Best Polenta Soup Recipes

RUSTIC VEGETABLE AND POLENTA SOUP

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, onions, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion begins to brown, about 6 minutes.
• Add the parsley, thyme, garlic, tomatoes and zucchini, and cook for 3 minutes. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Slowly stir in the polenta and cook until the soup thickens and the vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes.
• Stir in the butter and season with salt and pepper.
• Ladle into soup bowls and serve.

POLENTA AND SPINACH SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup oil and the garlic in a medium saucepan over medium heat until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add 6 cups water; bring to a boil. Whisking constantly, add cornmeal in a slow, steady stream. Reduce heat to medium; cook, stirring occasionally, until soup has thickened slightly, about 8 minutes. Add cheese and 1/4 cup oil; cook, stirring, until oil is incorporated, about 1 minute. Stir in spinach and salt; cook, stirring, until spinach is bright green and wilted, about 1 minute more.
• Divide soup among four bowls; drizzle each serving with 1 teaspoon oil. Season soup with pepper, and serve with lemon wedges.

WHITE BEAN AND ESCAROLE SOUP WITH SPICY POLENTA

Steps:

• Place beans in heavy medium saucepan and add enough cold water to cover by 3 inches. Soak overnight. Drain. Return beans to pan. Add 8 cups water and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer gently until beans are tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool beans completely in liquid.
• Place remaining 4 cups water, prosciutto, 1/2 garlic head, and 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds in heavy large saucepan. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Strain prosciutto broth into large measuring cup, reserving solids in strainer for soup. Add enough water to prosciutto broth to measure 4 cups. Return broth mixture to same saucepan. Add dried crushed red pepper, 2 tablespoons oil, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds. Gradually whisk in polenta. Bring to boil, whisking constantly. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease large baking sheet. Spread polenta on prepared baking sheet, pressing with wet hands into 1-inch-thick round. Make 2-inch hole in center to allow steam to escape during baking. Brush with 1 tablespoon oil. Bake until crisp at edges, about 35 minutes.
• Meanwhile, drain beans, reserving 3 cups cooking liquid. Heat remaining 1/2 cup oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add remaining 1/2 garlic head, cut side down, and sauté 2 minutes. Add escarole and sauté until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add beans with 3 cups cooking liquid. Remove skins from garlic in reserved solids from prosciutto broth; add solids to soup. Simmer soup 10 minutes to blend flavors. Season soup generously with salt and pepper. Discard remaining halved garlic from soup.
• Ladle soup into shallow soup bowls. Cut polenta into wedges. Serve alongside soup.

CREAMY POLENTA SOUP WITH SPINACH (PAPAROT)

Steps:

• 1. Tip: For a smooth and velvety soup like Lydia's, I pulsed my cornmeal in my food processor for about 20 seconds before starting the recipe. First, whisk the polenta and flour in a saucepan.
• 2. Starting with 1 cup of broth, whisk the broth and polenta-flour mixture and remove any lumps. Add the butter and salt and stir.
• 3. Continue adding broth while whisking and place on medium-high heat to bring to a boil. Lower to medium heat and simmer soup for 25 minutes. Stir gently.
• 4. Add spinach to soup and stir. Continue cooking on medium-low heat for 10 minutes. If using, serve with grated parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil. Enjoy.

CHICKEN SOUP WITH POLENTA DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Combine water, chicken, onion, carrot, celery, poultry seasoning, and salt for soup in a large pot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 1/2 hours. Discard vegetables. Remove chicken to a plate and allow to cool. Keep broth warm while you make the dumplings.
• Mix flour, cornmeal, milk, Parmesan cheese, parsley, egg, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt for dumplings in a bowl.
• Return chicken broth to a slow boil.
• Meanwhile, remove and discard skin and bones from chicken leg quarters. Shred chicken and set aside.
• Add shredded chicken to the boiling broth. Drop teaspoonfuls of dumpling mixture into the broth. Cook at a low boil until dumplings are cooked through, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

POLENTA SOUP

Steps:

• Chop the onion and mince the garlic. Core and finely chop the tomatoes, reserving the juices.
• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and saute 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the garlic, tomatoes, reserved juices, stock, corn and chiles. Bring liquid to a simmer, then cover the pot and cook gently over low heat for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile rinse and mince the cilantro (or parsley).
• While whisking constantly, slowly drizzle the cornmeal into the simmering soup. Simmer gently, uncovered, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Make sure you occasionally stir the bottom of the pot to prevent the cornmeal from sticking.
• Season soup to taste.
• Right before serving, add lemon or lime juice, cilantro, and cheese (if you are using it.

POLENTA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for about 3 minutes. Add the garlic, tomatoes, broth, corn and chilies. Bring the liquid to a simmer then cover the pan and cook gently over low heat for 15 minutes. Meanwhile rinse and mince the cilantro.
• While whisking constantly, slowly drizzle the cornmeal into the simmering soup, Simmer gently uncovered until thickened, about 10 minutes. Stir the bottom on occasion to make sure the cornmeal isn't sticking.
• Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper. Right before serving stir in the lime juice. Portion out and garnish if you wish with cheddar cheese, cilantro and chopped green bell pepper.
• VARIATION -You can enrich it with cubed smoked ham or roasted pork

TOMATO AND POLENTA DUMPLINGS SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven at 180 C/ 350 F/ Gas Mark 4.
• Peel and wash all the vegetables. Peel only 2 garlic cloves the rest leave them skin on.
• Cut tomatoes into quarters or halves, finely chop half rosemary, peppers and onions cut into chunks, four cloves of garlic (leave skin on). Put all in a baking tray, toss them and sprinkle some salt, the olive oil and freshly grind some black pepper. Place in the oven and roast for 25-30 min. At this point you can increase the oven temperature to 200 C/ 400 F/ Gas mark 6 if you wish. Don't forget to sprinkle the balsamic vinegar if you choose to put it in. It's really nice I do recommend you try it.
• Making the polenta 1. While the vegetables are roasting nicely, place a medium size pan on a medium fire, put the 500 ml boiling water from the kettle in, some salt, and the remainder of the rosemary needles finely chopped. When the water begins to boil again which should happen pretty much straight away, sprinkle in the polentsa flour little by little while stirring continuously with the other hand (with a wooden spoon) until it all goes in. Keep on stirring so that it doesn't form a crust. This should be ready in 5-7 min.
• Back to the soup again 1. Place all the roast veggies into a cooking pan, on medium fire, put the boiling water (1l) but before, please don't forget to squeeze the garlic cloves out of their skin ????. With the help of an electric hand blender, blend it all nicely until it becomes nice'n smooth. Season well.
• 2. Take the polenta into spoonful dumplings and spoon them into the soup. Cook for 5 extra minutes.
• 3. Serve the soup in a bowl or deep plates and why not, spoon in a small dollop of creme fraiche if you wish. Totally optional.