Polenta and Couscous

[Bilby]

I've recently discovered couscous and found that easy enough to cook with and quite nice.
Polenta is next on my list of to try, does anyone have either of those in thier recipe stash to share. I'd love something with polenta.

[cat lover]

Couscous can be used in any rice recipe you already like or as a side dish in itself. Here is one we like!

Couscous with Corn & Cumin

1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup couscous
1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp ground cumin
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

Put the corn in a pan and enough water to cover. Cook over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes or till tender. Drain and set aside. In a medium pan bring the 1 1/2 cups water to a boil and stir in couscous. Cover and remove from heat and set aside for 5 minutes. Coat a large skillet with no stick spray and warm over heat for 1 minute. Add the jalapeno peppers and bell peppers and cook 3 minutes or till softened. Add the garlic, and cumin. Cook, stirring 1 minute and stir in the corn. Transfer couscous to a large bowl, fluff with a fork and add the corn mixture and cilantro. Makes 4 servings

Southwestern Polenta


1 tube (16 oz) prepared fat free polenta
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 cup salsa
1 cup cooked black beans
4 green onions, sliced
1/4 cup fat free sour cream
1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

Cut the polentra into 8 slices. Sprinkle with the cumin and oregano and press it into the polenta. Coat a large non stick skillet with no stick spray. Warm over heat and palce polenta in the skillet in a single layer. Reduce heat and cook for 5 minutes on each side or till golden. Remove polenta to a platter and cover loosely with foil to keep warm. Add the salsa, beans, and green onions to the skillet. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes or till hot. Spoon the salsa mixture over the polenta and top with sour cream and sprinkle with cilantro. 4 servings

[Bilby]

After looking on the internet for some recipes I found that polenta is also known corm meal or sometimes even called grits ........ never knew that one you learn something new everyday. This opens up for lots of rexcipes now!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Kathy, I don't know how it is in your country since things may be very different than ours. But, polenta is very different than corn meal and grits. But, they are all made from corn. However, I believe the difference is in the grind. Somebody please correct me if I am wrong.

When I have had grits, it is more like a hot cereal. I am able to slice the polenta.

[cat lover]

I beleive bilby might be talking about the fact that they are both "made" with a corn meal base; maybe that is what she is talking about. But DeBora, you are right about the difference between the textures.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I have friends in the UK and I know there are some things that are called something different than what we think of in the US. For example, pudding over there is very much different than pudding here. Also, I want to say that biscuits there are like cookies and it is a bread here, but I am not sure. There is something there that is a bread and here it is a dessert.