Polenta (pickarski)
Yield: 8 Servings
Ingredients:
- 1 tb Olive oil; or corn oil
- 1 c Peeled finely diced carrots
- 1 c Finely diced onions
- 1 c Finely diced celery
- 1 tb Minced garlic
- 2 ts Sea salt
- 1/2 ts Finely ground black pepper
- 1 ts Chopped basil
- 4 c -Water
- 1/2 c Drained stewed tomatoes
- 2 c Yellow corn grits; -OR-
- 2 1/4 c -Cornmeal
- 1 c Cooked
Instructions:
drained kidney beans Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Saute the carrots onions celery and garlic along with the salt pepper and basil for about 8 minutes. Cut the stewed tomatoes into small pieces and add them to the vegetables along with the 4 cups of water. Bring to a simmer. Then add the corn grits and kidney beans and mix well. Cook for about 20 minute stirring occasionally to prevent burning. (The polenta may take longer than 20 minutes to cook. Check by tasting. It should have a soft gritty texture.) Lightly oil a 2-quart mold and press the polenta into it working out any air pockets. Smooth out the surface and allow it to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate the mold until it is cold. Then unmold the polenta onto a tray garnish it and serve it in slices. NOTE: If you are using cornmeal instead of corn grits it is best to soak the cornmeal separately in 2 cups of cold water; add the remaining 2 cups of water to the vegetables and then combine the two mixtures. VARIATION: Millet Polenta Use 2 cups of millet and 5 cups of water in place of the corn grits and the 4 cups of water. Source: Friendly Foods - by Brother Ron Pickarski O.F.M. Ten Speed Press Berkeley California ISBN: 0-89815-377-8 Typed for you by Karen Mintzias



