Creamy Chile Cheese Polenta

This is one of my kids' favorite meals. It combines everything they love to eat—cheese, corn, and polenta—in one dish. (My older daughter picks out the green chiles but my toddler eats them.) I serve this along side a green salad for an easy weeknight meal, but it could easily be a side dish for a Tex-Mex meal or an accompaniment to grilled chicken, pork, or shrimp.

CREAMY CHILE CHEESE POLENTA

• 3 cups of liquid (water, broth, milk, or a combo; I use half water, half 1% milk)
• salt
• 1 cup of polenta (not the quick cooking kind, hit up your bulk foods section of your grocery store)
• unsalted butter (I used half a stick, you can use less)
• 1 small can of roasted diced green chiles
• 1 bag of frozen corn
• 2 good handfuls of grated cheddar cheese (or whatever you like)

Preheat oven to 325º.

Bring salted liquid to boil in a medium, heavy-bottomed pan. Slowly sprinkle in the polenta while stirring constantly. This should take 5-7 minutes. (Reduce heat to low, watch out for bubbling exploding polenta.)

Stir until polenta is incorporated with the liquid then add butter. Mix well, then add the chiles and corn.

Heat that through (about 3-5 minutes) then add cheese, reserving some for the top. Remove from hear (polenta will not be cooked through, that's okay.) Stir quickly then turn the mixture out into a greased glass Pyrex dish (prefereably with a cover) or similar pan. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Cover (or cover tightly with foil). Bake for 35-45 minutes until mixture is bubbly.

For kids, let cool slightly before serving. For adults, pass the Cholula hot sauce.

Just about to go into the oven:

Ready to serve:

[recipe and photos: Stefania Pomponi Butler]

Comments

[Porter]

MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN ASKING ME TO MAKE POLENTA BECAUSE HE LOVES IT BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY RECIPES-THANK YOU!!!!!!
Yes I'm screaming that while jumping up and down.
I swear, if you published a cookbook I would totally buy it. I love your cooking/recipes/taste in food. I'm sorry I haven't gotten my 90210 bean recipe to you, just been forgetful and a bit lazy too.

[Denzylle]

Not on topic with polenta, but I thought you might find this article from today's (UK) Guardian of interest:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/family/story/0,,2040487,00.html

[Deborah Dowd]

This looks really great! Corn,polenta and cheese spiced up with a little chipotle might be a nice twist (though a bit spicier!)

[Lila]

Ooh, this looks like a nice recipe. I had a disastrous polenta experience recently (turned out rubbery!). I'll have to give this one a try with some grilled chicken.

[SA]

Thanks -- we had this tonight and it was delicious!

[Porter]

Made it tonight, it was really easy and really delish. I will make it again...thanks

[cary]

Thank you! I used what I had - quick grits - and the proportions were right on. Cooking it with milk is genius! You have changed my cheesy grits recipe forever.