Broiled Polenta Sticks

Crispy, cheesy polenta sticks made with yellow cornmeal and topped with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. These golden-brown appetizers are first cooked stovetop, then broiled to perfection.

6 servings
1 hr 7 min

Ingredients

  • cups cold water
  • teaspoons salt
  • 2 cups yellow cornmeal
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • ½ oz Parmigiano-Reggiano

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Brush a 13- by 9-inch baking pan with water.

    2 min

  2. 2.

    Combine 6 1/2 cups cold water with salt and cornmeal in a 5-quart heavy pot and bring to a boil over moderate heat, whisking. Reduce heat to moderately low and cook, stirring constantly with a long-handled wooden spoon, until polenta begins to pull away from side of pot, 20 to 25 minutes. Pour polenta into baking pan, spreading evenly with a dampened heatproof rubber spatula. Cool in pan on a rack until polenta is lukewarm and set, about 20 minutes.

    45 min

  3. 3.

    Brush a baking sheet with olive oil and invert baking pan with polenta onto sheet to unmold.

    3 min

  4. 4.

    Preheat broiler.

    5 min

  5. 5.

    Brush polenta with 2 teaspoons oil and sprinkle with cheese. Broil about 4 inches from heat until pale golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Cool 5 minutes, then cut into 3- by 1 1/2-inch sticks.

    12 min