOMATO SAUCE AND FRIED EGGS

Steps:

• Paint tops of polenta squares lightly with olive oil. Heat a stovetop grill or cast-iron griddle. Lay polenta top-side down and cook until nicely browned and crisp, about 10 minutes. Flip and brown the other side. Keep warm.
• For the sauce, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy saucepan. Add onion and cook over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 1 minute more. Add tomatoes and bay leaf and simmer briskly for 5 to 8 minutes, until thickened slightly. Add capers, olives and anchovies and cook for 2 minutes more. Season with red pepper flakes and a little more salt if necessary.
• On each plate, put 1 square of warm polenta and spoon sauce around it. For each diner, fry 1 or 2 eggs sunny-side up in olive oil, and place on top of sauce. Serve immediately.

WHITE BEAN AND ESCAROLE SOUP WITH SPICY POLENTA

Steps:

• Place beans in heavy medium saucepan and add enough cold water to cover by 3 inches. Soak overnight. Drain. Return beans to pan. Add 8 cups water and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer gently until beans are tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool beans completely in liquid.
• Place remaining 4 cups water, prosciutto, 1/2 garlic head, and 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds in heavy large saucepan. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Strain prosciutto broth into large measuring cup, reserving solids in strainer for soup. Add enough water to prosciutto broth to measure 4 cups. Return broth mixture to same saucepan. Add dried crushed red pepper, 2 tablespoons oil, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds. Gradually whisk in polenta. Bring to boil, whisking constantly. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease large baking sheet. Spread polenta on prepared baking sheet, pressing with wet hands into 1-inch-thick round. Make 2-inch hole in center to allow steam to escape during baking. Brush with 1 tablespoon oil. Bake until crisp at edges, about 35 minutes.
• Meanwhile, drain beans, reserving 3 cups cooking liquid. Heat remaining 1/2 cup oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add remaining 1/2 garlic head, cut side down, and sauté 2 minutes. Add escarole and sauté until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add beans with 3 cups cooking liquid. Remove skins from garlic in reserved solids from prosciutto broth; add solids to soup. Simmer soup 10 minutes to blend flavors. Season soup generously with salt and pepper. Discard remaining halved garlic from soup.
• Ladle soup into shallow soup bowls. Cut polenta into wedges. Serve alongside soup.

POLENTA WITH SPICY SAUSAGE-VEGGIE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source.
• Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray. Arrange the polenta slices on the sheet and spray them lightly with cooking spray. Broil until lightly browned about 5 minutes; turn and broil other side for 5 minutes. Keep warm.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage, breaking it up as it browns. When sausage has lost any pink color, add the onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, zucchini, and Italian seasoning. Cook until vegetables are crisp tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the spaghetti sauce and cook until heated through and just starting to simmer.
• To serve, spoon the sauce on slices of polenta. Top with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.

SPICY PORK CHILI WITH CUMIN POLENTA

Steps:

• Make the chili: heat 2 tablespoons oil in a big, heavy, deep-sided pot set over med-high heat.
• When hot, add onion and carrots; saute, stirring, for 5 minutes.
• Add in serrano peppers; cook 1 minute.
• Remove pan from heat and spoon ingredients onto a plate; set aside; reserve pot.
• Put pork in a large ziplock plastic bag; add flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and several grinds of pepper; seal bag and shake well to coat pork with flour.
• Return pot to med-high heat and add 2-3 more tablespoons oil, or enough to coat the bottom of pan lightly.
• When hot enough, add enough floured pork cubes to fit comfortably in a single layer in pan (do not crowd); brown pork, turning, for 3-4 minutes.
• Using slotted spoon, transfer pork to paper towels to drain; repeat with remaining pork, adding more oil as needed.
• Return all browned pork to pan and add garlic.
• Cook and toss 1 minute.
• Return reserved onion, carrots, and peppers to pan.
• Add tomatoes, lime juice, and broth.
• Bring mixture to simmer, then decrease heat.
• Simmer, uncovered, for 40 minutes, then cover and cook until meat is quite tender, about 50-60 minutes.
• Taste chili and season with salt and pepper, if needed.
• **Chili can be prepared 2 days ahead; cool, cover, and refrigerate; reheat over medium heat.
• To make polenta: combine 4 cups stock and the cumin in a large, heavy saucepan set over med-high heat.
• When stock begins to boil, decrease heat and gradually (in a thin stream) whisk in cornmeal.
• Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture starts to thicken, for 6-8 minutes or less.
• Stir in butter and milk; taste and add salt, as needed.
• **Polenta can be made up to 2 days ahead; cool, cover, and refrigerate; reheat over low heat, stirring constantly and adding additional stock, as needed, until polenta is desired texture.
• To serve--spoon a generous 1/2 cup polenta into 6 shallow soup bowls.
• Ladle pork chili over polenta and sprinkle each portion with some cilantro.
• Garnish with a lime wedge.

