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Perfect Creamy Polenta (Italian Restaurant Secret!)

Creamy polenta served with parmesan cheese and fresh herbs in a bowl.
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Silky, creamy polenta that makes the perfect comforting base for meats, stews, or roasted vegetables. This versatile Italian staple is surprisingly simple to make with just a few quality ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup coarse ground polenta (not instant)
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Optional: 2 tablespoons heavy cream for extra richness

Instructions

  1. Boil Liquid: In a heavy-bottomed pot, bring water and milk to a gentle boil over medium heat.
  2. Whisk in Polenta: Slowly pour in polenta while whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
  3. Simmer: Reduce heat to low and cook for 25-30 minutes, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until polenta pulls away from sides of pot.
  4. Finish: Remove from heat and stir in butter, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. For extra creaminess, stir in heavy cream if using.
  5. Rest: Cover and let stand for 5 minutes before serving (it will thicken slightly).
  6. Serve: Spoon into bowls and top with additional butter or cheese if desired.

Notes

  • For vegan version: Use vegetable broth instead of water/milk and nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan
  • Polenta continues to thicken as it cools – thin with warm water or milk if needed
  • Leftovers can be poured into a greased pan, chilled, then sliced and grilled/fried
  • For herb polenta: Stir in 1 tbsp chopped rosemary or thyme at the end
  • Always use coarse-ground cornmeal for authentic texture

Nutrition

Find it online: https://us.recipesfood.org/how-to-make-perfect-creamy-polenta/

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