Creamy Garlic & Mascarpone Polenta

A rich and comforting Italian side dish of creamy polenta, infused with garlic and enriched with luscious mascarpone cheese.

Prep Time

10 minutes

Total Time

40 minutes

Calories

465 kcal

Difficulty

Easy

Equipment

3 items

Cost

£1.29/serving

Season:

Meal Type:

Cuisine:

Mood:

Ingredients

Servings

1cupPolenta (coarse ground)(Use coarse ground for best texture.)

£0.45

4cupsWater

1cupChicken or Vegetable Broth(Adds extra flavor, optional)

£0.30

3clovesGarlic(Minced)

£0.15

4ozMascarpone Cheese(Room temperature)

£2.50

2tablespoonsButter(Unsalted)

£0.35

0.3cupParmesan Cheese(Grated, plus extra for serving)

£0.75

1tablespoonOlive Oil

£0.20

1teaspoonSalt(Or to taste)

0.3teaspoonBlack Pepper(Freshly ground, or to taste)

£0.05

2tablespoonsFresh Parsley(Chopped, for garnish)

£0.40

Total Cost

£5.15

£1.29 per serving

Instructions

1.
In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
2.
Add water and broth (if using) to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Season with salt.
3.
Slowly whisk in the polenta, making sure to incorporate it gradually to avoid lumps. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, for about 25-30 minutes, or until the polenta is thick and creamy. It should pull away from the sides of the pan.
4.
Remove from heat and stir in the butter, mascarpone cheese, and Parmesan cheese until melted and well combined. Season with black pepper to taste.
5.
Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and extra grated Parmesan cheese.

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My Notes

Nutrition Information

Nutrition per serving (250g)

465 kcal / 1945 kJ

Carbs

42g

16% of RDA

Fat

27g

39% of RDA

Protein

14g

28% of RDA

Detailed Breakdown

Fibre

3 g

10% of RDA

Sugar

3 g

3% of RDA

Sodium

850 mg

37% of RDA

Saturated Fat

16 g

80% of RDA

Chef's Tips

For a smoother polenta, you can use a hand blender to blend it at the end of cooking. However, this is optional.

Adjust the amount of water/broth depending on the desired consistency of the polenta. You may need to add more liquid if it becomes too thick during cooking.

Polenta thickens as it cools, so serve immediately or keep warm in a double boiler or over very low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent it from sticking.

Cooking Equipment

Medium saucepan

Whisk

Wooden spoon

Wine Pairings

No wine pairing suggestions available for this recipe.

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