A type of cornmeal, polenta is a really versatile ingredient. It can be used to give fried food a crisp coating, served as a mashed potato-style side, baked in cakes or used as a pastry substitute.

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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.

a golden-topped cake with flakes of salt next to a small bowl of honey and little pot of salt

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

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

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

Soft polenta with roast butternut and blue cheese

Polenta is great to use in place of mashed potato in this recipe. Topped with roasted butternut squash and creamy blue cheese it makes an easy but indulgent vegetarian supper.

Soft polenta with roast butternut and blue cheese

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

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.

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Mexican Corn Muffins Recipe

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

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