Polenta (Fries, Grilled & Traditional) - The FoodOlic recipes (2024)

Three different ways to make Polenta (Fries, Grilled & Traditional). First, the traditional one is served with spicy & smoky pulled pork, grilled as a side dish to anything from the BBQ or the gluten-free crispy baked fries.

Polenta is a fun gluten-free ingredient to play with! Here are three different ways to make Polenta (Fries, Grilled & Traditional), with three different textures going from smooth to crunchy. I always make too much polenta, so I spread the leftovers in a rectangular Pyrex, cover it with plastic wrap and leave it in the fridge. The next day you can use the compacted or “cake-like” polenta and make a different meal with it by grilling it “steak style” on the BBQ or baking or air frying the sticks until the perfect crunchy polenta fries.

Types of Polenta

The perfect polenta is smooth and shiny, similar to the texture of a fluffy mashed potato. Some put cream in it, others milk or broth, but most purists would tell you simply water is needed. On the market, they sell instant polenta, polenta or cornmeal. The difference here is mainly how they ground the corn meal resulting in different thicknesses, affecting the final product’s cooking time and texture. Sometimes the “instant” polenta is pre-cooked and turned back into a fine sand texture. This last one is ready in just 3 minutes!

Traditional Polenta

Let’s clarify: polenta is an art and takes quite a while to make… about 50 minutes and some serious arm muscles to achieve the perfect consistency. The technique is turning every 5 minutes the polenta until ultra smooth and the sides no longer stick to the pot. The purists would tell you to use a wooden spoon solely and always turn the polenta in the same direction… If you don’t have time or muscles… don’t despair; there is a trick to help shorten the cooking process by half. Soak the cornmeal/Polenta in water for a few hours before cooking.

If you intend to make a silky smooth polenta, use a standard grain, as mentioned above. This way, you’ll get this corn cloud just right. For topping the smooth polenta, I’ve used a delicious Spicy & Smoky Pulled Pork recipe from fellow Aussie bloggerBlogtastic Food (check it out here).

BBQ Side Dish

However, the “instant” version is great for making grilled polenta or fries! It cooks rapidly and holds better once cold, so there is less chance of breaking it. If you intend to make a silky smooth polenta, use a standard grain.

As for the grilled polenta, I’ve served it with grilled zucchini slices and a salad, but it would suit any piece of BBQ meat, fish or seafood.

The Fries

Tired of the same old fries?? These polenta fries are a welcomed change and fun for the kids and their grown-ups! Plus, no gluten involved! I’ve served them with a garlic-yogurt dip, but it could be any sauce; mayo, ketchup, etc. You can do them in no time in the Air Fryer or bake them to avoid adding too much oil. This way, they are a healthy, easy and yummy side dish for the whole family!

Other Recipes Suiting Polenta

• CATALAN ROMESCO SAUCE
• CHIPOTLE PORK TACOS (SOUS-VIDE)
• AVOCADO HOT DOG

*The quantities are all the same for the three recipes.