Cheesy polenta with spicy chilli sauce is a delicious main course. Polenta, or cornmeal, is cooked in plenty of hot boiling water and is a traditional dish from Northern Italy but popular in the whole country.
It is usually served with a sauce made with beef, lamb, pork, and sausages. It is also possible to find it served with cuttlefish and octopus. In the recipe below, we twisted the tradition and served polenta with a spicy Chilli con Carne sauce.
For a more traditional taste, pair polenta with a classic Bolognese sauce. If you love this recipe, why not try our delicious gluten-free lasagna?
Ingredients
For 4 people, prep time 15 minutes, cooking time 1 hour
- 350g polenta flour (cornmeal)
- 2lt water
- 200g grated cheese
- Salt and pepper
- 400g spicy chilli con carne
- Fresh chilli
- Parsley or coriander
Method
1 – Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add salt and stir in polenta flour (cornmeal). Whisk the polenta until all is well incorporated and there are no lumps.
2 – Cook the polenta on low-medium heat for at least 20 minutes. Cooking time will depend on the type of polenta flour you have. Always check the instructions on the side of the package. Once cooked, stir in plenty of grated cheese and pepper
3 – Spoon the polenta onto the serving dish, add more grated cheese and ladle the spicy sauce previously made. Follow our recipe for Spicy Chilli con Carne or Bolognese sauce. Garnish the cheesy polenta with fresh parsley, chilli, and more cheese.
Tips
- When cooking, polenta bubbles up, stand far enough so the heat won’t burn you.
- Add the cheese after the polenta is cooked and off the heat to ensure the best consistency.
