Description
Creamy and flavorful, this Italian Polenta with Parmesan is a comforting side dish that pairs perfectly with a variety of mains. Made with simple ingredients like cornmeal, Parmesan cheese, and butter, this dish is easy to prepare and incredibly satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients:
- 1 cup coarse ground cornmeal (polenta)
- 4 cups water or low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Optional chopped fresh herbs (such as parsley or thyme) for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, bring the water or broth to a boil. Add salt, then slowly whisk in the polenta, stirring constantly to prevent lumps.
- Reduce the heat to low and continue to cook, stirring frequently, for 25–30 minutes or until the polenta is thick and creamy.
- Remove from heat and stir in the butter, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- For extra richness, substitute half of the water with milk.
- This dish pairs well with roasted vegetables, sautéed mushrooms, or a tomato-based sauce.
- Leftover polenta can be chilled, sliced, and pan-fried for a crispy next-day meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 390mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
