'Polenta is useful for four things: it serves as soup, it serves as bread, it satiates and warms the hands' - Italian proverb
5 ways to cook polenta - A very tasty dish, easy to prepare and very cheap. Polenta is one of the many delicacies of Bergamo cuisine, which has its roots in the freshness of local products and in the creativity of peasant traditions. Made from the maize floura foodstuff that provides our bodies with a considerable protein supply, polenta takes on the appearance of a dough yellow, rough and compactbut do not be misled. The grainy consistency actually hides a incredible softnesscapable of melting in the mouth and satisfying even the hungriest of stomachs!
Yet, there are many ways to cook polenta as well as lots of condiments with which to accompany it. And the matter becomes even more complicated when we talk about the type of flour used (bramata, foil, smoked, toasted, wholemeal), grinding, grain size, storage, etc. It also happens to Alessandro Borghesefamous chef and television presenter, filmed i best restaurants in Bergamo to learn about the origins of polenta and taste the different ways of preparing it.
If you love cooking and wish to experimentor if you simply feel like tasting a different kind of polentathen all you have to do is read on!
Time to discover together 5 ways to cook polenta:
Polenta taragna
A tastier version of the classic Bergamo polenta, the taragna is a delicious dish and much appreciated by those who loves cheese. Its secret lies in the inclusion of pieces of butter and cheese as Branzi or Bitto within the dough during baking. The type of flour also plays a key role, as one normally uses exclusively yellow maize flour.
Here are a few small tips to learn how to make polenta taragna using the domestic cauldron:
Polenta and mushrooms
Mushrooms are one of the most widely used condiments to accompany polenta, especially during the autumn season when they can be harvested fresh. Rich and nutritious, this dish can be the ideal choice for those who follow a vegetarian diet. Among the most popular mushrooms are obviously porcini mushroomswhich on this occasion are usually trifolatibut the combination also works well with the dried mushroomsproperly cooked.
Polenta and codfish
In general, polenta is automatically associated with the mountains and consequently with game, cheese and cured meats. Polenta and codfish is instead a tasty and famous dish not only in the province of Bergamo but also in the Veneto region. The appetising combination is said to have religious originsIn order not to break the rule against eating meat on the fifth day of the week during the Lenten period, people began to serve themselves freshly caught fish. A splendid stunt!
Polenta with meat sauce
A hearty and inviting dish that combines traditional Bergamo cuisine with one of the most famous Italian condiments, namely the ragout. Once the polenta is prepared (better to use the flake flour), it must be cut into thick slices. These are then placed in an oven dish, pasticciate, i.e. seasoned with sauce minced meat, to which grated cheese can be added, and finally baked in the oven. The appearance is reminiscent of famous lasagnawhere instead of sourdough we find tasty polenta.
Grilled polenta
Grilling is another of the 5 ways to cook polenta and surprise your guests with a side dish crunchy and tasty. La grilled polenta can replace bread and breadsticks and accompany cold meats, sauces and cheeses throughout the meal. Grilling is a cooking mode that allows do not waste leftover polenta and to savour it in a different way.
Here is the complete recipe for roasting polenta on the grill:
Bergamo - flavours, culture and relaxation
Visiting a place also means tasting its gastronomy. After reading our 5 ways to cook polenta, we imagine your mouth will already be watering! If you are in Bergamo and would like to enjoy polenta and other typical Bergamo dishes, we at the Spa Hotel Paris 2 we recommend you stop at theOsteria La Vecchia Ferrovia di Sabbiojust a few steps away. A family-run restaurant where you will be welcomed not only by thelocal hospitality but also the respect for Bergamo's culinary traditions.
If you are thinking of visiting Bergamo and its province to discover the thousands of opportunities in this area, contact us on 035 409030 or fill in the following form indicating the dates required.
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