**POLENTA**
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
It can be soft and sort of mushy-like.
It can be hard and sort of chewy-like.
It’s just made with cornmeal – like literally if you have cornmeal in your house right now, you can make it. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR.
It’s cheap.
It only takes three seconds to make which means I can quickly get back to InstaStalking my friends.
It goes with anything, like, for example, this here CROCKPOT BRAISED BEEF RAGU yummy.
I feels ultra fancy when I tell people I’m making polenta. Pinkies up!
It begs for a pat of melted butter, which is end of story for me. ♡
CROCKPOT BRAISED BEEF RAGU WITH POLENTA
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 10
Recipe Modified from: pinchofyum
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 lbs. beef rump roast or round roast
- half a yellow or white onion, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 28-ounce cans San Marzano whole tomatoes (see notes)
- ½ cup red wine
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 teaspoons salt
- black pepper to taste
- For the Polenta
- 6 cups water
- 1-2 teaspoons salt
- 1¾ cup yellow cornmeal
- 3 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Optional, but for best tasting results: Heat the olive oil in a large, deep frying pan. Add the beef in one whole piece and fry on each side for about 5 minutes, turning until the whole exterior is golden brown. I had some splattering issues so I covered the pan with a lid.
- Place all remaining ingredients with the beef in a crockpot or slow cooker (5 quart size worked for me). Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours, or cook on low for 7-8 hours. When the beef falls apart easily when pulled at with two forks, it is ready. Shred the beef into pieces and give it a good stir.
- For the polenta, boil the water and add the salt. Slowly add the cornmeal, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. The polenta will start to thicken quickly. Continue whisking or stirring for 2-3 minutes before removing from heat. Stir in the butter until melted (you can also add cheese I'M JUST SAYING). For solid and chewy polenta, pour into a rectangular dish, let cool for 15-20 minutes, and cut into pieces. For softer polenta (my preference), serve scoops of polenta immediately before it has hardened.
Notes
I've done this a few ways in terms of the tomato sauce -- I've used two cans, with one drained and one undrained. I've used two full cans, both undrained. And I've used just one can, undrained. So it can work a lot of different ways - it just depends on your desired meat-to-tomato ratio for the sauce.
Photo Credit: pinchofyum