Polenta

Beth Briant Italy Study Tour Professor Albano

April 8th 2015

Staple food in Northern Italy National Dish, “Italian Grits” Started out as one of the simplest foods made

from grain Coarsely ground corn meal Served as a sort of porridge with meats and

cheeses Also hardened in the form of a cake and even

cookies

Polenta

In Roman times, polenta was a staple for

mighty Roman Legions, as well as peasantry All preferred its simplicity and tastiness Besides buckwheat polenta introduced by the

Saracens, most of Italy’s polenta consumption was made from golden yellow corn to the Veneto’s white polenta

History

The old fashioned way is using a round bottom

copper pot called a Paiolo, and a long wooden spoon know as a Tarelle

Soft polenta requires a 3 to 1 ratio of water over heat while constantly stirring for 50min

Cooking polenta today is much easier and only requires occasional stirring

When finished it can be eaten soft, or poured onto a slab and cooled to form a cake

Making Polenta

The reason for polenta’s popularity is also because of

its versatility It can be served with everything, especially what is in

season or locally grown and raised Soft polenta can be a replacement for bread during a

meal Instead of a pasta dish, it could be served with butter

and cheese and shaved truffles Could also be layered into a lasagna like dish Or grilled and served with bruschetta toppings such as

mushrooms and tomatoes.

Serving Polenta

Made from coarsely ground corn meal– from

corn! Italy is the eight largest producer of corn in

the world Grown throughout Italy, but the highest

concentration is in Northern Italy Region of Vento accounts for 24% of the

nations total corn Corn is planted in April through mid May, and

is harvested in September and October

Indigenous Nature

Cheesy Polenta Recipe

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cheesy-Polenta/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Thumb&e11=polenta&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page&soid=sr_results_p1i4

https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE2NemX-FO4

Perfect Polenta Video

http://

www.delallo.com/articles/polenta-humble-porridge-fine-dining

http://www.lifeinitaly.com/food/polenta.asp http://

www.spectrumcommodities.com/education/commodity/statistics/corn.html

Sources