What is polenta and where can you buy it?

|po-len-ta|

Adam Bush

Published: April 20, 2020 at 10:09 PM

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Discover what polenta is, where to shop for it, and how to use it in our ingredient glossary

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What is polenta?

Polenta is a cornmeal made from ground maize. It's available in instant, quick-cook form, or as a more coarsely ground cornmeal which requires longer cooking and constant stirring. It can be served ‘wet’ (with a similar consistency to mashed potato) or cooled to allow it to solidify, then cut into wedges and grilled or fried. It's also added to breads, cakes and desserts to lend its corn flavour, interesting texture and golden colour.

Where to buy polenta

Italfresco Ready Made Polenta, 75p/500g, Tesco

Biona Organic Polenta Bramata, £2.29/500g, Ocado

Agnesi Polenta, £4.58/500g, Amazon

Polenta recipes

Creamy courgette and polenta tart

Instant polenta makes a perfect pastry-less tart. Simply bake, top with pan-fried courgettes and creamy mascarpone, and serve with rocket.

Fried cheesy polenta chips

These fried cheesy polenta chips with smoked chilli and lemon come from Duck & Waffle restaurant and make a great starter.

Blood orange polenta drizzle cake

Change up the classic lemon drizzle with juicy blood oranges. Our polenta cake is easy to make and the ideal sweet treat to accompany your morning coffee.