SPICY POLENTA CRACKERS

Steps:

• In a food processor, fitted with the blade attachment, add the dry ingredients and pulse 3 times for 2 seconds each. Add in the half-and-half and the butter and pulse for 10 second intervals, 4 to 5 times, or until a dough starts to form. If the dough seems crumbly, and not binding, drizzle in a few drops of the water, a little at a time, until it binds.
• Turn out onto a lightly floured board and knead a few times. Divide in half, cover with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Put a silicone baking mat on your work surface and roll the dough into a rectangle, about 6 by 9 inches and 1/4-inch thick. Evenly trim the edges, adding back any trimmings to the second portion of dough. Cut 2-inch strips with a knife, but leaving the dough in place. Then cut diagonals to form triangular pieces, 2 inches on their long side. Repeat, gently transferring them to a baking sheet fitted with a silicone baking mat, spacing them 1-inch apart. Repeat with second half of dough.
• Bake for 9 to 12 minutes, checking carefully after 9 minutes. Crackers will start to turn golden.
• Remove from oven and let cool. Store tightly covered for up to 3 days.

SPICY POLENTA

Steps:

• In 3-quart saucepan, heat broth, milk, cumin, salt and red pepper to boiling. Slowly pour grits into boiling broth mixture, stirring vigorously with wire whisk to prevent lumps from forming.
• Reduce heat to low; simmer uncovered 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Stir in cheese.

SPICY SHRIMP WITH CREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• 1. In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring salt and 4 cups water to a boil. Add polenta in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly. Continue to whisk 2 minutes more, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, 20 minutes, whisking occasionally. Remove from heat and whisk in butter and cheese, then season with salt.
• 2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, and green onion whites and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook until soft, stirring, 4 minutes.
• 3. Add shrimp and thyme and cook until shrimp are completely pink, stirring, 4 minutes, then season with salt and pepper. Add wine and chicken stock and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until liquid is reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in cream and simmer 2 minutes more.
• 4. Serve shrimp over polenta and garnish with remaining green onion greens.

SPICY SHRIMP WITH CREAMY POLENTA RECIPE

Steps:

• In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring salt and 4 cups water to a boil. Add polenta in a slow steady stream, whisking constantly. Continue to whisk 2 minutes more, then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, 20 minutes, whisking occasionally. Remove from heat and whisk in butter and cheese. Season with salt. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, and scallion whites and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook until soft, stirring, 4 minutes. Add shrimp and thyme and cook until shrimp are completely pink, stirring, 4 minutes, and season with salt and pepper. Add wine and chicken stock and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until liquid is reduced by half, 2 to 3 minute. Stir in cream and simmer 2 minutes more. Serve shrimp over polenta and garnish with remaining scallion greens.

