Fried Polenta

Fried polenta is a delicious and versatile comfort food that can serve as a side dish or a snack. Here is a simple recipe for making fried polenta.

Ingredients

• 250 g of instant polenta (or leftover cooed and cooled polenta)
• 750 ml of water
• Salt to taste
• Oil for frying

Preparation

1. If you are using instant polenta, bring the water to a boil in a saucepan and add a pinch of salt.
2. Gradually pour in the polenta while stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
3. Lower the heat and continue to cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions until the polenta has thickened and pulled away from the sides of the pan.
4. Pour the polenta onto a flat plate or into a tray, leveling it with a spatula until it is about 1-2 cm thick. Let it cool completely.
5. Once cool, cut the polenta into sticks or diamonds.
6. Heat plenty of oil in a frying pan suitable for deep frying, and once it has reached the right temperature, fry the pieces of polenta until they are golden and crispy.
7. Drain them well and place them on paper towels to remove excess oil.
8. Lightly salt them and serve hot.

Optionally, you can add aromatic herbs, such as rosemary or sage, to the frying oil to give an extra aroma.

Curiosity

Fried polenta can be an inviting way to use up leftover polenta from the day before. In some areas of Italy, it is traditional to serve fried polenta with meat sauces or mushrooms, or simply with a drizzle of honey or powdered sugar for a sweet version.