grains 10 min
Polenta Too Thin
Your polenta is runny because there is too much liquid. Simmer and add a little cornmeal to tighten it.
Part of grains cooking fixes .
runny texture no body vegetarian gluten-free
Ingredients on hand
- polenta
- cornmeal
- butter
- parmesan
- salt
Why it happened
Polenta thickens as cornmeal hydrates. Extra simmering and a small amount of cornmeal restore the proper ratio.
The fix
- 1 simmer uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring often
- 2 whisk in 1 tablespoon cornmeal and cook 2 minutes
- 3 finish with butter and parmesan
If it's still wrong
- chill and slice into polenta cakes
- serve as a sauce under roasted vegetables
Prevent next time
- start with less liquid and add as needed
- use a steady simmer, not a hard boil
Notes
Why this works
Polenta is a starch gel. Cooking off extra water and adding a small amount of cornmeal thickens the gel so it becomes creamy instead of watery.
Substitutions
- parmesan → nutritional yeast
- butter → olive oil
Other grains fixes