Fried Polenta

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Show: Everyday ItalianEpisode: Lavish Leftovers

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (45)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(45)

Cook Time:
15 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
30 pieces

Times:

Prep: 5 min
Inactive Prep: 2 hr 0 min
Cook: 15 min
Total:: 2 hr 20 min

Recipe Tools:

Select a Card Size

Add To My Recipe Box

Success

This recipe was added to your Folder_Name folder.

Do not show this message again

Add To My Recipe Box

Please sign in to add this recipe to your Recipe Box.

Ingredients

3 cups Basic Polenta, recipe follows
2 cups olive oil, for frying
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
Salt
1 cup purchased marinara sauce

Directions

Lightly oil an 11 by 7-inch baking dish. Transfer the hot polenta to the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly to 3/4-inch thick. Refrigerate until cold and firm, about 2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.

Cut the polenta into 2 by 1-inch pieces. Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, fry the polenta pieces until golden brown on all sides, about 3 minutes per side. Using tongs, transfer the polenta pieces to paper towels and drain. Place the polenta pieces on a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while cooking the remaining batches.

Transfer the polenta pieces to a serving platter. Sprinkle the polenta with the Parmesan cheese and salt. Serve, passing the marinara sauce alongside.

Basic Polenta:

6 cups water

2 teaspoons salt

1 3/4 cups yellow cornmeal

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a heavy large saucepan. Add 2 teaspoons of salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add the butter, and stir until melted.

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Next Recipe

More recipes? Try these recommendations:

Similar Recipe

Savory Polenta

Photo: Fried Polenta

Similar Recipes

Recipes Like This

All About…

Recipe Collections

Showing 1-10 of 32

View all 32 Side Dish Collections

Comments & Reviews

recipe Fried Polenta
Christina Atlanta, GA 10-02-2008
Flag

tasty, but a lot of work
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

I made them for our ladies supper club. After my first try with a regular skillet where they fell apart, I switched to a... nonstick and they stayed together a lot easier. The polenta itself was a little bland - I ended up sprinkling them with some garlic season salt after frying. If I make them again, I'm definitely dressing up the polenta before I cool it. Read more
recipe Fried Polenta
Anonymous 08-26-2008
Flag

I made it taste better....
Rated: 4 stars out of 5
recipe Fried Polenta
Kelly Chandler, AZ 12-31-2007
Flag

Not worth the time
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

The polenta lacked flavor and was time consuming to make. My husband took one bite and hated it. I ended up throwing the... majority of it away. Very disappointing from Giada, who I normally love.Read more
recipe Fried Polenta
Crystal Buckeye, AZ 12-14-2007
Flag

Pretty good.
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

These were alright. They're kind of a lot of work, and I thought they were missing something. So, I will be playing with... the recipe. My six year old loved them, though, and it's not easy to get him to eat knew things.Read more
recipe Fried Polenta
Abbie Oskaloosa, KS 11-23-2007
Flag

~Best Ever!~
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I am only 13 and I made these for my family that is visiting from out of state, and they LOVED them! I did one half with... parmasean and the other half rolled in sugar and pumpkin spice and dipped in maple syrup. Everyone adored them. I got popped from the oil alot though! :) Thanks, AbbieRead more
recipe Fried Polenta
Gretchen Columbus, OH 10-16-2007
Flag

Very Easy
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This recipe is very versatile and easy.