Do you find yourself with leftovers anytime you make polenta? Instead of zapping them in the microwave, consider creating an entirely new, but equally delicious, meal — polenta cakes! Polenta cakes are essentially cooked polenta that has been refrigerated until cold and firm, then cut into shape and fried.
To make them you can use leftover basic, cheesy, or creamy polenta you prepared for another meal or you can cook cornmeal from scratch for the purpose.
The approach we take is to create flavor-loaded polenta with a rich creamy texture that sets strong and holds well together in the hot oil.
The shape of the fried polenta is a last-minute decision. You can make polenta cakes (round or square) or skinnier, rectangular crispy polenta fries.
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What is Polenta?
Polenta is an Italian staple, and it is amazingly versatile. It can be eaten in so many ways that I can’t even count them all, but I’m happy and willing to try them all. Especially this style of polenta! Why do you ask? Well, I was VERY excited when I was contacted recently by Scott who runs Sausage Debauchery – Artisanal Italian Food Products.
This company pride itself on bringing unique, top-quality, imported Italian food products to the homes of its customers. They scour the entire Italian peninsula to find the rarest food products, from apple vinegar in the Dolomites to prickly pear jam from Sicily. They even offer kitchen gadgets (hello gnocchi board!).
In other words, they’re right up my alley.
Scott generously sent me some of his products, and the first one I tried was the La Grande Ruota Fioretto per Polenta.
I could tell I was going to love this straight away. It was the consistency I am used to, the smell, the color … everything. And let me tell you, this stuff is incredibly creamy! I have also written an article on Exploring the World of Delicious Crispy Polenta.
Polenta Cakes Fixings
5 cups of water
Kosher salt
1 cup of Fine Corn Meal (Polenta)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Black pepper
Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
How to Cook Polenta Cakes?
Polenta is typically cooked in a huge copper pot known as paolo. Sadly, I do not have one of my own, so I used a very heavy bottom pot and, of course, a wooden spoon.
This does require some attention — when I mean LOVE — while cooking, which equates to lots of stirring. This is how I get my exercise, so I don’t mind. Plus, I know what’s coming at the end of all that stirring is well worth the effort.
If you didn’t want to make the polenta into cakes, just stop here and enjoy the creamy goodness after cooking. While I do love creamy polenta, I also like the variation of the pan frying.
It has a nice texture on the outside, and it’s still oh-so-creamy and delicious inside. Perfect!
Polenta Cakes High in Complex Carbs
The type of corn that’s used to make cornmeal and polenta is different from the sweet corn on the cob you enjoy in the summer. It’s a starchier type of field corn that’s high in complex carbs.
Complex carbs are digested more slowly than simple carbs. Thus, they help keep you feeling full for longer and provide long-lasting energy.
Amylose and amylopectin are the two forms of carbs in starch.
Amylose — also known as resistant starch because it resists digestion — comprises 25% of the starch in cornmeal. It’s linked to healthier blood sugar and insulin levels. The remainder of the starch is amylopectin, which does get digested. You can get more from this video.
Polenta Cakes Fairly Blood-Sugar-Friendly
The glycemic index (GI) indicates how much a given food may raise your blood sugar levels on a scale of 1–100. The glycemic load (GL) is a value that factors in the serving size to determine how food may affect blood sugar levels.
While polenta is high in starchy carbs, it has a medium GI of 68, meaning it shouldn’t raise your blood sugar levels too quickly. It also has a low GL, so it shouldn’t cause your blood sugar to spike too high after eating it.
That said, it’s important to know that the GI and GL of foods are affected by what else you eat at the same time.
If you have diabetes, the American Diabetes Association recommends focusing on the total carb content in your meal rather than its components’ glycemic measurements.
That means you should stick to small portions of polenta, such as 3/4 cup (125 grams), and pair it with foods like vegetables and meats or fish to balance it. You can also read more about Easy Creamy Instant Pot Polenta Recipe For You.
Polenta Cakes Rich in Antioxidants
The yellow cornmeal used to make polenta is an important source of antioxidants, which are compounds that help protect the cells in your body from oxidative damage. In doing so, they may help reduce your risk of certain age-related diseases.
The most significant antioxidants in yellow cornmeal are carotenoids and phenolic compounds.
The carotenoids include carotenes, lutein, and zeaxanthin, among many others. These natural pigments give cornmeal its yellow color and are linked to a lower risk of eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration, as well as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and dementia.
Phenolic compounds in yellow cornmeal include flavonoids and phenolic acids. They’re responsible for some of its sour, bitter, and astringent flavors.
These compounds are thought to reduce the risk of age-related diseases through their antioxidant properties. They also help block or reduce inflammation throughout the body and brain. Another on Enjoy to Make Shrimp and Polenta Recipe.
Gluten-Free Polenta Cakes
Corn, and thus cornmeal, is naturally gluten-free, so polenta can be a good grain choice if you follow a gluten-free diet.
Still, it’s always a good idea to examine the ingredient label carefully. Some manufacturers may add gluten-containing ingredients, or the product may be manufactured in a facility that also processes gluten-containing foods, increasing the risk of cross-contamination.
Many brands of polenta state that their products are gluten-free on the label.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Trader Joe’s Organic Polenta 18oz (1lb 2oz) 510g | $20.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |  | Hopscotch & Lemon Polenta Cakes | $0.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |  | SHEbaking Scone Pan Silicone Triangle Cake Mold for Baking Nonstick Cornbread Pan 8 Cavity Pie… | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |  | POLENTA TRDTNL | $9.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 | | Hopscotch & Lemon Polenta Cakes | $0.89 | Buy on Amazon |
Conclusion
I hope you enjoy this recipe. Then, what are you waiting for? It’s your time to wake up and make this recipe. Don’t forget to share your thoughts in our comment box below.
Polenta is a solid sans gluten grain and a great wellspring of cell reinforcements that assist with safeguarding your eyes and decreasing your gamble of specific ongoing illnesses.
Since it’s produced using corn, polenta possesses a flavor like corn however normally tastes gentle. Its nonpartisan flavor profile implies it promptly absorbs different flavors while cooking, like stock, milk, spread, or cheddar.
Appropriately made, polenta is smooth, rich, and amazingly adaptable. It’s additionally modest. Polenta is what unfortunate Italian families used to cook toward the month’s end when cash was tight.