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Creamy, rich, and endlessly versatile, this Italian polenta is the perfect side dish for saucy meats, roasted vegetables, or even a fried egg. With its buttery smooth texture and subtle corn flavor, it’s comfort food at its finest.

🍴 Ingredients

• 4 cups water (or half water, half milk for extra creaminess)
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal (medium or coarse grind)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Optional: cracked black pepper, chopped fresh herbs, or olive oil for garnish

🔥 Instructions

Boil the Liquid: In a medium saucepan, bring the water (or water/milk mix) to a boil. Stir in the salt.

Whisk in Cornmeal: Gradually whisk in the cornmeal in a steady stream to prevent clumping. Reduce heat to low immediately.

Simmer and Stir: Cook the polenta on low heat, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon. It will thicken as it simmers. Cook for 30–40 minutes until it’s smooth and pulls away slightly from the sides of the pan.

Add the Flavor: Stir in the butter and Parmesan cheese until melted and incorporated. Adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve Warm: Spoon into bowls and top with more cheese, a drizzle of olive oil, or fresh herbs. For a firmer texture, pour into a dish to set and slice once cooled.

📦 Amazon Must-Haves to Help You Create the Best Creamy Polenta

• 🥣 Heavy-Bottom Saucepan – Prevents scorching and promotes even heat distribution while simmering polenta.
• 🌽 Stone-Ground Cornmeal – The key to authentic texture and deep corn flavor.
• 🧀 Microplane Grater – Perfect for grating Parmesan into light, fluffy shreds that melt smoothly.
• 🧂 Himalayan Pink Salt – A flavorful finishing salt with natural minerals.
• 🥄 Wooden Spoon Set – Great for stirring without damaging nonstick or enameled cookware.

💡 Helpful Tip: Stirring frequently is key—don’t walk away! And if your polenta gets too thick, simply stir in a little more water or milk to loosen it up.