Easy Microwave Polenta

Submitted by Darlene Summers

"My mom used to make this for us kids when we were little. We ate it with fried eggs instead of toast or bread. Sometimes we had it with syrup on it like pancakes. I still make and love this. I had this with eggs this morning. Really brings back childhood memories for me. May keep in refrigerator several days. Use an old metal ice cube tray (minus divider) or pan equal to that size, or use a couple of canned vegetable cans, emptied and washed and sprayed with butter spray."

 

• Ready In: 17mins
• Ingredients: 4
• Serves: 12

ingredients

• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 3 1⁄2 cups cool water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• butter-flavored cooking spray

directions

1. Combine water, cornmeal and salt in a LARGE glass bowl, stirring with a wire whip till well blended.
2. Put in microwave and cover with a sheet of wax paper.
3. Microwave on High for 6 minutes.
4. Stir well again. (Mixture will be starting to thicken). Microwave on High for another 5 minutes.
5. Mixture should be very thick now.
6. Stir and put into sprayed container you have chosen.
7. Refrigerate till cold.
8. Remove from container, slice about 1/4 inch thick, and fry in butter flavored cooking spray till lightly browned. Turn and brown on other side.
9. Eat with fried eggs, with syrup on it like pancakes, or Italian style.

Reviews

[stacee.sobin]

hands down the easiest way to make polenta. i stirred in some grated parm and black pepper at the end. put into a buttered dish, let set, cut into triangles and heated on griddle with a little olive oil. served with osso buco...yum

 

[quantumgirl]

This recipe is absolutely brilliant! Fantastic polenta without all the stirring and sputtering, and no messy pan to clean! I've made this twice already; the first time the polenta was lumpy after 6 minutes, though it did smooth out after vigorous stirring; the second time I added a Tbl or two of butter and cooked it 5 minutes, then stirred, 2 minutes, then stirred, and 3 minutes more, and it turned out absolutely perfect. (I'm not sure how many watts my microwave is, but it's a GE Spacesaver a couple years old.) The second time I also experimented with using cajun seasoning and seasoning salt, adding onion powder, and stirring in some parmesan cheese at the end, which made a delicious savory dish that could be served immediately, as well as chilled and pan-fried. Other suggestions for containers -- a sprayed or buttered pie pan or 8X8 baking dish. Many thanks to you and your Mom, Darlene, for this recipe I'll use again and again!

 

[Robin TL.]

Easy to say the least, this was fast and very good, saved most for frying up tomorrow for breakfast. Wowsa, I had a recipe for quick polenta before but you can't beat this one!!! Thanks for sharing your recipe, I also pinched it!! Yummmmmooo

 

[Autsayder]

What a great, quick way to make such a delicious food! I never thought of putting maple syrup on it; tastes wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

 

[GeekyChica]

Thank you for such a simple, great recipe! I, too, had to play with the timing a bit-- probably my microwave's fault-- but a small price to pay for an easy side dish! I've yet to try it as a breakfast food, but have made it 3 or 4 times with fresh, steamed string beans and a bowl of vegan chili. A keeper!