Polenta - Definition and Overview

Polenta is a cornmeal mash popular in Italian and Romanian cuisine (in Romania it is known as mamaliga). Formerly a peasant food, polenta has recently become quite upscale, with many new recipes providing new life to what is basically a fairly bland food, such as Baked Cheese Polenta with Tomato Sauce. Polenta is similar to corn grits, varying slightly in the coarseness of the cornmeal used. Polenta is often cooked in a huge copper pot called a paiolo. There are many different types of polenta, such as basic or soft polenta.

In South Africa, cornmeal mash is a staple food called mealie pap.

The Corsican variety, called pulenta, is made with sweet chestnut flour rather than cornmeal.

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Polenta