Fried Polenta Recipe

This fried polenta has a satisfying crunchy texture with a soft, creamy inside. It's an incredibly versatile side dish and also tastes amazing as an appetizer. Even if you aren't a huge polenta fan, I'm positive you'll love these chewy and crispy polenta strips!

The Best Fried Polenta

Plain polenta porridge might not be your first choice for an exciting side dish, but it has a lot more potential than you think. It's affordable, easy to cook, and is a healthier side dish than pasta, potatoes, or white rice. Not to mention, it's totally gluten-free.

And if you're looking for a way to switch up your usual bowl of polenta - or reuse your polenta leftovers - this fried polenta recipe is a great way to make them even more thrilling.

You do have to spend a little extra time on prep, but the results are undoubtedly worth it. With just a handful of ingredients, you get mouthwatering, crispy, golden polenta strips with a melt-in-your-mouth soft and creamy inside.

Ingredients 

This fried polenta recipe is made with just 5 simple ingredients. And, if you have polenta, there's a pretty good chance you have everything else you need for it.

Anyway, here's the complete ingredient list:

• 2 cups Polenta Flour (pre-cooked yellow corn flour)
• 2 cups Vegetable Broth
• 1 tbsp. Olive Oil
• Salt and Pepper
• Oil for cooking

There's nothing more delicious and indulgent than some fried food, so if you want some more recipes that use similar ingredients, give our fried dough, fried pickles, fried mahi mahi, and Jamaican fried dumplings a try next!

How to Make Fried Polenta 

Ok, so this fried polenta recipe will take you around 45 minutes to make. And while you may think that's a lot for a side dish, it's really only about 20 minutes of hands-on time

So, let's get into the detailed instructions for this fried polenta recipe. 

Step 1: Cooking the Polenta 

To start, we'll cook the polenta.

First, bring the vegetable broth to a boil, and then add the polenta flour.

Let the polenta cook for 10 minutes on low or medium heat - or until the mixture is thick enough to separate from the pot.

And don't forget to stir the polenta a few times to prevent the formation of lumps.

Once cooked, whisk in the olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. 

Step 2: Preparing the Polenta for Frying 

For ordinary polenta porridge, the cooking process usually ends there. But since we're making this into crunchy golden fried polenta, we'll also be setting and frying it.

First, line a baking sheet with a layer of parchment paper. Then, transfer the polenta mixture onto the baking sheet and even it out. Now, you'll want to refrigerate the polenta mixture for 2 hours.

Or, if you are in a rush, you can bake it in a preheated oven at 425°F (220ºC) for 20 minutes. This will speed up the hardening process for the polenta.

Step 3: Frying the Polenta and Serving

When the polenta has hardened, cut it into strips. And I recommend making them slightly larger than french fries so that the fried polenta strips hold their shape well.

Next, heat your oil in a frying pan or a deep fryer. When the oil temperature reaches 350°F (175ºC), fry the polenta strips in batches for around 5 minutes - or until golden brown.

Then, transfer the hot polenta strips onto paper towels to remove the excess oil.

Finally, drizzle them with rosemary oil, top 'em with fresh rosemary, and enjoy!

HOW TO STORE FRIED POLENTA

So, this recipe makes about 4 servings, so you should have plenty for an appetizer for the whole family or dinner for two.

And if you have any leftover polenta, just transfer them to an airtight container and they'll last in the fridge for up to 3 days. And to reheat it, just toss it back into a frying pan with a dash of oil and heat for a couple of minutes until warm.

Oh, and if you want to freeze the polenta, here is the best way to do that.

FAQs About This Fried Polenta Recipe

What Is Polenta?

Polenta is a rich, creamy Italian dish made of coarsely ground corn. Freshly cooked polenta has a wonderful porridge-like consistency that serves as a terrific bed for sauces and main dishes. And when polenta cools, it solidifies and can be easily sliced and fried.

It comes in a few different forms. Regular polenta, which can be coarsely - or finely ground - takes the longest to cook. You can also buy instant or quick-cooking polenta and pre-cooked tubes of polenta as well. And you can usually buy a bag of polenta at your local supermarket alongside grits and cornmeal.

Also, since polenta is pretty close in taste and texture to cornmeal, you can typically use them interchangeably.

What Does Fried Polenta Taste Like?

Because polenta is a corn-based product, it's only natural that it tastes like corn - no matter how you cook it. Its flavor is a lot like grits and cornbread, which are also made from corn.

However, what sets this fried polenta apart from the regular kind is the addictive creamy-on-the-inside-crunchy-on-the-outside texture and the savory flavor from the vegetable broth.

To give your cooked polenta even more personality and flavor, you can cook it with other kinds of stock or milk. You can also use cheese, herbs, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes to spice things up and elevate your usual polenta, whether you're making it creamy or fried.

What Goes With Fried Polenta?

Fried polenta works well as a side for a variety of dishes. It has a complimentary flavor and can be served with things like Instant Pot risotto, vegan mac and cheese, and this Hawaiian-inspired huli huli chicken. By the way, you can eat cooked polenta strips as an appetizer by dipping them into your favorite sauces, like this sweet chili sauce!

Wrapping It All Up 

Well, that is how to make fried polenta!

This polenta recipe just goes to show you that even the simplest ingredients can be turned into something exciting with just a few extra steps.

So, if you think polenta is boring - or are looking for a tasty change-up to the usual - give this fried version a try. It might just change your mind!

Anyway, I hope you love this fried polenta recipe as much as I do. If you do give this recipe a try, be sure to let me know how you liked it in the comments.

And don't forget to check out our YouTube channel for more delicious recipes like this one!

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