Creamy Oven-Baked Polenta Recipe

Adapted from this Fine Cooking recipe by Paula Wolfert. Oven-baking polenta is game changing: just throw it in the oven, give it a stir 40 minutes later, bake it for 20 minutes more. For years, I've made Mark Bittman's Polenta without Fear, which is also simple, but I prefer the hands-off nature of the oven-baked version. (See notes below the recipe for making Instant Pot polenta.) I love the combination of polenta with a poached egg and a drizzle of truffle oil. A side of sautéed greens makes the meal feel more complete. Here I've served the polenta with another Paula Wolfert/Fine Cooking recipe for caramelized cabbage, which takes longer than quickly sautéing greens, but which is a good one to know should you find yourself overloaded with cabbage, as I found myself a few weeks ago. Polenta is also delicious with this sherry vinegar chicken, braised short ribs, and most recently I spooned these slow-cooker beans over it, which was also delicious. Re water: If you use 5 cups of water, it will take longer for the polenta to thicken up, but in the end, it will be ultra creamy and delicious. Four cups still yields a creamy polenta, and it will allow the polenta to thicken more quickly. You can use all water if you don't want to use any milk.

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet