Polenta is a tasty food that can be enjoyed any time of the day. That being so, one of our favorite ways to enjoy this ingredient is as a flavorful dinner recipe. Polenta's creamy and light texture pairs perfectly with a plate of short ribs, making this one dinner you won't be able to resist. If you're interested in learning more about how and why these two foods pair so perfectly together, continue scrolling. This article will explain how to cook polenta and short ribs to perfection and pair them together, creating a mouthwatering meal.
What Is Polenta?
Polenta is a versatile, gluten free dish that can range from creamy and light to dense and cheesy. With origins in Northern Italy, polenta is made of coarsely ground yellow cornmeal and is prepared in many different ways. Made with just three simple ingredientswater, salt and cornmealmaking polenta is easy and enjoyed by both novice and advanced cooks. Though polenta can be eaten plain, it's most often prepared as a side dish and makes an excellent complement to many meat dishes.
Types of Polenta
While nearly all polenta is made from yellow cornmeal, it is sold in different forms. Regular polenta is often packaged in bags, and while it's the most flavorful type, it also takes the longest to cook ( up to40 minutes). Instant or quick-cooking polenta can be made in minutes, drastically cutting down the cooking time. However, many argue that these versions are not as flavorful. Lastly, polenta can also be bought fully cooked in a log-shaped packaging known as tubed polenta. Tubed polenta is ready-made and can be added to recipes and leftovers to improve the taste, texture and heartiness.
Polenta vs. Cornmeal
Though polenta and cornmeal are nearly identical, one thing sets them apartthe coarseness of the grain. Polenta consists of a grain that is more coarsely ground, which results in a less mushy product and has a bit more flavor. Conversely, cornmeal is very finely ground and has a mushier texture than polenta.
Polenta vs. Grits
The main difference between polenta and grits is that grits are typically made from ground white corn, whereas polenta is made from yellow corn. Like cornmeal, grits also have a more refined texture and are generally prepared with a mushier consistency than polenta.
What Does Polenta Taste Like?
Polenta's main ingredient is corn, and it tastes a lot like it. That being said, the taste is mild, and polenta as a dish quickly absorbs the flavors of the ingredients around it. With a texture similar to grits, polenta can be added to both sweet and savory dishes to create a delicious outcome.
Preparation Instructions for Yellow Corn Polenta
Ready to prepare a bowl of authentic Italian-inspired polenta? Try out the recipe below to get started.Ingredients
StovetopThe most common way to cook corn polenta is using a stovetop. To successfully cook polenta over the stove, follow the step-by-step process below.
Bring water and salt to a boil in a medium pot.
Add polenta and reduce the heat to low.
Cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once the liquid has absorbed and the polenta is creamy, remove it from the heat.
Let cooked polenta stand for 1-2 minutes.
Tip: to make polenta with a more creamy texture, use 2 cups of water and two cups of milk and cook as instructed above.
What Are Short Ribs?
Unless you're following a plant-based diet, you've likely heard of and tried ribs before. That being said, several different styles of ribs can be made, and one of our favorite types is short ribs. The perfect meat to pair with polenta, short ribs are often the type with the most meat when compared to other racks of ribs. Commonly served in two different styles, English cut or Flanken, they can be taken from the cow's brisket, chuck, rib, or plate areas. English cut short ribs are cut parallel to the bone and range from 4 to 6 inches in length. Flanken cut ribs are cut across multiple rib bones that are around an inch thick. A flanken-style cut ensures that the broth and bone of that slab remain attached.
Types of Short Ribs
When searching for a short rib recipe online, you may notice that they are called by a few different names. Crosscut short ribs are often labeled as "flanken cut" when cut across the bones. They may also be referred to as Hawaiian-style ribs, Korean-style ribs, or kosher ribs. English cut ribs are often labeled barbecue ribs, braising ribs and fancy cut ribs.
Short Ribs Flavor
Wondering how the flavor of short ribs differs from other ribs? Because short ribs contain more meat than most other ribs, they also have more flavor. When cooked correctly, they result in tender meat with an easy chew. Short ribs that are slow-cooked feature a more buttery taste, whereas those cooked on a grill will feature a deep beefy flavor.
Typical Uses
Short ribs are a common comfort food that is typically served as a stand-alone barbecue dish. That being said, they can be combined with several side dishes to create a tasty dinner that everyone at the table will enjoy.The most common way to flavor and serve flanken cut short ribs is by marinating them in soy sauce, brown sugar and ginger and then grilling them to create a delicious chewa dish that tastes incredible when paired with polenta.
Short Ribs and Polenta Recipe
Follow the steps below to prepare a stack of flavorful short ribs that will taste great alongside cheesy and creamy polenta.Ingredients
Heat 2 Tbs. of olive oil over medium-high heat in a dutch oven.
Season short ribs with salt and pepper.
Add short ribs to the pot in batches, occasionally turning until all the ribs' sides have brownedCook five to six minutes per batch.
Transfer ribs to a plate.
A 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pot, along with the onion and carrots.
Stirring occasionally, cook until the onion softensabout five minutes.
Stir in the garlic and cook for a minute more.
Sprinkle in the flour and stir the mixture well.
Slowly begin adding the wine/grape juice and the stock.
Next, stir in the tomato paste, rosemary, and bay leaf. Then return the short ribs to the pot.
Check to ensure that the short ribs are covered with liquid. If they are not, add hot water until the liquid slightly covers the ribs and bring the liquid to a boil.
Cover the pot and place it in the oven to cook, moving the ribs around every 45 minutes to ensure that they are cooking evenly.
After about 2 hours, the ribs will be very tender. Transfer them to a deep serving platter and tent with aluminum foil.
Allow the liquid to stand for 5 minutes before skimming the fat from the surface and discarding it.
Return the liquid to the stove and bring it to a boil over high heat. Cook the liquid, occasionally stirring until it's reduced by . This process will take about 10 minutes.
Remove the bay leaf from the liquid and return the short ribs to the pot.
Optional: Creamy Polenta
Make the polenta in a heavy saucepan by bringing 2 cups of water and 2 cups of milk to boil in a medium pot.
Next, add the polenta and reduce the heat to low.
Cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once the liquid has absorbed and the polenta is creamy, remove it from the heat.
Let cooked polenta stand for 1-2 minutes.
Stir in the 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Divide the polenta into bowls and top with the ribs and sauce and serve immediately.
Now that you know how to cook short ribs and polenta, it's time to give this dish a shot. The next time you're searching for a savory dinner dish that's sure to impress guests, try out the recipe above. A true comfort food, it's the ideal plate to make when you're craving something warm and flavorful. Otherwise, try some of our other favorite recipes like Beef Ragu with Polenta for another comforting meal or Baked Polenta Fries if youre looking for a side dish. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, happy cooking!Do you enjoy cooking with polenta? We'd love to hear about the many recipes you create with this tasty ingredient. Share your favorite polenta-based recipes with us in the comments below. We can't wait to hear from you.