SPICY TOMATO SHRIMP WITH CREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• Season shrimp with kosher salt, ground pepper, crushed red pepper and olive oil. In a pan, heat 1 Tbs of olive oil at a medium-high heat. Add onions, garlic and tomato paste, stir breaking up the tomato paste. If you like you can add 2 Tbs of water or chicken stock to thin it. Once the paste has broken up and the onions are starting to get tender add your tomatoes. Stir the tomatoes, cooking until tender, about 5 minutes. Add seasoned shrimp. Cook until the shrimp is a light pink and begins to curl. Shrimp cook very quickly, usually in 3 to 7 minutes. Don't overcook them because it makes them a little rubbery. As soon as they are done remove from heat. To prepare polenta: Sweat the garlic in a hot pan with olive oil. Follow the directions on the box but substitute chicken stock for the water. When the polenta thinkens stir in the 2 Tbs of butter and 1/2 cup of shredded Parmesan. If your polenta is a little too think just keep some warm chicken stock near by and add it little by little, until you have the consistency you want. Serve shrimp over polenta. Garnish with torn fresh basil and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. See more at http://thenoshery.com

SWEET AND SPICY SHORT RIBS WITH CHEESY POLENTA

Steps:

• Cook ribs in dressing in Dutch oven or large deep skillet on medium-high heat 4 min. on each side or until browned on both sides. Remove ribs from pan; cover to keep warm. Add onions, garlic, thyme and crushed pepper to pan; cook and stir 3 min. or until onions are crisp-tender.
• Return ribs to pan. Whisk broth, barbecue sauce and flour until blended; pour over ribs. Bring to boil; cover. Simmer on low heat 1-1/2 hours.
• Stir cheese into polenta. Serve with the ribs.

POLENTA WITH SPICY SAUSAGE AND RED PEPPER RELISH

Steps:

• Brush a 9 by 13-inch baking sheet with 1 tablespoon olive oil and set aside.
• In a medium sauce pot bring chicken broth to a boil over medium heat. Add the salt, pepper and polenta and whisk until thick about 4 minutes. Stir in the Parmesan and pour out into the prepared baking sheet, spreading into a smooth layer. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate to set up, about 1 hour. This can also be done the night before.
• In a medium sauce pot combine all the relish ingredients. Cover and cook over medium heat for 30 minutes. Remove the cover and cook for another 30 minutes until thick. Cool to room temperature and transfer to a bowl. This will keep, up to 2 weeks, refrigerated in a sealed container.
• Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F.
• Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook until brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a baking dish and put in the preheated oven to keep warm.
• While the sausage is cooking, add the canola oil to a large skillet and heat over medium- high heat, around 350 degrees F. Remove the polenta from the refrigerator and cut into 1 1/2 by 1 1/2-inch squares. Fry the polenta squares in batches until lightly browned and crispy about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Arrange the polenta on a serving platter.
• Slice the sausage into 1/2-inch thick slices and put on top of the fried polenta squares. Top with a bit of red pepper relish and garnish with a fresh parsley leaf.

OSSO BUCO STEW WITH SPICY POLENTA

Steps:

• Put a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. Season the stew meat with salt and pepper, to taste, and dredge in the flour, shaking off any excess. Add the stew meat to the pan and brown on all sides, about 8 minutes.
• Remove the meat from the pan and set aside on a plate. Pour the chicken broth or stock into the skillet to deglaze and scrape up all the brown bits on the bottom. Turn off the heat and let it sit.
• To the sleeve of a 5 quart slow cooker add half of the chopped the vegetables and nestle half of the meat on top. Add the remaining vegetables, remaining meat, tomatoes, garlic, the broth from the pan, and the thyme. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
• About 5 minutes before the stew is ready, make the polenta according to package instructions. Add a pinch of salt and the red pepper flakes to the water before adding the polenta. Once the polenta has thickened remove from heat, stir in the cheese and butter and whisk until smooth.
• To serve, put a big spoonful of polenta on each plate. Top with some of the stew and garnish with some fresh thyme leaves, if desired, (Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the stew for round 2 recipe Osso Buco Calzones)