Fried Halloumi Recipe with Tomatillo Salsa

Polenta recipes

Janine Ratcliffe

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Turn this storecupboard staple into nutritious meals and delicious bakes with our recipes, including vegetarian tarts, Mexican corn muffins and a blood orange loaf cake

Polenta, a type of cornmeal, is incredibly versatile. It can add a crisp coating to fried foods, be served as a creamy mashed potato alternative, baked into cakes, or even used as a pastry substitute.

For more ideas, explore our collection of cornmeal recipes and semolina recipes.

What is polenta used for?

Polenta, a naturally gluten-free cornmeal, is a wonderfully adaptable ingredient and a great alternative to rice, potatoes, or pasta. Perfect for simple, satisfying dinners, it’s particularly well-suited to vegetarian meals — try it as a base for roasted vegetables, or serve alongside a rich tomato and basil sauce for a quick, flavour-packed dish. Polenta also adds a lovely texture to bakes, whether it’s a light, citrusy lemon polenta cake or a hearty slice of savoury cornbread. Its versatility in both sweet and savoury dishes makes it a kitchen staple for any home cook.

Easy polenta recipes

Salted honey polenta cake

Sea salt brings out the taste of the honey in this polenta cake – perfect for a weekend treat.

Fried cheesy polenta chips with smoked chilli and lemon

These crispy, cheesy polenta chips with a smoked chilli dip make a great starter or side dish.

Fried cheesy polenta chips, smoked chilli and lemon

Blood orange polenta drizzle cake

Change up the classic lemon drizzle with juicy blood oranges. Our polenta cake is easy to make and the ideal sweet treat to accompany your morning coffee.

Orange Polenta Cake Recipe

Corn dogs

Serve up these classic American fairground snacks at your next party, paired with your favourite condiments. Use cornmeal or fine polenta to create the perfect crispy coating.

Cornbread

Acclaimed New York chef Marcus Samuelsson shares his easy recipe for cornbread from Shoreditch's Red Rooster, which makes great use of polenta.

Slices of cornbread on a plate with sauces in bowls

Crispy polenta halloumi with tomatillo salsa

Check out this fried halloumi recipe with a crispy polenta crumb, served with a quick and juicy salsa.

Fried Halloumi Recipe with Tomatillo Salsa

Cornbread skillet

Transform leftover cheese into a golden, jalapeño-infused cornbread. Pair with fried eggs, avocado, and black bean salsa for a hearty weekend brunch. Use either cornmeal or polenta, depending on your preference.

Kale hush puppies with lemon aïoli

Hush puppies are little American savoury donuts in a polenta batter. Dip these crispy kale snacks into zingy lemon aioli for an easy party snack.

Kale Hush Puppies Recipe With Lemon Aïoli Recipe

Creamy courgette and polenta tart

Instant polenta makes a perfect pastry-less tart. Top with pan-fried courgettes and creamy mascarpone and serve with rocket.

Creamy courgette and polenta tart

Gorgonzola-polenta wedges with madeira mushrooms

Gorgonzola wedges make a quick, cheesy side, ready in under 20 minutes. These polenta wedges come served with madeira mushrooms and crème fraîche.

Gorgonzola-polenta wedges with madeira mushrooms

Miso polenta

Polenta gets a Japanese twist with the addition of red miso. Chilled, set and then pan-fried, it’s served up with soy peppers, spring onions and sesame seeds for an easy midweek meal.

Polenta cut into triangles with side of peppers topped with spring onions

Braised Italian sausages with cheesy polenta

Italian-style sausages with streaky bacon, herbs and a splash of red wine. Serve with some cheesy polenta for extra flavour and you've got a quick and easy midweek meal for all the family.

Mexican breakfast corn muffins

Our moist and cheesy corn muffins put polenta to great work. Packed with Mexican flavours they're ready in less than an hour and make a simple and healthy breakfast.

Mexican Corn Muffins Recipe

Spicy sausage and polenta lasagne

This hearty lasagne is made with polenta instead of pasta sheets. Good-quality sausages are a must – a fennel and red wine variety is great for this dish.

Balsamic braised beef with cheesy polenta

Smooth, cheesy polenta cranks up the comfort factor in this dish of braised beef with rich balsamic, slow cooked until meltingly tender.

Braised Beef Recipe with Balsamic and Cheesy Polenta

Lemon polenta cake

This lemon polenta cake is a dense, rich cake with a boozy limoncello syrup. A great way to zest up an afternoon tea or coffee break.

Braised Italian sausages with peppers, fennel and creamy parmesan polenta

It’s worth seeking out big, high-quality sausages as they are the star of the show in this dish. Serve on a large sharing plate on a bed of creamy polenta for a satisfying dinner for four.

Polenta bites with caramelised onion and gruyère

These bites make a great snack to serve with drinks at a party or smart buffet. You could top the polenta bites with anything you like – parma ham and dolcelatte would work nicely, or brie and chilli jam.

A tray of cheesy polenta bites

Plum, hazelnut and polenta skillet cake

This is called a skillet cake as it’s made in a cast-iron skillet pan but it can be easily made in a cake tin if you prefer. Reuse the batter across the seasons with peaches, rhubarb or summer berries.

Authors

Janine Ratcliffe in a short sleeved long dress sitting on a chair beneath palm trees on a balcony

Janine RatcliffeFood director

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