Blue Cheese Polenta Fries Recipes

POLENTA FRIES

Steps:

• Bring 7 cups water to a simmer in a large saucepan. Combine 4 cups of the hot water and the milk in a heatproof bowl (the bowl should fit over the saucepan). Gradually whisk in the polenta and 2 teaspoons salt. Cover the bowl tightly with foil and set over the simmering water; do not let the bowl touch the water. Cook until very thick, 20 minutes. Meanwhile, brush a 9-inch square baking dish with olive oil.
• Stir the cheese and butter into the polenta. Spread in the prepared dish and refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Slice the chilled polenta into eighteen 4 1/2-by-1-inch sticks and transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the sticks with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake until golden, 30 to 35 minutes, turning halfway through.

CHEESY POLENTA FRIES WITH RED PEPPER TOMATO MARINARA "KETCHUP"

Steps:

• Heat a medium pot over medium heat. Add the oil and heat until shimmering.
• Add the garlic paste, a heavy pinch of salt and several grinds of black pepper, and stir until fragrant.
• Pour in the stock, heavy cream, and Italian seasoning. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil.
• Gradually add the polenta while whisking constantly to keep lumps from forming. When it comes back to a boil, reduce heat to a high simmer, and stir occasionally with a long-handled spoon until the polenta is very thick and creamy, about 20-25 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary.
• Spread the very thick polenta evenly in a 9x13-inch pan. It will make a layer about an inch thick. Spread it in a larger pan, and you'll end up with a thinner layer, so put it in whatever size pan you have that will give you the look you want. Allow to cool, then cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
• In a large, shallow dish, whisk together the cornstarch, salt and smoked paprika.
• Slice or cut the polenta into whatever shapes you want. In order to make steak fries like I did, slice the "slab" of polenta into 1/3" slices. Turn each slice on its side, and then make a diagonal cut to make 2 steak fries. Continue until you've sliced all the polenta.
• Dust each piece thoroughly with the seasoned cornstarch. Set aside.
• Heat the oil to 350F. Carefully slide no more than 6-7 fries into the pot at one time, and fry until they float and the outsides are a crispy, golden brown. Use a spider to remove the fries to several thicknesses of paper towels. Sprinkle with a bit of fine salt. Continue frying in batches until you've fried and seasoned all the fries, making sure to maintain the oil temperature right around 350F. Serve hot with red pepper tomato marinara.
• Heat the oil in a medium sauce pan.
• Add the garlic paste or minced garlic, a heavy pinch of salt and several grindings of black pepper, and cook until fragrant.
• Add the tomatoes with their juice, the drained peppers, the Italian seasoning, and balsamic vinegar.
• Using an immersion blender (or in batches in a counter top blender), blend until smooth. Don't strain the sauce--you still want it to have texture, just no big chunks.
• Simmer until thick and reduced as much as you like, stirring occasionally and keeping the heat low so the sauce doesn't scorch. I let mine reduce for about an hour.
• Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. If the sauce seems a bit sharp, stir in a bit of sugar. Serve warm with the cheesy polenta fries.

POLENTA FRIES WITH BLUE CHEESE DIP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, bring the milk, water, butter, salt and pepper to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle boil; slowly whisk in cornmeal. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon for 15-20 minutes or until polenta is thickened and pulls away cleanly from the sides of the pan., Stir in the Gouda cheese, basil and thyme. Spread into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Refrigerate for 1 hour., Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, blue cheese and cream cheese; chill until serving., Cut polenta into 3-1/4x1/2-in. strips. Place flour in a shallow bowl. Dip polenta in flour; shake off excess., In a large skillet, cook polenta in oil in batches for 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Serve with dip.

POLENTA FRIES

Steps:

• Cook the polenta. Combine corn grits, chicken stock, and Kosher salt in a medium sauce pan, then bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, then stir until thick and creamy, about 20 minutes.
• Flavor the polenta. Stir in butter, parmesan cheese, mascarpone, and fresh herbs until very well mixed and butter and cheese has melted.
• Transfer to a baking dish. Pour the warm polenta into a 9x13 baking dish lined with parchment paper. Use an offset spatula to flatten as evenly as possible.
• Cool the polenta. Refrigerate until completely cool, about 1 hour.
• Cut into fries. Turn the cooled polenta out onto a cutting board, then cut into small sticks. To do this, cut the polenta in half lengthwise, then cut the two halves into sticks about ¼" thick. This will yield ~28 polenta fries.
• Crisp the fries. Preheat an oven to 425 F. Place the polenta fries on a parchment lined baking sheet, leaving a little space in between. Cook for 20 minutes, until golden brown around the edges.
• Broil to finish. Carefully flip the fries over. Preheat the broiler to high, then place the polenta fries on the rack closest to the broiler. Cook for 3-5 minutes, depending on the strength of your broiler, until crispy on the second side. Serve immediately with your favorite sauce (we recommend Rao's marinara, but tarragon aioli would be fabulous too!).

BLUE CHEESE POLENTA FRIES

Steps:

• Combine water, salt, pepper, and butter, and bring to boil. Slowly, in a thin stream, whisk in the cornmeal. When it starts to bubble turn off heat or it will splatter (the mix is very hot at this stage and can burn). Stir with wooden spoon, partially cover and leave on the warm stovetop, stirring every few minutes so it does not stick, for 30 minutes. When thick, remove from warm stovetop, and add cheese, garlic, and cilantro. Mix well. Pour into a 1 by 8 by 12-inch sheet tray or baking dish. Smooth out the mixture until it is level. Chill until firm, about 2 to 3 hours.
• Preheat the canola oil in a deep pot to 350 degrees F.
• Cut polenta in strips, about 1 1/2 by 3 inches. Lightly bread the polenta "fries" with cornmeal. Deep fry in hot oil for 2 to 4 minutes or until crispy.