Polenta or Cornmeal Mush

Description

Contributed by World Recipes Y-Group

Ingredients

• 4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1½ cup polenta (coarse cornmeal)

Procedures

1. Bring the water to a boil, and add the salt.
2. Whisk in the polenta, pouring it in a slow, steady stream so that lumps don't form.
3. Lower the heat, and cook about 30 minutes while stirring.
4. Alternatively, cook the polenta in a double boiler over simmering water for 45 minutes, stirring it every 15 minutes or so.
5. If you wish to serve soft polenta, keep it over the heat in a double boiler until needed.
6. To make firm polenta, pour it into a pan and set aside; after a while, it will cool and firm up.
7. Turn it out of its pan and cut into ½-inch slices.
8. To broil or grill the polenta, brush both sides of each slice with olive oil, and cook until lightly browned.
9. The slices can also be fried in butter or olive oil, until lightly browned or until crisp.
10. Slices can be used as layers in a casserole.