Fried Polenta Cakes

• water↗1 quart
• kosher salt↗1 tablespoon
• fresh ground pepper↗1⁄2 - 1 tablespoon
• coarse-ground polenta↗1 cup
• butter↗2 tablespoons
• parmesan cheese↗2 ounces
• olive oil↗2 tablespoons

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. 2

   In a 1 to 1 1/2 quart oven-safe container, stir together water, salt, pepper, and polenta

3. 3

   Add butter to the mixture, cut up in chunks.

4. 4

   Place container, uncovered, in center rack of oven and bake 40 minutes.

5. 5

   Open oven, pull out rack, add parmesan, and any other ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, olives, lemon zest, herbs, shallots, cilantro etc. and let bake another 10 minutes.

6. 6

   Pull out of oven and let rest in refrigerator 20 minutes to over-night.

7. 7

   In frying pan, on medium-high, heat oil.

8. 8

   Spoon about half a cup of polenta into the pan at a time, fry until golden brown on each side.

9. 9

   Let cakes rest about 3-5 minutes and serve.